Is Pass Plus Worth It in the UK? What It Costs and Does It Save on Insurance?

Pass Plus has been around since the 1990s, and for years it was recommended as a way for new drivers to get cheaper insurance. But the reality in 2026 is more nuanced. Fewer insurers offer discounts for it, and there are now better ways to save money on your premium.

That doesn't mean Pass Plus is useless — it can genuinely improve your confidence and skills. But if you're doing it purely for the insurance saving, you might be disappointed.

1. What Is Pass Plus?

Pass Plus is a practical training course for new drivers, developed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). It consists of 6 modules, each focusing on a different driving situation:

1. Town driving — Complex urban situations, bus lanes, pedestrians
2. All-weather driving — Rain, fog, ice awareness
3. Driving out of town — Country roads, single-track roads
4. Night driving — Dipped/full beam, reduced visibility
5. Dual carriageways — Joining, lane discipline, overtaking
6. Motorways — Joining, lane discipline, speed management

The course typically takes about 6 hours of practical driving spread over 1–2 days. There's no test — your instructor assesses you as you go and issues a certificate if you reach the required standard.

2. What Does Pass Plus Cost?

Pass Plus typically costs £150–£200, depending on your instructor and location. Prices in London and the South East tend to be at the higher end.

Some local councils subsidise the course, reducing the cost to as low as £75–£100. Check your local council website for current offers — availability varies by area and funding year.

3. Which Insurers Offer Discounts?

This is where things have changed significantly. In the early 2000s, most major insurers offered 10–25% discounts for Pass Plus. In 2026, the picture is very different:

• Most major comparison site insurers no longer offer a specific discount for Pass Plus
• Some smaller or mutual insurers (e.g. Co-op Insurance, 1st Central, some local mutuals) may still offer 5–10%
• The DVSA maintains a list of participating insurers, but it's much shorter than it used to be

The reason? Insurers now have much better data on driving behaviour through telematics (black boxes), so they rely less on training certificates and more on actual driving data.

4. Typical Discount: The Honest Numbers

Where a discount is offered, expect 5–10% off your premium. On a typical young driver premium of £1,800:

At 5%, you actually lose money in the first year. At 10%, you barely break even. The financial case only starts to work if the discount carries over to subsequent years — and many insurers apply it to the first year only.

5. Alternative Courses

If you want post-test training that's more comprehensive and potentially more recognised:

• IAM RoadSmart — The Institute of Advanced Motorists offers a more thorough advanced driving course. Some insurers offer larger discounts for IAM membership
• RoSPA Advanced Driving — The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents offers graded advanced driving assessments. Recognised by some specialist insurers
• Young Driver Focus schemes — Some local authorities run targeted young driver education programmes

Both IAM and RoSPA are more demanding than Pass Plus but provide genuinely stronger driving skills and may attract better insurance recognition.

6. The Real Benefit: Confidence, Not Money

Here's where Pass Plus does genuinely help. Many new drivers feel anxious about motorways, night driving, and bad weather — situations their test preparation didn't cover in depth. Pass Plus addresses all of these in a structured, low-pressure environment.

If the thought of driving on a motorway makes you nervous, 6 hours of supervised practice covering motorways, dual carriageways, and night driving is genuinely valuable. The skills you gain could prevent a collision — and that's worth far more than any insurance discount.

7. Should You Do Pass Plus?

8. What Actually Saves Money on Insurance

If your priority is reducing your insurance premium, these strategies are far more effective than Pass Plus:

• Black box (telematics) policy — Saves 20–40% for safe drivers. Far more impactful than any training certificate
• Named driver — Adding an experienced driver to your policy can reduce premiums
• Low insurance group car — Group 1–5 cars save hundreds per year compared to group 15+ cars
• Pay annually — Avoid 15–30% APR interest on monthly payments
• Build no-claims bonus — Each claim-free year significantly reduces future premiums
• Secure parking — Driveway or garage is cheaper than on-street

Final Thoughts

Pass Plus is a good course that genuinely builds driving confidence and skills. But in 2026, the insurance discount argument is weak — fewer insurers offer it, and where they do, the saving rarely covers the cost in the first year.

If you want to become a more confident driver, especially on motorways and at night, Pass Plus is worth considering. If you want to save money on insurance, get a black box policy, choose a low-group car, and focus on building your no-claims bonus instead.

Insurance discounts vary by insurer and are subject to change. Always check directly with insurers for current Pass Plus offers.

Related reading: Cheapest Cars to Insure | First Year Driving Costs