Confused.com reveals big rise in prices for new and learner drivers

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Confused.com has revealed that newly qualified drivers can expect to pay around £2,000 or more to insure a small hatchback this year as the cost of insurance continues to soar.

This time last year the cheapest premium for a new driver insuring a Ford Ka for a year came in under £900. Now the best quote for a newly qualified driver wanting to insure a Ford Ka has soared to more than £1,900, according to consumer research by the popular comparison site Confused.com.

The Fiat 500 Pop now tops the list of most popular vehicles for a newly qualified driver, based on 6 months of quotes from Confused.com during the first half of 2011. Unfortunately, for many newly qualified drivers it will cost more than £1786 to insure it. The Fiat 500 knocks last year's favourite, the Vauxhall Corsa, from the top spot, becoming the most popular choice in this Confused.com study of learners and drivers who passed their test within the last 12 months.

Confused.com's head of car insurance (http://www.confused.com/car-insurance ), Gareth Kloet said: "The Fiat 500 is a new favourite with freshly qualified drivers - this model didn't appear at all in the Confused.com top ten for new drivers last year. The popularity of these cars may have been led by their use by many driving instructors, and also by the relatively cheap insurance cost compared to other small cars.

"Getting reasonably-priced car insurance can be a nightmare for younger drivers but 50% of under 25s could save up to £571 on car insurance* premiums by using Confused.com to find the best deal. With rising premiums it's more important to compare prices now than ever before."

Ends

Notes to Editors:
* Based on drivers with a provisional license or have passed their test within the past year, searching quotes between January 2011 and end of May 2011. Minimum of 500 quotes per model. Similar methodology for 2010.

About Confused.com:
Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include car insurance quotes (http://www.confused.com/car-insurance ) such as car insurance for new drivers (http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/new-driver ), car insurance for young drivers (http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/young-driver ) and cheap car insurance (http://www.confused.com/car-insurance ) quotes, home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products.  

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com's service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Confused.com press office         
Helen Beckett
Confused.com
FriaryHouse
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
CF10 3AE
029 2043 4382
www.confused.com