The influence of young drivers' age and experience on the price of compulsory car insurance: what is worth knowing?

In Lithuania, compulsory third party liability insurance (TPVCAPD) is mandatory for every driver. However, its price strongly depends on the policyholder's profile - the driver's age and driving experience are particularly influential. Young drivers are often surprised why their insurance is more expensive than, for example, that of their parents or older colleagues. In this article, we explain why this is the case and how you can save money.

Insurance companies assess the risk - the higher the probability that a traffic accident will occur, the higher the insurance premium. Statistics show that drivers under the age of 25 are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. The reasons for this are undeveloped reflexes, lack of experience, greater tendency to take risks on the road or underestimate the situation.

Therefore, even if a young driver drives carefully and responsibly, he or she is still classified as a “risk group.” Insurance companies often automatically assess this based on age and the date of obtaining a driver’s license.

Even if the driver is over 25, driving record can still matter. For example, if a person obtained the right to drive only a year ago, he is still considered an "inexperienced driver", which increases the cost of insurance.

When setting a price, insurance companies typically evaluate:

• how many years have passed since the driver's license was issued;
• whether the driver was an insured (i.e. had concluded this type of contract) before;
• whether there have been any previously registered traffic accidents.

If a driver has been driving for 5-7 years and has no claim history, the premium is significantly reduced - often up to 30-50%, compared to a novice driver.

There are several practical tips to help reduce the cost of compulsory insurance:

1. Choose a vehicle with a smaller engine and less power — more powerful cars are often considered riskier, especially when the driver has little experience.
2. Carefully check the terms and conditions for other drivers - if you are the only one driving the car, the price may be better than if you choose to have others drive. This is especially important if it is stated that the other drivers will be younger or have less driving experience than the person signing the contract.
3. Use price comparison - on the "Man Ramu" insurance platform you will see offers from several insurers in one place. Some companies are slightly more favorable to young drivers than others.
4. Avoid a history of claims. Insurance companies pay close attention to the number of incidents - even minor incidents (e.g. a small scratch on another car's bumper) can affect your insurance history. If you have 2 or more incidents within 12 months, your insurance price will increase significantly.
5. Monitor offers during renewal. If the premium was high in the first year, it doesn't mean it will be the same in the second - it's important to compare offers again.