costs of running a car

MoneySeeker1

I have absolutely no idea as I've never needed and do not want to have a car.

But I moved a few years ago to a more remote area with a poor bus service and just enough social life for me and I've been managing with that level of  bus service and social life okay.

But - along has come Lockdown and the destructive effect it's having on the economy etc and I am worried about two things there - 1. that the public transport will get even worse Afterwards (which would make it an unfeasibly low level for someone used to city public transport) 2. that the social life may also be noticeably worse Afterwards (with venues possibly shutting etc and ditto would be unfeasibly low level for someone used to city social life).

That would mean I'd have to have a car - even though I still don't want one - just in order to be able to get around much at all and to spread my social life over a wider area (in order to have enough of it). I'm used to the idea many in my social circle have a rather wide radius for social life for those sort of reasons already.

So - I did learn to drive - MANY years ago and then never did (long story). So I do have a licence (pre photo licence era) and therefore it should still be valid I gather without a problem. Obviously, after all that time, I don't think it would be wise to get in a car and just drive - as I'm sure I'll have forgotten it all. So I'd have to learn to drive all over again - and just be glad at least I didn't have to take the test again (as I've already passed and got a licence).

I'm wondering how to set about all this in the circumstances and the basic plan is:
1. Take a full-level intensive driving course - cost probably approx £2,000 (which I haven't got at the moment and would have to save up for). No test necessary - because I did already pass way back. Old licence still operative.
2. Buy a cheap (but reasonable car) and it would have to be on "finance" - as I don't have the money for that either. I'm guessing I'd have to pay around £5,000-£7,000 and it would be paid off over 4-5 years.
3. I'd have to get road tax and insurance on the car and have no idea what that would cost. I just know I wouldnt be charged "young male driver" rate - as I'm a middle-aged woman. Also I gather I'd have to get someone else put on the insurance for the car - even though I'd be the only one driving it - as the last I know there was the illogical situation that car insurance is cheaper for a couple/two friends than it is for a single person.

That's the basic gist of the plan if I'm forced into buying a car. Have I overlooked anything?

Car_54

I certainly wouldn't advise spending £2,000 on a course. Find a decent instructor (by recommendation if possible) and only take as many lessons as you actually need. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised at how much you actually remember.

Scrapit

In theory you could just rent a car and use that. Do you have a friend that would be willing to give you some refresher lessons?

MoneySeeker1

I am thinking it might well be a good idea to rent a car for a few weeks to generally "get the feel of it" after refresher driving lessons - before I start thinking of some thousands of £s for buying one of my own. 

Quite frankly - I am as nervous as heck about the whole idea of trying to drive a car around - when I honestly don't want one myself - and think it would probably (make that almost certainly) boil down to "If that's what it takes to do my shopping/mix with my social circle where I am now - but I wouldnt even contemplate driving as far as more urban/city I've come from surroundings - as there is LOADS of traffic there and I would be way too scared to drive around when so many other people were doing so too".

Skint_yet_Again

Have you thought about an automatic car ? I have a full manual paper licence but love my current little automatic. No need to use a clutch or change gear. A couple of lessons and you may find you can concentrate more on actual driving when not having to worry about changing gear. Although an automatic can add a bit to the initial purchase price. 

I bought mine at just under 3 years old, ex motability car it had 2 years still left on the warranty & full service history. As well as road tax & insurance there is MOT/ service and repairs / tyres & actual cost of petrol.  

I am 51yo, don’t have anyone else on my insurance & live on the edge of a city, but I do have full no claims & no accidents. I mostly travel locally for work & shopping and petrol is/was £10 a week Pre-lockdown (currently working from home). 

I save £50 a month for MOT/ service / repairs / new tyres and my insurance is currently £217 a year.  Breakdown cover national & relay is £68 a year. 

I do a long drive several hundred miles a couple of times a year to visit family & save an extra £120 for petrol for that, but I have peace of mind with the breakdown cover, whether I breakdown at home or on the motorway. (Has not broken down since I got it thankfully! )

Just to add, road tax depends on the car mine is a Hyundai i10 & £150 for the year. 

You can look more into Road tax & insurance and do some dummy quotes online once you start looking at buying a car 

born_again

Get a motorbike

Grumpy_chap

My wife had to give up driving for medical reasons for 10 years.  When she started again, AA driving school had a package for exactly the scenario based on a block of 3 x 1 hour lessons.  Much less than £2k.

elsien

It can be cheaper to add someone else as a named driver, but in my case it only made £50 difference. 
It would depend on their job,  their postcode and their driving history.  It's really not as simple as saying insurance is cheaper for a couple than a single person. 

MoneySeeker1

Thank you everyone. Particularly Skint-Yet-Again for a very comprehensive picture of just how much I'd be talking about.

I've got a much clearer idea of what's what now.

I've certainly been thinking that an automatic would probably make life easier for me - as, from memory, it was the constant gear-changing that was such a nuisance. Have had a quick look on screen at what cars a local garage has available and first thing I noticed was not that many of them seem to be automatic - so my choice would be restricted rather by having to rule out a sizeable proportion of the cars for being diesel and/or not being an automatic.

Wondering what makes are a "bad idea" and best to avoid as well.

GunJack

...and you don't need to spend £5-7k on buying a car!! Many of us buy for under £1k and then there are other savings to be made - no need for expensive main dealer servicing, for example, you can find a good, cheap local garage instead. As long as you have someone who knows a bit about cars to go look at them with you, you can do pretty well like that and save a packet over time...

Goudy

There aren't many true small automatic cars about these days.
I know this might not make a lot of sense to you but a lot of manufacturers use systems that operate the clutch and gears for you, they are basically automated manuals.
These don't drive that well and can be problematic. They don't tend to "creep" slowly forward or backward with your foot off the throttle, so it can be hard to control them slowly, like reversing.
They are packed with hydraulics, pumps and electronics, plus have a wearable clutch like a manual car, so they do tend to cause problems sooner or later.

There are different "automatics", like the automated manuals above, these include CVT's, Dual Clutch systems and what you might recognise as a proper automatic, the Torque Converter auto.

Due to emissions a lot of manufactures dropped the Torque Converter Autos as they require a lot of engine power to run them, but the systems they replaced them with have their own problems and now they are starting to revert back to TC's or change to another system.

A couple of systems to steer clear of are Fiats Dualogic and Fords Powershift, lots of problems and very expensive to put right.

VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda use a dual Clutch system called DSG and on their smaller cars it hasn't been that reliable.

A lot of the Japanese manufacturers use CVT's and they are pretty reliable but can feel a bit odd to drive and be a bit noisy at times.
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid has a very robust combined CVT gearbox/electric motor, they're pretty fuss free to drive and reliability is very strong, both the engine, electric motor and gearbox all operate unstressed and servicing is still pretty simple. Mini Cabbers pile mega mileages on their Prius's and it's the same system in the Yaris Hybrid.
The Nissan Micra has a regular CVT (no electric motor) and it isn't too bad to drive, they can be a bit noisy at times but the engines have suffered a few glitches with timing chains in the past.

Kia/Hyundai use a proper TC auto in their Picanto and i10 and though it effects emissions (less fuel economy) they drive really well.

I would suggest for your money look out for a Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10 auto, but if you can find a nice Toyota Yaris Hybrid in budget, I'd be more than tempted to go for that and though it will more that likely be a bit older with a few more miles on the clock, I wouldn't be overly concerned if it's been serviced correctly. (had a yearly battery check).