Plans to toughen the driving test announced this week could eventually cut car insurance costs for all drivers - but only if insurers change their charging habits.

Plans to toughen the driving test announced this week could eventually cut car insurance costs for all drivers - but only if insurers change their charging habits.

Paul Baxter, at Tescocompare.com, expects premiums to drop across all insurance providers once the government's plans for compulsory additional testing are introduced.

Ashton Berkhauer, at uSwitch.com, said: "New drivers are currently forking out an average of £1337 to learn to drive. Already this year, these costs have been pushed up by the Driving Standard Authority's (DSA) 12.3% increase to the cost of practical and theory tests.

"The changes proposed could simply push these costs up further. The new initiative promises to offer young drivers a reduction on their car insurance. On average, the under- 21s pay £1619 for insurance, so a significant discount on their premiums could counteract the increased cost of learning."

The DSA's Pass Plus qualification, introduced in 1995, remains optional and is taken by almost 200,000 new drivers, costing them £171 each, but just 15 insurers recognise it.

Berkhauer added: "The reductions offered are not standardised and are for just one year after completion. We hope the insurance industry supports the government by offering reasonable discounts for those who pass the new test."

With most learners aged between 17 and 21 and often strapped for cash, the danger is that if the cost of learning to drive continues to spiral, more young drivers could be tempted to hit the road without a licence or insurance.

In some cases, the discount saving from taking the Pass Plus course is less than the cost of the course itself - and the 15 insurers that do offer a discount are not always the cheapest.

Adding to the cost of driving are the insurers' charges for duplicate documents, policy amendments and cancellations. Motorists are charged an average of £22 for simple amendments, such as changes to name, address and vehicle details - yet failing to amend policies can invalidate insurance.