For a number of new drivers, the excitement of passing your driver's test is something to be remembered. After spending months taking nerve-racking lessons, with many bumps and nerve-racking detours along the way, a lot of young drivers will inevitably be thrilled to find out they've passed their test after all of the effort they put into it. Owning their very own vehicle is a huge accomplishment for young people. On the flip side of the coin, finding affordable car insurance is often a discouraging and costly affair. New drivers, quite literally, are often "taken for a ride" by these businesses on account of their higher risk factor -- some even refuse to offer insurance to drivers younger than 21 years of age.

Insurance costs can be too high for anyone, even good drivers, if they have insurance with a group that has a high incidence of claims. In addition, young drivers face especially high rates, even with a good driving record, just because of their age. These young people need to play it safe and maintain a spotless driving record so that they can get by with the least possible insurance expense. Some of the things they can do to help themselves include:

Choice of car - While you may actually want a sporty car, it's wiser to start with something that has a smaller engine. Small cars are usually less of a risk for insurance companies.

Parking: the place where you park your car overnight may affect the price you pay for car insurance. Sounds weird, doesn’t it! However, the safety of your car is jeopardized when you leave it parked on the street where it can more easily be damaged or vandalized than if it were tucked away safely in a garage. Hence the higher premiums.

Additional Training-Many young drivers decide to take a PassPlus course so that they can reduce the cost of their car insurance when they first start driving.

Driving in a variety of weather conditions, at night and on motorways is all a part of the PassPlus course is designed to teach young drivers more advanced driving techniques that might not have been covered in their lessons. Whilst it might be tempting to rush into the first policy that comes along, it may not necessarily be the cheapest one for you. However, simply taking the time to compare car insurance can help to save you money. So, with a bit of research, awareness and vehicle care, young drivers can help themselves reduce their risk of an accident, as well as a lengthy (and expensive) insurance claim.

Maria is a writer commentating the finance sector, whilst working on     for eComparison.