We are calling on the Department for Transport and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to overhaul the motor insurance industry. We demand an end to the "Non-Fault" penalty, the creation of a transparent NCD database, and an end to the predatory pricing models that target 17-year-old drivers.

 

The Problem:

 

Motor insurance has become a "legalised scam" that exploits drivers through collective punishment:

 

1. The Youth Tax: 17-year-old drivers are being quoted thousands of pounds for basic cover, often exceeding the value of their vehicle. This is not "risk management"; it is the systemic exclusion of young people from the workforce and education due to unaffordable transport.  

 

2. The Non-Fault Injustice: Drivers are currently penalised with higher premiums and the loss of No Claims Discounts (NCD) even when they are 0% at fault—such as when a car is hit while parked or by an uninsured driver.

 

3. The Surveillance Trap: We oppose the industry trend of forcing young drivers into "Black Box" policies that monitor their movements and impose digital curfews. Privacy should not be a luxury that drivers are forced to sell for a fair price.

 

4. The 5-Year Curse: A single minor claim currently results in five years of hiked premiums. This "double-penalty"—losing your discount and paying a higher base rate for half a decade—is predatory and unfair.

 

The Solution:

 

We propose a new Driver-First Insurance Model:

• Capped First-Year Premiums: Introduce a legal cap on premiums for 17-year-old drivers who pass an advanced safety assessment, ensuring that insurance remains a service rather than a barrier to life.

 

• A Centralised NCD Database: Every driver should have a unique NCD record. Like a credit score, this record stays with the driver, not the insurer. This removes administrative friction and allows drivers to manage their earned years as a personal asset.

 

• The "One-for-One" Reset: If a driver makes a claim, one year of safe driving should not only earn back the NCD but expunge the claim from their record entirely, preventing the unfair 5-year premium hike.

 

• Protection for Privacy: Insurers must be banned from making telemetry or "Black Boxes" mandatory for affordable cover. Pricing should be based on a transparent, claim-based record, not invasive real-time tracking.

 

• Zero Penalty for Non-Fault Incidents: If a collision is not the driver's fault, it must be illegal for an insurer to record a "blemish" or reduce an NCD.

 

Why it matters:

 

Insurance is a legal requirement to be on the road. It should not be used as a tool for surveillance or a way for private companies to profit from accidents that drivers didn't cause. It is time to modernise the system to reward honesty, ensure transparency, and provide a fair path to a clean slate for drivers of all ages.