The average cost of insuring a car for a year in the United Kingdom has risen to £777 in 2025 but the extravagant premiums paid by Premier League footballers make that look like a drop in the ocean.
Ben Foster addresses all the big issues in his podcast, Fozcast: The Ben Foster Podcast, and the insurance bill of a fellow former Manchester United player was revealed to be more than most people in the UK spend on a new car.
"The reason a footballer's insurance is so expensive is that one you're young, two you're driving an expensive powerful car, and three the cargo you might be carrying," explained Foster on a recent episode.
"You might be carrying another footballer. Say you're driving around with one of your famous mates from Man Utd - £100m talent in the back of the car, the insurance payout could be astronomical."
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The cost of the car and the experience of the driver come into play too, of course, so when young star footballers treat themselves to powerful and glamorous machines, they pay a hefty price on top just to keep them on the road.
Foster's guest on the 69-minute Fozcast episode was left-back Brandon Williams, who spent a decade at Man Utd before breaking into the first team in 2019.
Williams has had a tough time. After playing for both Norwich City and Ipswich Town on loan, the 24-year-old left Old Trafford at the end of his contract last summer and stepped away from football.
But while he was a young player, Williams kitted himself out with the ultimate footballer's ride and insuring it didn't come cheap.
The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz G Class – the G-Wagon so beloved of wealthy young men – retails at anything between £136,385 and around £208,000. Stick a couple of footballers in it and the insurance companies know they need to protect themselves with a mighty premium.
"The highest I've paid was 24 (£24,000) a year [on a] G-Wagon," revealed ex-England Under-21 international Williams, who also told Foster about being charged with dangerous driving after crashing his car in 2023. He will be sentenced next month.
"I have this switch where I don't care what happens. They [family and friends] wanted me to get back to football but they could see I'd fallen out of love with [it].
"It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things."
Williams spoke candidly about a troubled spell early in his career and in life. With the right guidance, a player of his ability will surely find his way back to the game.
Topics: Manchester United, Man Utd, Ben Foster, Brandon Williams
Chris Nee