Finding a car for work (not linked to other thread lol)

dekaspace

My friend was thinking of getting a car as he has recently been turned down for 2 jobs simply due to having no car (never owned one but had license about 3 years, aged 28)

He was thinking of finding a cheap car that doesn't cost a huge amount to insure, he was looking at a Fiesta but for where he lives now i.e middle of nowhere its £800 a year insurance, in my area where he would move for work it would be £1800!!!

So he is in a situation where he lives now there is no work (he signs on by post its that far from a JC his town population is 2000) but insurance costs little and move to my area (near Glasgow) and have a lot of job opportunities but then high insurance.

He has saved about £2500 as lived back at his parents 3 years now who don't charge him rent (though he chips in now and again) so can use that but by time he paid rent and deposit on a flat, buys a car he won't have much to pay insurance!

sangie595

dekaspace wrote: »

My friend was thinking of getting a car as he has recently been turned down for 2 jobs simply due to having no car (never owned one but had license about 3 years, aged 28)

He was thinking of finding a cheap car that doesn't cost a huge amount to insure, he was looking at a Fiesta but for where he lives now i.e middle of nowhere its £800 a year insurance, in my area where he would move for work it would be £1800!!!

So he is in a situation where he lives now there is no work (he signs on by post its that far from a JC his town population is 2000) but insurance costs little and move to my area (near Glasgow) and have a lot of job opportunities but then high insurance.

He has saved about £2500 as lived back at his parents 3 years now who don't charge him rent (though he chips in now and again) so can use that but by time he paid rent and deposit on a flat, buys a car he won't have much to pay insurance!

I suspect his issue isn't where he lives - it is his lack of driving experience and insurance record. I live in a city, commute in a city, and have fully comprehensive on a brand new and large car - and mine costs an awful lot less than even the £800. If I lived in the middle of nowhere then it would be even cheaper.

Scooter? Motorbike? Bike?

getmore4less

dekaspace wrote: »

My friend was thinking of getting a car as he has recently been turned down for 2 jobs simply due to having no car

Does he not have access to a car if he lives at home?

getmore4less

I found the public transport in and around Glasgow great and cheap.

agrinnall

What sort of work is he looking for that has a definite requirement for a car? He should remember that if he's using his car for work then he'll need one of the types of business cover added to his insurance, and while that wouldn't cost a lot for an experienced driver it might bump the price up more for someone with no experience.

missbiggles1

When I went for jobs where a car would be useful or required, I always told them I had one, on the basis that if I got the job I could get a car before starting.

It seems a bit daft to go for an interview and tell the employer you haven't got a car when having one is a necessity.

Undervalued

dekaspace wrote: »

My friend was thinking of getting a car as he has recently been turned down for 2 jobs simply due to having no car (never owned one but had license about 3 years, aged 28)

He was thinking of finding a cheap car that doesn't cost a huge amount to insure, he was looking at a Fiesta but for where he lives now i.e middle of nowhere its £800 a year insurance, in my area where he would move for work it would be £1800!!!

So he is in a situation where he lives now there is no work (he signs on by post its that far from a JC his town population is 2000) but insurance costs little and move to my area (near Glasgow) and have a lot of job opportunities but then high insurance.

He has saved about £2500 as lived back at his parents 3 years now who don't charge him rent (though he chips in now and again) so can use that but by time he paid rent and deposit on a flat, buys a car he won't have much to pay insurance!

Presumably, if he moves to a big city then there must be many more jobs that do not require a car? At some point he needs to break the circle and start earning. Obviously if a job that needs a car pays c. £1500 a year more then it would cover his extra costs.

MacMickster

missbiggles1 wrote: »

When I went for jobs where a car would be useful or required, I always told them I had one, on the basis that if I got the job I could get a car before starting.

It seems a bit daft to go for an interview and tell the employer you haven't got a car when having one is a necessity.

I completely agree.

Many people pay for their cars and insurance costs in instalments. It costs more, but if the OP's friend doesn't have the money up front and needs a car as an investment in his future employment income then surely it is the sensible thing to do.

It does sound as if the OP's friend is trying to find excuses not to stand on his own two feet and leave the parental home to take up employment and move to a city where the jobs are. He needs to start thinking like an adult.

dekaspace

MacMickster wrote: »

I completely agree.

