is Pass Plus worth it after first year on the road?

shelleywa

Hi all,

I'm 29 and have been driving for nearly a year now but am still quite nervous when it comes to motorways and confusing junctions etc. I was going to do a pass plus course but, as the time I complete it will pretty much coincide with me purchasing my second year's license, will it actually take much discount off of my new license? Pass Plus seems to be aimed at new drivers getting their first license. Maybe I would be better off just taking a few lessons doing the things I need practice on.

Any advice greatly appreciated

londonTiger

your 1 year ncb will be worth a LOT more than pass pass in reducing your insurance. Pass plus can only take you through various conditions and environment, it's not going to change your psychological makeup.

Everyone is a bit apprehensive about going into motorways and complex junctions. I still get a bit nervous when I go into roundabouts that I've never been on before and/or I'm unsure about my route. But on repeat journeys it becomes a doddle for me.

That's completely normal, a pass plus lesson isnt going to teach you a whole lot that you already haven't learnt by yourself on the road.

Also a lot of insurance companies do not value pass plus much at all, I'm not sure if the companies will even consider pass plus when you have 1Y NCB.

Sharon87

I think maybe a pass plus course may help with some nerves, but you just need to have more experience in the areas you are the most nervous in. I've only ever been on a motorway once, for about 2 hours. They key to my nerves was just to act confident and keep up my observations when changing lanes.

You don't necessarily need to course, just more practise.

londonTiger

when I goton the motorway, it was all fun for me.. I didn't even realise I was on the motorway, I thought I was on a dual carriageway doing 50. Until all the cars around me were zippin past and I upped my speed.

A big part of me being relaxed on the motorway was the satnav, it tells you exactly what lane you need to be on, so it gives you all the assurances you need in that respect.

daveyjp

Additional training is always worthwhile. A few lessons on areas you are nervous about, Passplus, ROSPA, IAM are all worth considering. Avoiding an accident can be worth more than a saving on insurance.

Mankysteve

Is pass plus worth it for insurance purpose, from what i cna tell when i getting quotes last year no,

As for just general driving experience for stuff you dont cover on your lesions ie motorways, adverse conditions etc it has helped a lot, worth it just for that.

Ultrasonic

shelleywa wrote: »

I'm 29 and have been driving for nearly a year now but am still quite nervous when it comes to motorways and confusing junctions etc.

I can't comment on Pass Plus as this thread is the first time I've heard of it (just had a nose online to find out what it is!), but if you do still feel nervous after a year then some form of additional training would be an excellent idea. Whether it immediately saves you money on car insurance or not.

Oh, and ultimately you'll probably find motorway driving is some of the easiest, least stressful driving there is, it's just a question of being used to it.

Lum

In purely financial terms, pass plus is worthless as the only insurance companies that give you a discount for it are the ones that are even more expensive for new drivers if you don't have it.

Whether it will help with your driving nerves is a lot harder to quantify. Though you might also want to look at the IAM as an option for further training.

Mojisola

You don't need to do an official course. You can contact a driving instructor and ask for a couple of long sessions that will focus on the things that you're still nervous about.

You may find you've also picked up a few bad habits during your first year of driving and the instructor will be able to correct those before they become ingrained.

I found it very interesting helping my children when they starting driving. Revising the highway code was beneficial for me and they passed on tips that their instructors gave them that helped me.

At the other end of our driving lives, we're having refresher sessions at age 60 and every five years or so after that in order to stay safe drivers.

jaydeeuk1

I never understand why people are worried about motorways - joining the M1 from the a38 is easier than joining the a38 itsself, and there's more room to play in. In fact, because its mainly lorries in the inside lane, you only need to build up to around 50-55 and slot in - lorry drivers are generally more considerate than car drivers and will leave you space to pull in, or flash when safe etc.

shelleywa

Wow, thanks for all the replies! In which case, I have my first lesson booked for later this week - I think I'll just ask to have lessons practising my weak areas.

Thanks again!