Hiring a driver for the driving test

alihd

Car_54 said:

I suspect you are simply adding to the stress. Just book a test a few weeks away (agreed with your instructor), and relax.

If the test date is far away from now, then I will forget all UK-specific aspects of driving (adapting to the wheel being on the right, mini-roundabouts, junction & roundabout protocols, 360-degree observation, and a thousand more). Forgetting these and reverting to my natural defaults is the main thing that could cause a failure.

Dr_Crypto

The only practical option seems to be to use a driving instructor and get them to book you the test (that’s what mine did but that a long time ago). 

Perhaps the instructor will facilitate using your own vehicle? 

ontheroad1970

Do you have a second mirror for the examiner?  

Scrapit

alihd said:

sheramber said:

Why can't you drive to the test centre with a suitable person beside you. Why do they ned to drive/?
If you drove there yourself that would be extra practice before your test and could make you less stressed for the test.

Of course I prefer to drive there myself, but then I need a "supervisor" and the creepy regulations make it illegal to pay that supervisor, so I need to ask someone to sit on the wheel themselves IF I'm gonna PAY them.
How can I get that so-called "suitable person"? Out of my so many friends, only one of them have a driving licence, as the rest of them don't need it in London, and the test centres' times are the worst (weekdays, only from 8-16), so it really takes a holiday from each of us to take the test.

sheramber said:

If you pass you intend to drive home ?  What will be different from driving there except a piece of paper?
If you are so stressed about driving should you be considering driving at all?

I have been driving outside of the UK for 13 years before moving here, and I'm confident and skilful enough to drive myself alone. Being stressed about the test is totally different than being stressed about driving. 

3 previous tests say otherwise 

Scrapit

alihd said:

Car_54 said:

Better still, sell the car. Paying tax, insurance and depreciation on a car you can't use can't be helping your state of mind.

How can it be cheaper to sell the car? Taking the test each time on the instructors' car costs £100-£120.
I can take the test every two weeks. Within those two weeks, the cost of owning my car and using it for the test is at most:

• £28 for insurance (£700 annual)
• £5 for fuel on the test day
• Almost zero for the tax (£20 annual fee / 52 weeks per year * 2 weeks for the interval between tests) = £1 for two weeks
• Almost zero for parking (£110 annual fee) = £4 for two weeks
• A decent car bought for £2K doesn't have much depreciation

I have already paid over £360 for the past three tests, so I'm sure using own car pays off substantially.

Paying for a car you cant use is a looser.

[Deleted User]

Scrapit said:

alihd said:

Car_54 said:

Better still, sell the car. Paying tax, insurance and depreciation on a car you can't use can't be helping your state of mind.

How can it be cheaper to sell the car? Taking the test each time on the instructors' car costs £100-£120.
I can take the test every two weeks. Within those two weeks, the cost of owning my car and using it for the test is at most:

• £28 for insurance (£700 annual)
• £5 for fuel on the test day
• Almost zero for the tax (£20 annual fee / 52 weeks per year * 2 weeks for the interval between tests) = £1 for two weeks
• Almost zero for parking (£110 annual fee) = £4 for two weeks
• A decent car bought for £2K doesn't have much depreciation

I have already paid over £360 for the past three tests, so I'm sure using own car pays off substantially.

Paying for a car you cant use is a looser.

A looser what?

Scrapit

blueskinnedbeast said:

Scrapit said:

alihd said:

Car_54 said:

Better still, sell the car. Paying tax, insurance and depreciation on a car you can't use can't be helping your state of mind.

How can it be cheaper to sell the car? Taking the test each time on the instructors' car costs £100-£120.
I can take the test every two weeks. Within those two weeks, the cost of owning my car and using it for the test is at most:

• £28 for insurance (£700 annual)
• £5 for fuel on the test day
• Almost zero for the tax (£20 annual fee / 52 weeks per year * 2 weeks for the interval between tests) = £1 for two weeks
• Almost zero for parking (£110 annual fee) = £4 for two weeks
• A decent car bought for £2K doesn't have much depreciation

I have already paid over £360 for the past three tests, so I'm sure using own car pays off substantially.

Paying for a car you cant use is a looser.

A looser what?

Of money. 
Don't be that guy... too late. So sorry for you.

alihd

Scrapit said:

3 previous tests say otherwise 

Passing all the mock tests and failing the actual tests doesn't say otherwise.

alihd

Scrapit said:

Paying for a car you cant use is a looser.

Having a car worth around 2K, saves me £150 a month for the tests each month (excluded the excesses already). If I fail the next test, I will save at least £80 for the next test which is due in two weeks. If I pass, I can use the car. If I want to sell it, it would have already paid off whatever depreciation it might have. How could it be a looser?

Paying the greedy instructors who are charging twice as normal due to the COVID demand is not a looser? 

SoftCentaur

If you DO take the test in your car, not only should your "supervisor" be insured to drive you if needed, but you also need to be insured for  "driving test purposes".  Unless  you specify this to your insurance company the majority of car insurance will not include it. Naturally, the car needs to be legal too.... and don't forget the "L" plates !