I want to drive, but wondering if it's worth the money. Advice?

Enigma16

I wanted to drive when I was younger so took lessons, but then stopped as I couldn't afford them. I dind't get back into driving again until a few years later, which ended in a family member booking up a block of lessons with a woman she knew, but ended up being unreliable so finished the block of lessons and didn't continue again.

I then tried again with a different company, but this time paid for intensive course over 5 days. The problem here was, the instructor was busy for most of the day so asked if i would be happy to go out early in morning at 6am. I had no problem at first, but as an anxious person i would often get little sleep those nights, get up at 5am ready to go out at 6am and drive for 4 hours until 10am non-stop. Driving with a lack of rest was not a good idea.

I took the test on the Saturday morning that same week and failed by 2 minor faults. After paying £600+ for the course i decided to leave stop again, mainly due to finances. I felt a bit deflated too as thought the test went well until he told me I failed. I guess i just felt unmotivated after that and didn't continue with my driving. Now I am 27 and want to get back into it, but looking around the prices are very steep, it seems even more so than last time I took lessons. The only thing that's come down in price is the theory test.

Is it worth the financial cost to drive? I would like to at least pass my test to say I can do it, but financially it's a lot of money to keep these lessons up, that's not including the cost of a car, fuel, insurance etc on top of that. I find i absorb what i have learned easier when it's consecutive days such as the intensive course, which if i did take lessons again, i would probably opt for. I also live in a semi-rural area and relying on public transport can be a bit tedious, but it is what it is.

Your thoughts?

Owain_Moneysaver

Enigma16 wrote: »

I took the test on the Saturday morning that same week and failed by 2 minor faults. ... Now I am 27 ... I also live in a semi-rural area and relying on public transport can be a bit tedious, but it is what it is.

You've learned most of how to pass the test, you're still young, and public transport won't get any better, and being able to drive will probably enhance your work prospects even if you never actually own your own car, so I would go for it.

Block booking lessons (a few a week over several week) might get you up to test standard quite quickly, especially if you have someone who can take you out for practice as well (some car hire places hire cars for learners to practice on, so you don't need learner insurance on someone's car).

You can often borrow training DVDs/programmes for the theory and hazard perception from the local library or there are online ones.

And check with DVLA what parts of the test you have to do and within what time.

missile

It only becomes expensive if you require many more lessons. Only you can judge how many you need. You may not require any? You can book guaranteed pass course for £600.

To keep costs down, you could consider buying a scooter?

takman

I live in a rural location so I would say being able to drive is very important but it all depends on your lifestyle. I even rent cars when I travel abroad because I find it so much better than public transport.

Also from the sound of it you have only driven a car while having official lessons which makes it very expensive. I think people put too much emphasis on having lessons and don't realise how getting their own car and driving it around is also important. My partner passed her test first time earlier in the year and she has only ever had 4 hours of lessons. But she has spent hundreds of hours driving her car around with L plates on.

So I would say go out and buy a car (you will need a car anyway so it's not an extra cost). Then considering you have had so many lessons just go out driving it around, when you are confident you may want a couple of lessons to highlight any mistakes you are making then do some more driving. There should be no reason why you can't pass your test.

Mercdriver

There is no such thing as a guaranteed test pass and you have to look very carefully at the ts and cs of companies that offer such a 'guarantee'.

I passed in 8 days on an intensive, but had also had 4 x 2 hour lessons in the run up to the course. Never agree to driving lessons at a ridiculous hour especially on an intensive course. I did my intensive through the day with an extended lunch break plus two good coffee breaks.

Find out who is well regarded in your local area (don't set store by so called pass percentages - these are hard to verify, and tests are too variable to do it via plain statistics). Get them to do an assessment on your driving over a driving lesson and decide with them how many lessons you think you may need.

Having the use of a car to practise in can be useful and you may find that the person who holds the insurance gets a favourable quotation by adding you on their insurance.

Do things at your own pace.

panika

I would try to pass driving test.
Driving licence gives you more opportunities for better jobs (if they are in remote locations or unsocial hours. You may not have to be professional driver, but many jobs these days require DL - carers, sales representatives, some managers. many electricians/plumbers/window fitters drive vans . Not even mention about delivery drivers, taxi drivers, ambulance ... Sometimes your job is being relocated 20 miles away or relative ask to take them to the hospital for a scan, getting children to after school activities and weekend trips is easier.

So, yes it is worth to pass this test, you will never know what is your future. Running a car may (and in most of the cases is expensive), but it pays back. Saves you a lot of time, asking everyone around for a lift or being dependent on the bus timetable, which isn't sa great if you don't live in a big city.