Young drivers in Northern Ireland are now facing higher car insurance costs than anywhere else in the UK, according to new data.
The latest figures from car insurance experts at CompareNI.com reveal drivers aged 17-24 here are forking out an average of £1,432 on their annual premiums – around 25% more than the national average for that age group.
Premiums for young motorists rocketed by 10% in the three months to September 2026, seeing NI overtake London as the most expensive UK region.
The research comes as Stormont prepares to roll out new Graduated Driver Licensing rules tomorrow (October 1), in a bid to improve road safety amongst young people* – one of the most at-risk groups for car accidents.
The new system will introduce a six-month wait for learner drivers before taking a practical test, an extended ‘R’ plate period from 12 months to 24 months, as well as restrictions on carrying young passengers late at night.
With similar schemes in other countries proven to reduce crashes,** cash-strapped younger motorists will be hoping the new restrictions will also help to reduce premiums as insurers begin to reassess future risk.
Young driver premiums by UK region Q2 2026 vs Q3 2026
| UK REGIONQ2 2026 | AGE 17-24 | UK REGIONQ3 2026 | AGE 17-24 |
| London | £1,362.74 | Northern Ireland | £1,432.22 |
| Northern Ireland | £1,303.56 | London | £1,391.66 |
| West Midlands | £1,145.39 | West Midlands | £1,188.64 |
| Yorkshire | £1,112.88 | Yorkshire | £1,114.99 |
| North West England | £1,074.02 | North West England | £1,042.64 |
| East Midlands | £984.88 | Scotland | £1,002.37 |
| Scotland | £967.26 | East Midlands | £988.71 |
| East of England | £933.75 | East of England | £934.53 |
| North East England | £929.09 | North East England | £920.50 |
| South East England | £913.26 | South East England | £917.61 |
| Wales | £866.73 | South West England | £848.50 |
| South West England | £847.23 | Wales | £847.80 |
On a local level, nine out of the 11 council areas see 17-year-old drivers facing premiums over £2,000 – with those in Belfast City paying steep prices of £2,850 on average. Even the cheapest areas, Lisburn and Castlereagh and Ards and North Down, are recording costs of over £1,900 annually.
However, premiums fall sharply by age 19 in most areas, showing the benefit of just a few years’ experience behind the wheel. In Fermanagh and Omagh for example, drivers aged 19 are saving as much as £838 compared to those just two years younger.
Teenage driver premiums by NI council area Q3 2026
| NI COUNCIL | AGE 17 | AGE 18 | AGE 19 |
| Belfast City | £2,850.51 | £2,751.60 | £2,573.61 |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | £2,449.17 | £2,133.31 | £1,720.32 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | £2,318.52 | £2,033.98 | £1,644.34 |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | £2,280.66 | £1,977.67 | £1,804.03 |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | £2,262.79 | £1,917.18 | £1,424.99 |
| Derry City and Strabane | £2,253.65 | £2,284.74 | £1,777.62 |
| Mid Ulster | £2,153.82 | £2,038.81 | £1,653.85 |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | £2,023.53 | £1,862.22 | £1,621.84 |
| Mid and East Antrim | £2,008.27 | £1,702.06 | £1,457.98 |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | £1,933.17 | £2,075.70 | £1,822.65 |
| Ards and North Down | £1,918.32 | £1,729.54 | £1,611.68 |
Meanwhile, the latest data also shows that while almost all age groups in Northern Ireland are facing rising insurance costs, most drivers across the rest of the UK have seen premiums fall.
NI was the only UK region where overall car insurance prices did not drop over the last quarter, instead increasing slightly by £4 to an average of £669. This puts it as the second most expensive area, behind only London.
In comparison, overall premiums on a national level dropped by 5.2% over the same period, down from £619 to £587.
Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI.com said: “While it is encouraging to see car insurance premiums continuing to drop across the UK, it’s disappointing to see costs in Northern Ireland not falling in line with other regions.
“The increase in premiums here will be frustrating for hard-up motorists who are already struggling with rising fuel costs, with diesel prices passing over £2 per litre at some NI forecourts.***
“Car insurance for young drivers has always been expensive and a key reason why Northern Ireland remains one of the dearest regions of the UK is down to a combination of higher claim costs and a poorer road safety record compared to Great Britain.
“Young drivers are the most at-risk age group to insure given their lack of driving experience and the high numbers of teenage drivers killed or seriously injured.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the effects of the Graduated Driver Licensing system which comes into force this week, although it will likely take time for any real change to be reflected in car insurance prices.
“Until then, there are simple steps young drivers can take to find savings. One of the most effective is having a more experienced driver added to the policy, they just need to be careful that the main driver on the policy is actually the person who drives the car the most – if not it can be considered ‘fronting’, a type of insurance fraud, which carries fines, penalties or even a criminal conviction.
“Taking the time to consider what type of car would be most affordable is key, as smaller cars with smaller engines and minimal modifications can all help keep insurance costs down.
“It’s also important to be accurate with the insurance details and make sure the car is parked in the safest place possible, ideally on a private driveway or garage and that any extra security measures are added, such as a tracker or dashcam. These all have the potential to reduce premiums and give added protection, if answered correctly and kept up to date.”
The full car insurance data, broken down by age, council area and UK region, can be found here – https://www.compareni.com/car-
CompareNI.com helps drivers of all ages compare and find savings on car insurance.
ENDS