I work in car insurance and it goes like this. All companies have underwriting criteria that is based on risk. They younger (and older) a driver the biger the risk. Although a learner is in the car with someone theyre inexprienced most of the time (obviously) so the risk associated to the policy is HUGE.
Not only do they take the driver into account they also look at the car and location (as well as about 100 other things including what your credit rating is like!). The "older" the car you'll probably find it'll be cheaper simply because they'll just write the car off in the event of a claim. It's cheaper than repairing it. newer cars (less than 5 yrs old) will on the whole be repaired unless the damage is more than 60% of the cost of the car.
Many companies have specific driver excesses so you'll probably find for the cheaper quotes it'll be pretty high. Most work ona sliding scale - the younger/less experience - the higher. Many comapnies actually restrict some drivers with less than so many years for some cars simply because the stats show bigger/powerful/expensive car + inexperienced young (male) driver = bigger chance of accident.
It does depend on who you go with. Most "mainstream" companies (direct line, NU, Churchill Esure etc) usually focus on your "average" motorist - none to minimal mods, cleanish risk (perhaps 1 claim, 1 convistion) monimum 4+yrs NCD usually protected.
The more claims/convistions a policy has onit adding a new driver only increases the prmium further again due to the risk. If a policy holder who has a conviction/claim is "teaching" a new driver then this is also taken into account - bad habits etc.
Look for specialist insurers for newbies - they are out there and can save you a fair amount. you just need to shop about.
GOOD LUCK
