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Written by Michael Foote, Insurance and Finance Expert
Michael Foote is the founder of Quote Goat and has over 13 years experience working in the finance, insurance and currency sectors. Since launching Quote Goat he has appeared on TV as well as many of the largest online publications including Forbes, The Telegraph and The Metro. Prior to Quote Goat, he worked in finance in the city for a number of firms including HSBC.
The Pass Plus scheme is a government-funded initiative designed to increase the confidence of newly-qualified drivers, thus making our roads a safer environment for us all.
After successfully passing their driving test, drivers who opt to take up the Pass Plus scheme undergo additional training (usually 6-hours) with a qualified instructor. This will cover aspects of driving that aren’t covered in basic tuition or on the standard test such as driving on the motorway or at night-time.
As well as readying you for the roads and ensuring you’re better prepared once you start driving on your own, completing the Pass Plus scheme could also save you some money as it can reduce your premiums when it’s time to insure your car.
Tip: If you want to save money on your insurance as a new/young driver, see which vehicles are the cheapest to insure.
Despite the obvious benefits, as with all training schemes it’s good to know the ins and outs so you can work out whether the rewards outweigh the costs. Without doing your research you may end up spending your time – not to mention money – on something you don’t really need. So, in the interests of education, here are the pros and cons of the Pass Plus scheme.
Pros
Better prepared for the road
After passing your test, heading out onto the roads for the first time can be a daunting experience. While you’ve no doubt become confident in the company of your instructor, driving unaccompanied is a completely different experience and can be a shock to the system, for a short while at least.
As we’ve already discussed, the Pass Plus scheme provides drivers with additional training meaning they’re safer and more confident, which can be a great help once they venture onto the roads alone for the first time.
Reduced Insurance costs
When insurance providers calculate your premium, they’re weighing up a measure of risk. Many factors are taken into consideration but as you’re new to the roads, insurance companies see you as very high-risk, meaning the costs for young driver car insurance are often significantly higher.
An insurance quote for any new driver is bound to be high (even more so if you’re under the age of 25) so chances are you’ll want to reduce it by as much as possible and the Pass Plus scheme is a great way of achieving that, as often the insurers can see you as less risk due to the additional training you’ve opted to take..
Cons
It’s not cheap
Clearly this additional training will come at a cost, and anyone who’s done driving lessons will already know that cost won’t be cheap. Driving lessons can be an expensive endeavour, and while it’s certainly worth it once you’re passed and on the road, it’ll probably leave a hefty hole in your pocket along the way!
The cost of completing the Pass Plus scheme is usually between £150-£200 so try out our price comparison tool and see whether the cost is worth the reduction to your insurance quotes. Remember, though, there are more benefits than just a reduction to your insurance premium.
Not all insurers offer discounts
When the government first introduced the scheme, they envisaged insurance companies slashing their quotes, but sadly that vision hasn’t become a reality. Although some will offer a discount for completing the scheme, others offer nothing in the way of a reduction at all.
While this isn’t the fault of the scheme itself, it’s perhaps something to bear in mind if this is your sole reason for completing the training.
Another way to reduce the cost of your premium is to compare car insurance. For some of the best deals on the market, head over to our comparison page now.