Where to start?

Verbatim

I thought it was only motorways that were barred to L drivers?? Does the bar apply to mopeds on dual carriageways as well?

I can see the attraction of bankruptcy as well but would personally be loth to forgo any possible future increase in value on the house if there was any way of keeping it.

Ames

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

According to this he can ride up to a 125 (my sister had one, it went up to 60mph), and as far as I know learners can go on dual carriageways, the same as car learners can.

Moglet

If he passed his car test before 1st Feb 2001 then full moped entitlement will apply meaning a 50cc moped limited to 30mph can be ridden without L plates but the vehicle will be prohibited from using motorways.

To ride anything over 50cc and up to 125cc he'd have to do his CBT (compulsory basic training) and this costs around £100. Once you've completed this you're entitled to ride a scooter or motorcycle up to 125cc on L plates. Prohibited from motorways this time by the L plates rather than the vehicle.

CBT is valid for 2 years. Passing the full motorcycle test is pretty expensive nowdays and comes in 3 parts but plenty of people who are happy with a 125cc for commuting just keep renewing their CBT.

Hope that helps.

Moglet - motorcyclist.

Noctula

Verbatim wrote: »

I thought it was only motorways that were barred to L drivers?? Does the bar apply to mopeds on dual carriageways as well?

We thought so but after double checking it seems not Something to reconsider then. Although I suspect an hour, in the dark, on a moped, either side of a 12 hour shift won't be of particularly high appeal to my husband! :S

I can see the attraction of bankruptcy as well but would personally be loth to forgo any possible future increase in value on the house if there was any way of keeping it.

We've been umming and ahhing for months over this so it's not something we're considering lightly

Ames

Are the debts all in joint names, or are most of them in one name? It might be possible for just one of you to go bankrupt.

Noctula

Ames wrote: »

Are the debts all in joint names, or are most of them in one name? It might be possible for just one of you to go bankrupt.

Outstanding £115,000 mortgage is joint, £18,000 bank loan is joint, £6,000 on credit cards is in my name only plus there's £1,500 of over draft spread over 3 accounts (2 individual accounts and a joint account) and my husband has £300 on a credit card.

(There's £23,000 of student loan between us as well but I know bankruptcy doesn't effect that).

we don't actually have the £600 we'd need each to go bankrupt! :S

dancingfairy

I think getting the money together would be relatively easy - you would stop paying all your debts, you would stop paying the mortgage at the old house - o.k you would still need a few cutbacks but you would need them anyway if you were to go bankrupt.

I think you need to start trying to make the various cuts identified ie on food, miscelaneous stuff etc, maybe pay as much as you can towards you debts and then consider what your options are - ie to continue making part payments towards your debts, whether to go bankrupt, etc. -you need to stop the debt getting worse first.
Good luck
df

dreamdreamer

We thought so but after double checking it seems not Something to reconsider then. Although I suspect an hour, in the dark, on a moped, either side of a 12 hour shift won't be of particularly high appeal to my husband! :S

Good, I hope it doesn't appeal. Don't ever ride a moped limited to 30mph on a dual carriageway. I work for an emergency service and I've lost count of the number of accidents I've seen due to this. Pulling into the main line of traffic off the slip road doing 30mph+ less than everyone else = car up your backside.

No money problem is worth your husband putting his safety at risk for. If he does decide to get a bike/moped, get a 125 so he can keep up with traffic, get some real training (more than a CBT) and always, always wear leathers/helmet/gloves/boots.

Okay off my soapbox!

Noctula

T'be honest Dreamdreamer I wouldn't want him to for that very reason. My stepdad's a biker, who also works for the highways department, and the number of accident's he's had to go out to (of "normal" motorbikes) and told me about would be enough to put me off motorbikes for good, if I didn't know that it's also possible to ride them safely (although saying that, more often than not is a car driver at fault). But yep, 50cc on a duel carriageway wouldn't be the brightest move.

isy1011

Just wanted to say we are here to support you. There is not one person on this forum that has not made some sort of mistake with money but you have done the right thing now and recognised it. Take Care xx