First Time Driver

zhavard

I know there will be thousands of threads of this subject, but I'm interested in starting driving but the concern for me is the financial costs of it! never realized how expensive it can be! I've seen different ways of learning from the one week intense course to a lesson a week but which is best and what other tips can you give a novice like me?
Thanks! :j

OddballJamie

I only know one person who's done an intensive course, he passed on the second test. Bought a brand new car, then he lost his license a few months later, after leaving his car on his parents drive while he was serving abroad for a while, he took normal lessons, passed first time and still has his license now.

It seems the intense course taught him how to pass but not how to drive responsibly.

forgotmyname

Different people will all have their own needs.

Are you a fast learner? If you have a lesson a week will you remember everything from the previous week? If not then lessons packed into a shorter time may be best for you.

No fixed rules. Everyone is different.

martinsurrey

forgotmyname wrote: »

Are you a fast learner? If you have a lesson a week will you remember everything from the previous week? If not then lessons packed into a shorter time may be best for you.

terrible advice...
if the person cant remember stuff from one week to the next the WORST thing will be an intensive course, becuase if it goes to plan after the first week they'll be out on the roads unsupervised having forgotten most of what they learnt!

Weird_Nev

You what?

An intensive course can be a great way to learn a new practical skill quickly. You can immerse yourself in driving and concentrate on little else. If you have a lump sum, then it will most likely be the most cost effective and rapid way to gain a licence.

If finances are limited, or you cannot take the time, then certainly get lessons in "chunks". Consider 2 hours lessons instead of one, because we learn practical skills through repetition and re-inforcement.

I would certainly look to get the learning done in as short a time fram as possible with as many lessons as you can fit in financially and time wise.

One does not learn to drive by not driving.

Driving_Instructor

From my experience intensive courses benefit only certain types of people;

a)to help a beginner to get to a reasonable standard, NOT test standard, quite quickly.This is because you will probably not experience all the weather, traffic and circumstances in such as short period of time as you will need.

b)someone who has had lessons in the past and needs a last push to get up to test standard

c) someone who has had experience in the past; ie from another country or is transfering from motorcyle for example

I compare an intensive as like going on a crash diet, great for the short term, not for the long term!

jc808

id budget between 500 to 1500 for lessons including pass plus

depends on how you get on

FreddieFrugal

I passed 1 year 6 months ago. I had 20 lessons including the hour before the test. Cost just under £400 in lessons. One a week except week before test where I had 2.

But I did a lot of driving practice beyond that. Sat Dad in car so I could practice parallel parks on nearby estates, bay parks in supermarket etc. drove every opportunity, including weekly 18 mile trip to visit girlfriend.

So that all helped. Instructor said he could tell that id taken what he'd said in lessons and applied it in my own driving, that's why we were able to make good progress in short weekly lessons.

I don't think an intensive course is really preparing you for real driving, but as others have said could work for some as a kick start or finalising thing.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you luck

gilbert_and_sullivan

When i got my first car my dad said to me ''you'll never have any money in your pocket lad'', he was right.

FreddieFrugal

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

When i got my first car my dad said to me ''you'll never have any money in your pocket lad'', he was right.

It's a good investment though. Purely because if I hadn't learned to drive when I did then I wouldn't have been able to work. Was working on supply basis at the time so obviously severely limited. Paid off the cost of learning in a very short space of time from passing.

gilbert_and_sullivan

IanRi wrote: »

It's a good investment though. Purely because if I hadn't learned to drive when I did then I wouldn't have been able to work. Was working on supply basis at the time so obviously severely limited. Paid off the cost of learning in a very short space of time from passing.

No you're absolutely right, its a necessary evil these days, but the costs involved are eye watering over a lifetime.
I daren't attempt to add my admittedly frugal (compared with many) costs up over some 40 odd years of motoring.

You only have to read these forums to see the debt that people get themselves in to own a shiny status symbol they can barely afford to feed and water and maintain and its shabby unchic in no time.