I bought my first car at 18 and the insurance was £97 a year for 3rd party. I was working and paid it myself. This was 1985, since then prices have gone mental and even if my son, now 18, was working, I'm sure his salary wouldn't have increased at the rate that insurance premiums have to enable him to afford to buy & run his own car.
Unfortunately we live in the Bradford area where insurance seems to be an optional extra and "drive it like you stole it" is a common theme the nearer to town you get. It's those idiots who are to blame for rising costs for the rest of us.