Young drivers cost more

An Admiral survey of more than two million drivers found the cost of accidents involving 17 and 18 year olds is twice as high as for drivers overall, the Telegraph reports.

They are twice as likely to have a road accident as motorists in their 30s, three times as likely as those in their 40s and six times as likely as those over 50.

More than 10% of drivers aged 17 and 18 had had a crash, compared with 6.5% of motorists overall. For drivers in their 40s it was 4.5%, and for those over 50 just 2%.

High cost

The average cost of an accident involving a 17 or 18-year-old was nearly £3,500, compared with £1,741 overall.

Admiral said young drivers had more serious crashes at high speed, which often involved an injury to someone. A claim made by someone aged 17-21 was nearly five times more likely to include somebody being injured than a claim made by someone aged over 25.

Drivers aged 17-21 are four times as likely as the average motorist to have a motoring conviction.