I seriously cannot afford another driving test!!

custardy

DaveF327 wrote: »

Royal Mail used to pay for their non-driver employees to learn to drive. This was about ten years ago, mind.. so I don't know if they still do this.

no they dont

property.advert

Driving tests are there to keep people who should not be driving off the roads and make them safer to use for those of us who can grasp the skill of driving.

Give up and use the bus. There should be a 3 strikes and out type law to keep people off the roads forever.

angeltreats

property.advert wrote: »

Driving tests are there to keep people who should not be driving off the roads and make them safer to use for those of us who can grasp the skill of driving.

Give up and use the bus. There should be a 3 strikes and out type law to keep people off the roads forever.

Not sure I agree with this. I know a few people who have failed tests due to nerves - of the test itself, not of driving. I passed first time but it was a miracle because I was a nervous wreck, despite having driven on and off for years and normally being a very confident driver. I remember I had twelve minors and was shaking like a leaf. My ex was a good driver but failed his first three tests due to stressing about the test itself. And my best friend also passed on her fourth attempt because she went to pieces as soon as she got in the car with the examiner, but I doubt anybody could fault her driving these days. There must be a huge number of perfectly competent drivers who fail their tests due to nerves on the day.

I do however agree that if you can't afford to re-take a test, you definitely can't afford to run a car. Even if you're lucky and have no mechanical problems, you'll still have to tax and insure it, service it, get it through MOTs and keep it filled with petrol, none of which come cheap.

skiddlydiddly

Some condescension to the OP in this thread.Nothing wrong with wanting to improve their chances of getting a job and the ability to drive does just that and makes you a more attractive candidate.
It seems to me that taking a driving test would be a good use of the grant mentioned.If it helps someone get a job then they will more than pay it back in taxes very quickly.
I've trained people who have come from the DSS in a driving job and one of them wanted to use the grant to get a sat-nav.They offered him a basic version but he wouldn't accept it and got a top of the range one, it seemed ungrateful to me.

I'm not sure about the driving test being there to protect us from lesser drivers.Its also a financial barrier to many, especially at the moment and I see plenty of people with a driving licence who are appalling drivers on a daily basis.

only_mee

Maybe, just maybe, a relative is going to put them on their insurance so able to drive their car, so no need to buy one

kwaks

You are on JSA.

You have failed the test 3 times.

I surmise that you paid for the tests/lessons from your JSA.

Now you want them to pay you more to allow you to take the test yet again?

Either your JSA is too high or you have recieved funding from elsewhere!!

newbie007_2

property.advert wrote: »

Driving tests are there to keep people who should not be driving off the roads and make them safer to use for those of us who can grasp the skill of driving.

Give up and use the bus. There should be a 3 strikes and out type law to keep people off the roads forever.

Dont agree with what you said and most other people's opinion. No driving licence forever if one fail test 3 times?

The OP came on here to ask for advice, most are slating him for being on jsa. When people get a job they start to contribute back into the system again. Whilst most jobs do not require a driving licence, some jobs are beneficial to have one.

There's a very good post on obtaining funding from the ADF at the job centre.

jd82

The driving test will be a lot cheaper than a months insurance for most NQDs. If you cannot afford the test you can't afford to drive. How are you going to afford the petrol, tax, insurance, repairs etc?

I didn't pass until I was 26, but I had lots and lots of jobs before that not having a car was never problem. I've yet to visit any where in the UK so remote that there is no bus service or train station.

Inactive

jd82 wrote: »

The driving test will be a lot cheaper than a months insurance for most NQDs. If you cannot afford the test you can't afford to drive. How are you going to afford the petrol, tax, insurance, repairs etc?

The OP never suggested that they were buying a car, or did I miss something?

liverpoolste

newbie007 wrote: »

There's a very good post on obtaining funding from the ADF at the job centre.

Gee, thanks *I'm blushing* (assuming you're referring to mine?! :rotfl:)

Inactive wrote: »

The OP never suggested that they were buying a car, or did I miss something?

No you haven't Think alot of people have jumped the gun there.....

The OP hasn't said he is getting his OWN car. Just that by having a car licence may increase his job searching prospects. I'm sure by now after reading a few of the posts that they realise it simply isn't a viable option - if they were thinking somehow of owning their own vehicle?

There could be a (slim) chance of an employer willing to employ a NQD and prepared to pay the insurance premium, if the person can demonstrate they'd be a valuable asset to that company......

A scooter/moped and CBT (which needs renewing every 2 years) is a much more practical and cheaper option IMO