Few questions before possibly buying my first car?

Danger781

So a friend of mine is offering to sell me his car for €275, a deal which I'm finding very difficult to say no to.. It's about €1000 cheaper than the equivalent on carzone..

Few problems though..

a) I don't have my provisional license yet. I heard with the new rules I'd need to be on a provisional license for an entire year before I can apply for my test? If it was only 6 months it wouldn't bother me all that much, but an entire year?

b) I'm not sure if it's worth purchasing and insuring the car if I can only use the damn thing when my Dad is in the car. For the price though, is it worth it?

c) Could I insure the car under my Dad's policy with me as the driver?

Thanks in advance for any help lads

random person

i have heard that it is one year too but i am not entirely sure

Compton

it was 6 months and im pretty sure it still is.

Danger781

Also, in relation to the possible car:

1.4L Nissan Almera 1999 Saloon

matt70iu

Hi

Yep u have to wait 6 months before you can apply for your test. You will also have to complete the 12 mandatory lessons with a approved driving instructor.

Regarding the car, I would get a few quotes from insurance companies, as would be a bit concerned about the cost of insuring a 1.4 when your starting out. It's likely to be at least 3 or 4 thousand for the year.

Check when the nct is out also as I got stung in the past. Picked a car up for 300 quid and ended up spending 700 a couple of months later to get it throughout the nct:)

You should take the insurance out in your own name if you are to be the main driver as you need to start building up your driving record and could find yourself in a sticky spot in the event of a claim, if it's subsequently discovered you were the main driver and are not the main poilicy holder.

Best of luck getting started, it's tough and expensive, but worth it in the end:)

ADIDriving

Matt is correct it is only six months. As regards the twelve lessons, you do need to practise for at least three hours in between. So having your own car would be very usefull. You would need your Dad there as you are learning.

Alanstrainor

You have to wait 6 months before you can SIT THE TEST you can apply before the 6 months. So you could sit the test on the day you have your Learner Permit for 6 months. Provided you've completed all the lessons that are required.

Alanstrainor

Also, with regard to the car. I would never buy a car off a friend, especially considering the price type of car we're talking about here. Things will get messy if/when things go wrong with the car.

275 sounds very cheap, does it have an NCT? If not, why not? If it has emissions trouble, or something else seriously wrong with it, it mightn't be worth anything.

Danger781

Well I was a bit weary as to why he was selling it so cheap, so I asked him if there was anything wrong.

The only problem is a small scratch, and the timing belt will need to be tightened in about 5 months or so. The reason I'm selling it to so cheap is because I'm buying my new car next week so I want to cancel the insurance on this one ASAP so I can swap over.

Forgot to ask about the NCT though :P

Alanstrainor

Danger781 wrote: »

Well I was a bit weary as to why he was selling it so cheap, so I asked him if there was anything wrong.



Forgot to ask about the NCT though :P

The price of the car will be nothing compared to the running costs. I'd keep that in mind. I'd rather spend 1000 on something that works with a year NCT, than 250 on something that's messed up.

Insurance is going to be 2000 at best if it's your own policy. Tax on a 1.4 is 400ish, and then you have petrol and maintenance to add on.

I wouldn't rush into buying anything if i were you.

kearney13

I've my driving test tomorrow if all goes well I'll be out looking for a car, the car I would go for is a vw bora or passat tdi 90 BHP. They are dear to tax for the year but there a great runner and rarely let ya down. If I was you I would wait till you have applied for your test so you can buy a car that will do you a few years. You will be cripled paying for insurance on a learners permit, best off waiting in my opinion.

Danger781

Danger781 wrote: »

c) Could I insure the car under my Dad's policy with me as the driver?

Thanks in advance for any help lads

Dont know if anyone answered C. So I'll try.

For you dad to be insured in the car, it must be in his name. Also he can only have one policy as the main driver. So if he is insured in another car (ie His own car), he cant be insured as the main driver on your car, and therefore you cant be a named driver, and then you insurance is going to be 3-4+k

Danger781

kearney13 wrote: »

I've my driving test tomorrow if all goes well I'll be out looking for a car, the car I would go for is a vw bora or passat tdi 90 BHP. They are dear to tax for the year but there a great runner and rarely let ya down. If I was you I would wait till you have applied for your test so you can buy a car that will do you a few years. You will be cripled paying for insurance on a learners permit, best off waiting in my opinion.

Yeah that's the plan now. Gonna need at least €5000 though. :pac:

Looks like I need a new job!

kearney13

I passed this morning over the moon couldn't believe it made a balls of a few things but passed none the less It's very costly but if you buy a good car it will do you for years although they are dear they will seldom give you hassle. I know I'm still young to have such a big car but I like something sturdy on the road and what better than a vw passat and because I worked for it I would never abuse it and I would treat it like a child :P haha!

Alanstrainor

kearney13 wrote: »

I've my driving test tomorrow if all goes well I'll be out looking for a car, the car I would go for is a vw bora or passat tdi 90 BHP. They are dear to tax for the year but there a great runner and rarely let ya down. If I was you I would wait till you have applied for your test so you can buy a car that will do you a few years. You will be cripled paying for insurance on a learners permit, best off waiting in my opinion.

kearney13 wrote: »

I passed this morning over the moon couldn't believe it made a balls of a few things but passed none the less It's very costly but if you buy a good car it will do you for years although they are dear they will seldom give you hassle. I know I'm still young to have such a big car but I like something sturdy on the road and what better than a vw passat and because I worked for it I would never abuse it and I would treat it like a child :P haha!

Being honest, boras, passats are way over priced for what they are. There's something about a VW badge that makes people go mad for some reason. I wouldn't be hell bent on one of them anyway. Although that being said, i do drive a VW polo! Haha, if i was buying a cheap car it'd be a fiesta 1.25 with the highest spec you could find.

Buffman

Ye, tbh there's nothing necessarily wrong with the Almera just because it's going cheap, the friend probably just wants to get rid of it. He'd want to be a right chancer to sell a lemon to a friend. Does it have an NCT?

It's actually not a bad car to start with, my first car was a 97 almera and they're extremely reliable. Tax is €333 per year, running costs are ok.

I've a feeling the OP's age will affect the insurance cost a lot more than the car.

I'll try to answer your questions anyway.

Danger781 wrote: »

a) I don't have my provisional license yet. I heard with the new rules I'd need to be on a provisional license for an entire year before I can apply for my test? If it was only 6 months it wouldn't bother me all that much, but an entire year?

b) I'm not sure if it's worth purchasing and insuring the car if I can only use the damn thing when my Dad is in the car. For the price though, is it worth it?

c) Could I insure the car under my Dad's policy with me as the driver?

a) It's 6 months to sit the test.

b) Yep, you'll have to do your sums and work out the total cost. It's expensive to get on the road.

c) That's called 'fronting' and you could find yourself in hot water for it.

Your best/cheapest option might be to see if you can become a named driver on a parents car, until you pass the test.

kearney13

I know what ya mean but I live in a rural enough area and a small car would be ruined on theses roads in a few months so a strong car is badly needed around here. If you buy a well kept one they will do well over 450000 miles no doubt, turbo might cause problems but that would only be from driving it to hard and just general wear and tear after that. I wouldn't mind a seat ibiza or vw polo but I would only spend all my money fixing it with these roads here

Danger781

The Almera has no NCT I believe him when I say there's nothing wrong with it though.

Don't think it would be worth it to buy it without having my full license first though