Driving Down Driving Costs

With the cost of living seemingly on an ever upward curve, learning to drive, buying a car and getting a deal on insurance that will not mean you have to sell your granny or at least not both of them may seem an impossible task. While learning to drive with a friend or family member may seem an attractive option, there are some disadvantages to not taking professional lessons.

Road Rage

There is a special type of road-rage that can develop when being taught to drive by a close relative, be it a father who always knows best, or a slightly jumpy mother who is ready to launch the ejector seat the moment you approach a roundabout. Learning to drive in this way can cause quite a strain on even the closest relationship and private learning has one very big downside. Most experienced drivers will be experienced at driving badly. Even good drivers will have picked up bad habits in the course of their driving career, and it is these bad habits that they may pass on unwittingly to the novice driver. While you may save money on Driving Lessons, you may find that the chances of passing the test first, second or even third time diminish considerably. Taking a structured course of driving lessons with a qualified instructor will increase your chances of passing first time.

How Many Lessons?

Driving lessons are structured to help you get through the test itself, to provide you with an understanding of how a vehicle actually works and to coach you through the theory part of the test. A qualified driving instructor will be experienced in spotting your strengths and weakness and will be able to tailor the course to your individual needs. Combining a course of driving lessons with plenty of private practice is a good way to get the best of both worlds saving some money and learning the right way to pass a test! After the first lesson your driving instructor will normally be able to give you an idea of how many hours of tuition you will need before you are ready to take your test. This will give you a good idea of how much the course is going to cost and you can save money by block-booking lessons. Statistics suggest that you will probably need about half as much time practising your driving privately, so you can try to plan this at the same time, with the aim of completing things as quickly as possible.

The Next Step:

Sadly, once you have passed your test, the costs do not end there! The biggest cost you are likely to face, apart from a car itself, is the cost of insurance. Insurance companies charge some of their highest premiums to young drivers. If you are between 17 and 20, male and have just passed your test your insurance application will probably be the cause for celebration at the insurance companies office. You, you will be glad to hear, fall into one of the highest risk driving categories and therefore one of the most expensive to insure. But, all is not lost. A good driving school will offer a number of different courses and try to find one whose instructors are qualified to teach the Pass Plus Course.

The Pass Plus is an advanced driving course, designed by the Driving Standards Agency and endorsed by most major insurance companies. A short course that includes driving in different weather conditions, motorway driving and driving on rural roads amongst others, the Pass Plus is a worthwhile investment as it will almost certainly reduce the cost of your insurance. At the same time the course will provide you with the skills of a more experienced driver, making you a safer driver all round. If you have not yet sold your granny, she might even offer to pay for it!