Many people pay for their cars and insurance costs in instalments. It costs more, but if the OP's friend doesn't have the money up front and needs a car as an investment in his future employment income then surely it is the sensible thing to do.

It does sound as if the OP's friend is trying to find excuses not to stand on his own two feet and leave the parental home to take up employment and move to a city where the jobs are. He needs to start thinking like an adult.

Actually FYI he has been applying hundreds of miles away for work, his original idea was theres no point moving to my area as its not the nicest and wait months or even years applying as that would mean a waste of money in housing benefit, but after living back at home for 3 years in middle of nowhere (classed as Scottish Highlands in some cases and with no freedom (he barely gets under half a megabyte in internet speeds)

He does a huge amount of local charity work and has a degree, each time he gets a job interview its near me and he comes down full of excitement making plans about his future only to not get the job and being low again, he did get a job last year but the day before he started he was told it was cancelled at last minute as the people who made a large order pulled out so they didn't need the staff.

Hes 28 not exactly young and has work experience behind him, and is applying for work as cleaners, gardeners etc.

True I could not be getting whole picture but my friend has a blunt personality and tells things like they are,

You can get cars that cost under £1000, rental costs and deposit would be £600 up front, furniture £200 (cheap charity shops around here maybe less if he just gets a bed chair wardrobe and sofa) the rest would be insurance.

He was telling me he doesn't mind paying insurance but was trying to find middle ground, I was thinking maybe if he moved to a nicer area (I live 15 miles from the city, theres one 40 miles from it where the £1800 insurance costs £1000 so may work out cheaper)

Not sure his home life but be tells me his parents often put him down as he has a large family and even the ones younger than him are in good jobs and with long term partners, his older brothers are married and they keep pestering him about going to church and he is anti church (and also because he is gay)

What I was worried about though was he has used my address quite a few times for job applications and I get benefits so think I may get knock at door thinking I am subletting, I think he has autism like me as seems to not understand basic things.

agrinnall

dekaspace wrote: »

What I was worried about though was he has used my address quite a few times for job applications and I get benefits so think I may get knock at door thinking I am subletting, I think he has autism like me as seems to not understand basic things.

Is he doing this as he thinks he'll be more likely to be considered for a job if it appears that he lives locally? If so that's understandable but as you suggest could be bad news for you, and I would tell him to stop doing that now.

missbiggles1

dekaspace wrote: »

Actually FYI he has been applying hundreds of miles away for work, his original idea was theres no point moving to my area as its not the nicest and wait months or even years applying as that would mean a waste of money in housing benefit, but after living back at home for 3 years in middle of nowhere (classed as Scottish Highlands in some cases and with no freedom (he barely gets under half a megabyte in internet speeds)

He does a huge amount of local charity work and has a degree, each time he gets a job interview its near me and he comes down full of excitement making plans about his future only to not get the job and being low again, he did get a job last year but the day before he started he was told it was cancelled at last minute as the people who made a large order pulled out so they didn't need the staff.

Hes 28 not exactly young and has work experience behind him, and is applying for work as cleaners, gardeners etc.

True I could not be getting whole picture but my friend has a blunt personality and tells things like they are,

You can get cars that cost under £1000, rental costs and deposit would be £600 up front, furniture £200 (cheap charity shops around here maybe less if he just gets a bed chair wardrobe and sofa) the rest would be insurance.

He was telling me he doesn't mind paying insurance but was trying to find middle ground, I was thinking maybe if he moved to a nicer area (I live 15 miles from the city, theres one 40 miles from it where the £1800 insurance costs £1000 so may work out cheaper)

Not sure his home life but be tells me his parents often put him down as he has a large family and even the ones younger than him are in good jobs and with long term partners, his older brothers are married and they keep pestering him about going to church and he is anti church (and also because he is gay)

What I was worried about though was he has used my address quite a few times for job applications and I get benefits so think I may get knock at door thinking I am subletting, I think he has autism like me as seems to not understand basic things.

If I had a 28 year old graduate son who'd been unemployed for 3 years, living at home and not paying his way, I think I'd "put him down " on a regular basis as well - they probably want to give him a good shake!