Buying a car as a learner?

Sharon87

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

Except that you massively increase your chances of passing by having a car to practice in.

Not necessarily. I know lots of people who have passed first time without owning a car first, me being one of them!

If the OP does use it for practising in it just means he may be able to take his test earlier and the issue of it sitting on the driveway for ages doesn't apply.

I would suggest to the OP if you are going to use it for practise and have someone who has had a licence for 2 years (or is it 3?) that can sit in with you, then go ahead and get a car. But if it's going to be SORN'd and off the road until you pass your test, it's best waiting and buying one when you do pass. When you're learning you don't know much about what you're looking for in a car, it's only when you start driving you realise how important certain aspects of the car are!

Astronaughtwannabe

Anecdotally I passed without any lessons (over 30 years ago) but anecdotal evidence doesn't give the true picture.

The DVSA collect the stars and they say 45 hours professional tuition and 22 hours. Or in simplistic terms, 45 hours tuition without practice and you've less chance of passing, or to equal it up - more payed for hours with an instructor?

The bottom line is that a learner increases their chances of a pass if they have access to a car to practice in and that undoubtedly means less cost in tuition fees.

I've no idea what instructors charge but I'd guess around £20 per hour? That's £440 towards a car or the same in depreciation. No?

Herzlos

That £20/hour includes insurance, tax, maintenance, supervision etc though.

Astronaughtwannabe

Yes, but it doesn't negate the fact that overall a learner will save money by having access to a car for practice.

Herzlos

Does it?

An old car could be the fat end of £100 just for tax over 6 months, probably a couple hundred for insurance, £40 for an MOT if it passes, and whatever bribe is required to get another driver with sufficient experience to sit in the car whilst you practice, and fuel.

Buying and running a car could quite easily cost £440 over those 6 months.

Astronaughtwannabe

The DVSA has been collecting the stats for decades. Instructors will generally give the same opinion. Practice tends to mean fewer lessons needed.

im-lost

LandyAndy wrote: »

Rubbish. :p:p

well maybe not that much, but you get the idea.

'learner insurance' is relatively cheap, because you have the 'experienced' person in the car who should in theory stop you doing anything silly.

Friends of mine could get learner insurance for 5 or 6 hundred quid, when they went on to get full licence insurance, it jumped to about 1.5k, which really isn't a high amount, compared to what some newly passed drivers get charged.

always worth asking the insurer what the difference is likely to be, or even if they will quote you, some might happily quote on a learner and certain car, but wont with the same person and car with a full licence.

im-lost

forgotmyname wrote: »

Yeah the £400 learner insurance on a KA was only £1800 after she passed, not £2000.

Ive been given some hot tips to try for young drivers but not tried them yet to see if they are just made up figures, i will post back after i decide which neighbour is going to get hundreds of insurance quotes through the door :A

lol, still a pretty large jump, 1.4k difference not exactly pocket change now is it.