Learning to drive - what to do?

davey_browning

We go to church in a pretty rough part of Glasgow and I've got a young (17 years old) friend there who I would like to help learn to drive. I have the following questions.

1. It's been a good 15 years since I learned to drive, what do you need to do to get a provisional license these days? Do you still need to just apply for it and how much does it cost?

2. What's the cheapest way to get my 1997 Passat insured for the learner.

3. Is there any way we could get some free driving lessons, or is there any benefits to help my young friend. (he's on things like housing benefit and the like and he's at college)

Any other information would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

colin79666

about the license:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Motoringtransactions/DG_10032681

Not sure about insurance but it will cost a lot!

I'd recommend magnetic L plates, they cost less than a fiver and save a lot of hassle as they are easy to get on and off.

Crabman

Not sure if they're into Clubcard Deals but there is an offer for BSM lessons there. Regarding insurance, when I was learning it hit £500 ish for me as a named driver on my parent's car. However it was a few years ago now and I'm sure there are younger peeps on here with better ideas. There are some companies specialising in insurance for younger drivers. Maybe you've read it already, but here's the article on car insurance.

Driving lessons unfortunately are very expensive these days, you're very kind to help out in this way.

dawnydee73

30111987 wrote: »

I'd recommend magnetic L plates, they cost less than a fiver and save a lot of hassle as they are easy to get on and off.

My magnetic L plates blew off while I was driving a couple of times

ChasingButterflies

Hi there,

I think it might be cheaper once you factor in how much your insurance company would charge to hire a dual control car... I have seen some but for the life of me cannot think who does them!!! I think it is about £9 per hour - which to be honest seems quite expensive compare to how much my driving lessons cost (although that was 10 years ago :eek: where does the time go :rotfl: )

You may be able to negociate a discount if you did a block booking?

I thought it was arnold clark but cannot see anything on their website... will post again if I remember who does it (it will drive me mad until I remember!)

Might be worth having a look in the yellow pages under car hire...

Good luck

Hubby has just confirmed what I thought - Arnold Clark definately do it or Macharg and Rennie (used to be rover dealer off the expressway.

Crabman

Would he really need a dual-control car, it's going to hike prices into the sky - I learned in my mother's 1.4i hatchback, obviously that wasn't dual-controlled. Even my instructor didn't use the dual-controls, well hardly.

If you start off on quiet residential roads it'll build up his confidence, I spent about a week just doing that, till I summoned the confidence to progress to a main road. Keep us updated! :beer:

anewman

I think it's just easier all round to go to a driving school. They have the cars, the insurance cover and the expertise to teach you.

https://www.2pass.co.uk has a good forum which may also help you.

Crabman

anewman wrote: »

I think it's just easier all round to go to a driving school. They have the cars, the insurance cover and the expertise to teach you.

https://www.2pass.co.uk has a good forum which may also help you.

Nice link - I'll nab that for the A-Z :beer:

About the driving schools - lessons are very expensive especially so for this 17-year old - I only needed 12 lessons in total because I had the chance to do a lot of driving in our own car. I must have had hundreds of hours practice which really did help, yes, driving schools have their place but in my view they shouldn't be used for starting from scratch unless you have that sort of money to spend, which the OP's friend clearly hasn't.

newcook

quinn insurance do the cheapest insurance for provisional drivers (about £550)

anewman

newcook wrote: »

quinn insurance do the cheapest insurance for provisional drivers (about £550)

Although it will of course change from car to car and postcode to postcode, and gender and age.