First time drivers are waiting longer to get on the ‘motor ladder’

The tradition of learning to drive and getting a first car at the age of 17 is dying out, according to a new report from leading motor insurer, MORE TH>N.

Instead, more first time drivers are waiting until they are at least 21 years old to get on the ‘motoring ladder’, but nearly one in ten (8%) of these are likely to buy a brand new first car, compared to just one in a hundred (1%) of their counterparts 30 years ago.

The ‘MORE TH>N Motor Ladder’ report reveals that young people are putting off learning to drive until later – impacted by the introduction of driving theory tests and an increase in university attendance. However, once they have passed their test, more than a third (37%) of these young motorists surveyed (aged under 25) buy a new, or nearly new, car, compared to just 19% of their parents’ generation (today’s 45-54 year olds).

Commenting on the changing trends amongst first time drivers, David Pitt, head of insurance at MORE TH>N, says: "We’ve seen that first time drivers are getting older, and that they are more likely to buy newer cars once they get on the ladder. Cars are not only more affordable these days, but first time car buyers seem to be more image conscious and want the latest makes and models compared to a decade or so ago, when first time cars were often ‘old bangers’.

"Our suggestion to any new driver is to build up as many years without making a claim as possible as this can help to reduce premium costs. Experience helps to achieve discounts of up to 65% on your policy in just four years of driving, so a £1,000 premium would reduce to £350."

Over the last 10 years it has been the under-30s who have accelerated their spending on motor vehicles: up 161%, compared to a national average of 110%. This age group spent £1,426 on cars in 2003/2004 (equal to 5% of total spending in this age group), compared to just £547 a decade before (equal to 3% of total spending in this age group) MORE TH>N’s survey revealed.

The first car
The ‘Motor Ladder’ Report, conducted for MORE TH>N by the Centre for Economic Business Research and Autotrader.com, also reveals that cars today are not only more affordable due to tempting forecourt offers and higher average wages, but first time drivers are more likely to get a helping hand from their family when buying their first car. Nearly nine out of ten (87%) drivers 30 years ago paid for their first cars themselves, compared to around two thirds (64%) today. So it is little wonder that around one in ten (8%) new drivers in 2005 will have a brand new first car.

Size matters
Aligned to today’s ‘have-it-now culture’, according to those surveyed more than one in ten (11%) motorists aged under 25 currently drive a sports car, whilst the over 55s are still aspiring to own one, with 33% citing it as a ‘dream car’.

The majority (68%) of young people today will drive a small saloon or hatchback as their first motor, whereas around 30 years ago a greater number of new drivers chose a medium sized saloon or hatchback (30% versus 18%).

Jonathan Williams, Head of Marketing at AutoTrader Media Group, comments: "As the number one motoring destination for new and used cars, we attract a large audience of 17-30 year olds. In recent research through our Desirability Index, we found that the most desired car for this age group was the Toyota MR2, followed by the Porsche 911 and the Subaru Impreza. Within the top 10, Audi and BMW gain two entries each - both are clearly prestige marques whose success in the new car market appears to be driving desirability in the used market.

"Interestingly Mercedes, arguably less successful in new car sales, does not appear in the top 10, despite its prestigious brand heritage and the associated potential for used car buyers to find a quality used car bargain."