i am considering buyin a 1999 renault clio 1.4 rt which has been offered to me for £100 as it needs a new cam belt. However i am only 17 and the cheapest insurence quote i can find is over £4000 pounds as i cannot afford this i was wondering if it would be possible to restrict the car in order to make the insurence quote more affordable.

Adam_P, January 2010

P.S Don't touch that car it is not worth repairing and the seller will get nothing for it at a scrap dealer and it is his responsibility to dispose of it properly,he is dumping it on you.

Rich, January 2010

Don't bother, if you change it from standard your insurance will rocket,insurance companies do NOT downgrade car specs,it's not a motor scooter,I would find low insurance group cars first then buy one of those,the one you are thinking of is low anyway,you won't be able to reduce your insurance at your age unless you take more training,your stuck with it until you age a bit,if the belt has gone don't touch it,it may cost you a grand to fix it and the car is scrap value only.Get the lowest insurance quote on any car then save up and buy a runner.Tough world I'm afraid,if you have a full licence at 17 you'll get there.BEST of luck,don't give up.

Rich, January 2010