Older first time driver questions...

kimmyt1987

OK, so here it is...

Excuse the stupid questions in advance please.
I'm a female, in my thirties and have still somehow managed to not have to be driving up until now.

Passed my theory test two years ago and wasn't in the position to take lessons, theory has lapsed now since the end of January and needs to be renewed before I can do anything else.

Ideally I'm aiming to be driving, fully licensed in the next year as I really need it for work. Will be looking at something like a Transit Connect or a similar small van on commercial insurance. As having a B listing, can I drive one of these on a provisional now?

Insurance;
What is the best route to take? Named driver on my car and someone else on the insurance? On someone elses? Dad drives a taxi so that probably effects it too if I was to try get onto his... I'm clueless!
Can a newly passed driver take out a commercial policy without a minimum number of years driving etc too?

Any advice greatly appreciated, I was mad to have not done this years ago.

Wishbone Ash

You may drive a small van such as Transit Connect on a Learner Permit as it comes under category B and you'll have to be accompanied on public roads.

Insurance is difficult to answer. It probably varies from company to company but I'd think they will require a Driving Licence rather than a Learner Permit.

MissShihTzu

You can try a broker, but I doubt they will offer commercial insurance on a learner permit. Of course, you will need to be accompanied by a licenced driver at all times.

kimmyt1987

Thanks guys, probably should have worded that better, won't need commercial insurance untill fully licensed and able to use it for work obviously.

punisher5112

kimmyt1987 wrote: »

Thanks guys, probably should have worded that better, won't need commercial insurance untill fully licensed and able to use it for work obviously.

You will need commercial insurance anyway as it's a commercial vehicle.

You would be best get your license 1st then go from there.

You need minimum 12 lessons.

6 months till you can sit test so very possible to do in a year.

Commercial tax will be an issue unless you have a business to tax as.

You can drive box vans 3500kg and under and likes of sprinter van etc on B license.

kimmyt1987

punisher5112 wrote: »

You will need commercial insurance anyway as it's a commercial vehicle.

You would be best get your license 1st then go from there.

You need minimum 12 lessons.

6 months till you can sit test so very possible to do in a year.

Commercial tax will be an issue unless you have a business to tax as.

You can drive box vans 3500kg and under and likes of sprinter van etc on B license.

Thanks punisher,
Would you advise get insured on someone elses policy till I get a full license or get a full driver on my policy etc?

punisher5112

kimmyt1987 wrote: »

Thanks punisher,
Would you advise get insured on someone elses policy till I get a full license or get a full driver on my policy etc?

I would say get insurance on likes of a small car for a year and get some experience 1st.

It may suit you and it may not but insurance is still crazy and why they give the AA so much air time on many news outlets such as rte, 98fm etc etc. They keep increasing their insurance too and then on about it has lowered in the last year and then giving out other insurance companies continue to rise.


You could get likes of a Yaris or Suzuki swift etc and drop the rear seats.

Whatever you go for as mentioned already you can't drive alone and will also have to display N plates when you pass for 2 years.

Galbin

You may very well be able to learn to drive within a year; however that is very different from getting a licence. Unless you live in an area with high pass rates, you might have to take your test 3/4 or more times. Sadly, they don't just fail you for dangerous things, they also mark little imperfect things and then add them up to make a fail. So if you pass first time, great, but be warned that this might not be the case.

The other thing is to make sure you have daily or near daily access to a car. You may be able to drive without that, but you won't have the confidence needed to pass the test.

cantdecide

Galbin wrote: »

The other thing is to make sure you have daily or near daily access to a car.

I agree with this and the other point is that if someone is really determined to pass, the thing to remember is that behaving in such a way as to make sure you continue to be challenged is key. There's no point in resting on your laurels taking that same route you know like the back of your hand or reversing around that same kerb over and over or that same hill start. Once the learning curve starts to level out, it's time to start finding narrower lanes and more awkward situations and getting nerdy about creating exercises that will challenge.

That was the advice that resonated with me when I was starting out and I passed both my car and motorcycle tests first time in 8 and 7 months respectively. It's not because I'm brilliant (that had nothing to do with it), it was just because I approached it geekily!

Samuel T. Cogley

It's a piece of cake to move from a small car to a Transit. If anything it's easier to drive the Transit. Lean in something small then move over.