Even though automatic cars are becoming more popular, it's still a good idea to learn to drive with a manual gearbox as young drivers with automatic-only licences face the highest car insurance premiums.
Last year, drivers under 25 with automatic-only licences were quoted an average of £2,803 per year for car insurance, which is a 49% increase from £1,887 in 2023, according to the Compare the Market website.
Young drivers with automatic gearboxes paid £490 more for insurance in 2023 compared to those with full licenses, and this gap increased to £760 in 2024.
Insurers charge higher premiums for automatic cars because their gearboxes are more expensive to repair, and they are associated with more insurance claims.
Data from the DVLA reveals that the number of people passing their driving test in an automatic has increased, from 34,749 people in 2012-13 to 138,354 individuals in 2022-23. This is possibly due to the popularity of electric vehicles and the discontinuation of new manual car models by some manufacturers.
Julie Daniels from Compare the Market stated, 'The increasing cost of car insurance is concerning for young drivers across the board, particularly those who have only learnt to drive automatic cars.
'These drivers face paying over £900 more this year to insure their car.
'If the cost of driving continues to increase, it may force some young motorists off the road.'
Car insurance now represents 66% of the total running costs for young drivers, with an estimated total annual cost of £3,043 in 2024.
This total includes insurance (£2,009), fuel (£799), vehicle excise duty (£180), and an MOT (£55). The £3,043 figure is a 25% increase from 2023 when the average running cost was £2,436.
Nearly four in five young drivers are worried about the increasing cost of their car insurance policy, according to Compare the Market.