High fuel prices, climbing insurance premiums and changes to road tax are not working in the favour of young drivers. Quite simply, it's getting increasingly difficult for people to run a car, even though new and second-hand cars are becoming cheaper at dealerships like Evans Halshaw and online auction sites like eBay, the after-costs can skyrocket.

So, with this in mind, it's worth looking at how you can reduce these levies prior to investing in your chosen car - as well as which model you need to choose. However, one of the most effective things you can do is fit a relatively invisible addition to your car that could save you hundreds of pounds in insurance costs.

Young drivers are seen as the riskiest demographic when it comes to accidents between the hours of 11pm and 5am, and so are charged a lot more for car insurance than other age groups. However, a black box system is now in place among certain insurers and incentivises young drivers to not go on the road during these hours. By agreeing not to drive over this six-hour period, younger car users get discounted premiums. If you do need to, you will be fully insured, but at a cost of up to £100 per night.

The black box also collects a wide array of data that can be seen and analysed by your insurance company, which can then be used in future policy agreements. Should you always stay under the speed limit and have good braking behaviour - and use the car at safer times of the day - you'll be rewarded by your history of good data.

What's more, if there is an accident, the black box can act as an assistant with claim management, allowing the insurance company to investigate if there is any dispute. Naturally, if a car is stolen, the black box can prevent successful theft due to built-in GPS tracking, which leads to fast recovery if a car is stolen.

However old you are, it's certainly worth getting hold of this fantastic little device. You don't even need to pay for it in the first place - companies will offer, and install, the box for free.

14 May 2012