Recommend car for mature learner? (insurance reasons)

Hi everyone,

I desperately need to learn how to drive for future work reasons, but the insurance seems bonkers!

I'm 36, have no experience of driving at all. Haven't got provisional or lessons yet.

I was given a 2004 Honda Civic from friends who were emigrating, but the one and only quote I got was €4,100. Way out of my league.
I plan on selling the Civic once it passes the NCT next week and buy something else to learn in, that will be cheaper insurance wise. My Father in law said I should get a berlingo as it'll be handy for work.
I'm really not fussed at all. I just need a car that I can afford to keep on the road!

Nuw

In fairness the civic is a good one to start with... plus you know where it's from, you probably know its history... IMO it doesn't make sense to sell it and buy something that would -MAYBE- cost less to insure but to face repair bill the amount of three years insurance.

If it was me I'd keep it, get my learner, get these 12 hours mandatory (or more, depending how confident you are) lessons with an instructor, pass my test asap, you'll see then that your premium will go way way down (mine got halved).

I think (to be confirmed) that you need to have the learner for 6 months before applying for the test, which would hypothetically speaking cost you 2050 in insurance if you were to stick with that one quote you had, and that's my next point:

get one quote from each and every insurer you can see in the phone book, the internet or anywhere else, then do the same with brokers.

It looks like you did phone around, but did you phone everyone of them? give them a call, don't use the internet quoting system, way better deals over the phone (in my experience)

colm_mcm

civics get unfairly loaded by insurance companies.
get quotes on similar cars to see if you're gonna get fleeced because it's a civic.