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Driving Lessons while on Universal Credit
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You just can't win with some people. Somebody looking to improve their chances of employment asks if any help is available and gets slapped down. Maybe it would be better if the OP just decided to claim benefits for life?
I have no problem with benefit claimants looking to improve their lot. I do, however, have a problem with them looking for the hard pressed taxpayer to pay for their lessons.
It is clear the OP hasn't thought this through as tax, insurance, MOT, petrol or diesel, ongoing repairs, not to mention the cost of a car is prohibitive - and impossible on benefits. The cost of a theory test is now £23 and the practical is £62 - plus you need to pay the driving school for the use of their car. You may fail both tests and therefore that cost might double or even triple (I know someone who failed the theory seven times!).
The OP would be better off with a push bike. With some practice, they should easily be able to cycle 10+miles in a commute.0 -
Grey's_Anatomyfan643 wrote: »Evening,
I am just looking for some advice and please don't have a go at me, all I want is some advice. I am applying for my first provisional Driving Licence on (May 19) as that is when I get paid as I am going to learn to drive, however just wondering, is they any help for funds to help me do lessons? if not, no worries as I will have to cancel my sky (don't care about sky anyway, too much repeats on, not worth the money) if I cancel my sky, then I will be able to afford / manage lessons once a week, but the reason why I want to start learning to drive is I want my own car so I don't have to relay on public transport to get a job, if and when I pass my driving test and I get a car, I will be able get any job without worrying the distance
Any help would be great, thanks!
I admire your enthusiasm about wanting to learn to drive. There is nothing wrong with obtaining your Provisional Licence and taking lessons when you can afford it. But the others on here are right, learning to drive and buying a car does not come cheap, especially if you are on a low income.
After several failed attempts in my 20's I gave up trying because it was becoming to expensive - words of my parents who were paying and I was losing the will to live! However, I tried again aged 37 and passed the theory test first attempt and my driving test first attempt this time around (3 very nervous failed attempts in the 90's) I was ecstatic, having been saving I was keen to buy my first little car...
I had funds to buy a car after saving for a while and I found the perfect little one but unfortunately quotes for insurance blew me out the water at nearly £4000, this was actually the cheapest! It seems unemployed people pay a lot more for insurance, but if you do voluntary work the cost comes down somewhat as I discovered!
I did finally get a car but only after I insured myself on my parents and took the IAM Advanced Driving Course, now I am paying just £600 for insurance on my little VW Polo!
A few tips, study the theory test and know it inside out before attempting the test, save you money if you past first time, it is then valid 2 years! Use a local instructor over a bigger firm like BSM or AA, you are likely to get a better deal. If you can pay for a block booking of lessons in advance, you usually save £££'s that way.
I was lucky, second time round all those years later I only took 18 hours of lessons before taking my test! I seemed to pick it up much more easier when I was older and my anxiety on the day of test was non-existent!
I am not sure about grants, but surely there is nothing stopping you applying for a budgeting loan through the DWP to fund some lessons.
Good Luck!0 -
Grey's_Anatomyfan643 wrote: »Evening,
I am just looking for some advice and please don't have a go at me, all I want is some advice. I am applying for my first provisional Driving Licence on (May 19) as that is when I get paid as I am going to learn to drive, however just wondering, is they any help for funds to help me do lessons? if not, no worries as I will have to cancel my sky (don't care about sky anyway, too much repeats on, not worth the money) if I cancel my sky, then I will be able to afford / manage lessons once a week, but the reason why I want to start learning to drive is I want my own car so I don't have to relay on public transport to get a job, if and when I pass my driving test and I get a car, I will be able get any job without worrying the distance
Any help would be great, thanks!
I don't know which area you are in but when I was taking lessons several driving schools offered discounts to unemployed learners (eg the lessons I took, where they would normally cost £20, they were £17.. £3 difference but the loss would have made an impact all the same) and I done them an hour every fortnight. £34 a month
I would say you are a ways off from actually getting a car and worrying about MOT, road tax, petrol and, the big one, insurance, but their is nothing stopping you putting that £3 (as example) into a savings account and letting it accrue % and add to it every month from each payment towards future costs which will make it easier when it comes to it all or, if you gain employment before then, will mean you at very least won't have to use as much wages and can have more money for leisure (or fuel lol):wave:0 -
Well I can start saving up now for my own car as I have the job at Express Gifts and I start on Monday and it's 7.50 an hour and it's weekly pay every Friday!0
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Grey's_Anatomyfan643 wrote: »Well I can start saving up now for my own car as I have the job at Express Gifts and I start on Monday and it's 7.50 an hour and it's weekly pay every Friday!
Awesome! Well done you :beer::wave:0
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