Moving House/ Driving License - Loans for unemployed?

natureza

Hiya folks,

To give you a rough backstory before I ask my question:

I currently live in a fairly terrible town for jobs [Luton], I'm on JSA [income based] for the last 4 months and I've been researching jobs in Aylesbury and intend on moving there relatively soon if possible.

Now, Aylesbury does seem like a much better town for jobs in general. Just on friday I managed to get a job at one of the pubs - however the hours for now are fairly small and it's just test shifts for now. Nothing amazing and I'll still have to use buses for transport. [3hrs/day]
I did however had another opportunity, an "above average" kind of opportunity - but to at least secure that job I'd need to get myself a Driving License and a Car.


So here are my 2 questions:

1. Are there any loans or options that I could apply for to cover either or both:
   1. a) A flat/room + Deposit [so that I can fully commit to the job in the pub+ further job search]
   2. b) The costs of Driving License and the exam for it?
2. Are there other options that I should research beside a loan to finance the move?

I have already contacted Co-Op Bank and Barclays in regards of Career Development Loan for the driving license and I was told that they can't finance it this way.
I have also contacted the Social Fund about a Budgeting Loan which requires me to be on JSA for 6 months, I've been on it for 4 months.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

EDIT:
Expected costs of:
1) House Move - Roughly 300-400
2) Driving License - from 100 to about 300 top [hopefully]

So I'm considering either two seperate loans [should they have different requirements/purpose] or one bulkier loan of around 600-700 pounds.

bargainbetty

You may be able to apply for a crisis loan towards the housing. It might help if you could give a few details of where you are living now (rented, flatshare, parents, HB etc).

You are unlikely to obtain funding for the driving lessons and test. This doesn't count as career development.

Perhaps ask a friend to give you some lessons? Congrats on the bar job too! Perhaps you could look for other p/t work in the town on the days you are already going to be there... save on transport? Or buy/borrow a bicycle, much cheaper and probably quicker!

natureza

Currently I'm in a room in a shared house.

I've already thought of asking some of my friends for a few lessons, I'd imagine that I might be able to close the whole driving license business at around 300 quid if not less, "maybe" - just maybe 400. Seeing as the exams would net me just below 100 and I'd still take a few hours with an instructor to make absolutely sure I've done everything to be ready for an exam.

However that's still way above my budget, which is currently almost entirely the JSA payouts, which is roughly 120/every 2nd week.

The whole idea of a driving license comes from the nature of the other job [estate agent] so a car is more than necessary tool for the job.
I did consider trying to get a legally-allowed no license motorbike, but I doubt that would cut it for the estate agents job Even then it might've end up being just as expensive as a car and driving license.

EDIT:
I've also added some cost predictions that would involve the house move and driving license in the initial post.

MrChandlerBing

300 to pass a driving test is optimistic. Have you had any lessons before?

The tests on their own cost about £100.

natureza

I've had some in the past, a few basics on how to operate the car and drive. Just nothing on an actual traffic in the city.

I do however have a bunch of materials for the course to study and I also have been quite aware of what's going on on the road and about the signs since i used to earn my living as a bicycle courier.

Southernman

£300 for a driving licence :rotfl:

I spent £300 on driving tests alone, never mind the actual lessons!! At £62 a pop plus another £40 for an hour before test and test itself, OP is in cuckoo land!

redsaxon

You forgot to add the price of a car! lol,but on a serious note,have you approached any driving instructors? ive not looked for a long time but when i was taking my lessons a few people offered guaranteed pass courses that allowed you to pay in instalments.Maybe check out some local driving schools and see what they can do

natureza

The OP is not cuckoo in the head, the OP did some research and is not a random moron, thank you.

Most of the driving schools around my area charge between 17quid/hour [if bought as a bulk of 10 and 20 lessons] up to about 25/hour. Average cost of single hours is about 20-21pounds/hour.
Driving test cost is easily researchable on the website of direct.gov.uk [appologies if linking to external websites isn't allowed] and Theory+Practice costs 93pounds.

No, I did not include the price of the car - rather purposefully since it's a lesser cost [compared to the entirety of the funds I am trying to gather] and that will be taken care of and it's not what I need the Loands for.
Which is the reason why I didn't mention the car and it's related costs in either of my posts.

I appologize for getting into this somewhat unpleasant discourse with Southernman, but getting called a "cuckoo" with no good evidence?

Now, can we please get back to my initial questions?

And thanks to Redsaxon, I'll check again if some of those driving schools allow for payments in installments.

sharp910sh

natureza wrote: »

The OP is not cuckoo in the head, the OP did some research and is not a random moron, thank you.

Most of the driving schools around my area charge between 17quid/hour [if bought as a bulk of 10 and 20 lessons] up to about 25/hour. Average cost of single hours is about 20-21pounds/hour.
Driving test cost is easily researchable on the website of direct.gov.uk [appologies if linking to external websites isn't allowed] and Theory+Practice costs 93pounds.

No, I did not include the price of the car - rather purposefully since it's a lesser cost [compared to the entirety of the funds I am trying to gather] and that will be taken care of and it's not what I need the Loands for.
Which is the reason why I didn't mention the car and it's related costs in either of my posts.

I appologize for getting into this somewhat unpleasant discourse with Southernman, but getting called a "cuckoo" with no good evidence?

Now, can we please get back to my initial questions?

And thanks to Redsaxon, I'll check again if some of those driving schools allow for payments in installments.

You will not get a loan with no job. Would you lend your personal money (if you had money) to an unemployed person, with no securities. Of course not, find a job in Luton, clean the floor of Mcdonalds if you have to!

Southernman

natureza wrote: »

The OP is not cuckoo in the head, the
Most of the driving schools around my area charge between 17quid/hour [if bought as a bulk of 10 and 20 lessons]

I appologize for getting into this somewhat unpleasant discourse with Southernman, but getting called a "cuckoo" with no good evidence?

Think about what you're saying. You need 30 lessons minimum to pass @ £17 = £510

Driving test assuming you pass first time (i found the driving test the hardest test i've ever done and i've done an exam in advanced econometrics) is going to cost £100 including actual rental of the car in those two hours + this isn't counting the theory another...£40 ish?

If you haven't already sent off for your green licence that's another £50.

There are one week crash courses but nothing is guaranteed, my friend did one and she failed the practical at the end. She hasn't had a lesson since.

jc808

lol unless youve got a relative/ friend wholl teach you to drive b4 lessons (good luck not colliding in a car without dual controls btw) or are SERIOUSLY !!!! hot at driving by nature youll never do it all in for 300 - thats 5 cheap hours!!!!