Insurance on parents car ran out - should I give up?

Phoenix Wright

Hi all,

I started to learn to drive in April and have completed 8 out of 12 lessons. I completed these relatively quickly over the summer, but my instructor rightfully felt that I had not been getting enough practice outside of the these. I have not completed a lesson in about 10 weeks.

Things got in the way over the summer, and now my insurance in my father's car has expired. It was a one-time offer by the looks of things, the insurance company have hiked the price to 1200 for the year. This wouldn't be an issue if I was using the car on a regular basis, but sadly opportunities to practice are few and far between. I have been getting road practice around once a week for about 1.5 hours, but it doesn't help that the car is a 152 and my parents are very nervous of me damaging the car.

I have money saved and could afford to buy a car. However, on initial impression the insurance prices for a learner not as a named driver are just outrageous. I would be spending upwards of 4k to have a car sitting in the drive since a fully licensed driver is necessary at all times and it is out of range. I am 25, which I felt would reduce the prices but it seems that being on my third provisional is going against me. This is despite the fact that I started learning in the last six months.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? It feels like I will be forever priced out of driving, and at this age depending on lifts is really getting me down.

tbahh

OP, I'd recommend finishing the four other EDT lessons. You've already completed 2/3 of them, you can definitely do the other 4. This will also let you book the test.

As you are on your third learner permit, it is valid for one year. I'm presuming you got it in March/April, seeing as that's when you started to learn how to drive. That would mean you have 5-6 months to get test-ready.

Why not invest the money, which you would be spending on insurance, on getting more lessons? You could even try different instructors to give you a feel for driving with different people beside you in the car.

I know learning to drive can be demoralising, especially depending on lifts to get you places, but don't give up on it, you've already put in so much effort getting behind the wheel.

Good luck!

Phoenix Wright

tbahh wrote:

Why not invest the money, which you would be spending on insurance, on getting more lessons? You could even try different instructors to give you a feel for driving with different people beside you in the car.

Thanks for your kind words! I have already paid for the test, so proceeding is probably the right option even if there is only a very small chance I will pass. Hopefully it will be possible without having a car to practice in, my instructor is adamant that it would take a miracle but surely others have managed it?

Mehaffey1

Many have passed without practicing in a car at home, I'm one.

Phoenix Wright

Mehaffey1 wrote:

Many have passed without practicing in a car at home, I'm one.

Yeah I have continued to be surprised with his stance tbh, I was expecting him to say you need more than 12 lessons to pass maybe 18-24 or something but it hasn't even been hinted at. How many lessons did you take in the end?

Mehaffey1

Northern Ireland test 9 years ago.
Had never drove as a kid anywhere like on a farm so my first experience driving was my first lesson.
Did 7 lessons and went for the test.
Failed that with one 'major' error and did one more long lesson then retook the test.
Passed.
Although I must say I was car and bike mad growing up and by this stage had also done 10's of 1000's of km on the road cycling so that was probably a big help.

zapper55

Op I think you are being very defeatist. Do the remaining 4 lessons and as many more than you need to get practise that brings you up to test standard.

When I was learning I only practised in the instructors car as I didnt have my own.

When you get your test your insurance quote will go way down.

Phoenix Wright

Thanks both, there's definitely been some good points that have got me thinking. I'm going to continue watching the Dane Tyghe videos and pick up the lessons again. It's reassuring to hear that people have passed the test without having a car to practice in, hopefully my instructor will be understanding

Posy

I passed on lessons alone.
I took a couple of lessons a week for about 5-6 months including pretests.

Must have ended up at about fifty something lessons costing me around €1,500 including car hire for the test. A lot cheaper than buying a car and insuring it to practice in! Plus, I consider it a sound investment for a valuable life skill.

Likeabossboss

Keep doing lessons until you feel comfortable. After these 13 lessons are up I’d actually recommend switching instructor with good reviews or from word of mouth. Once your 13 lessons are up get a mock test and see what parts of your driving you greatly need improvement on. That will give you focus on what you need to improve on

zapper55

I'd stop watching YouTube videos on driving if I were you. There is no substitute for being in a car and those videos may make you second guess yourself or your instructor's guidance.

Phoenix Wright

Posy wrote:

Must have ended up at about fifty something lessons costing me around €1,500 including car hire for the test. A lot cheaper than buying a car and insuring it to practice in! Plus, I consider it a sound investment for a valuable life skill.

It's definitely worth it imo, and the car hire is not something I would have thought of!

Phoenix Wright

Likeabossboss wrote:

Keep doing lessons until you feel comfortable. After these 13 lessons are up I’d actually recommend switching instructor with good reviews or from word of mouth. Once your 13 lessons are up get a mock test and see what parts of your driving you greatly need improvement on. That will give you focus on what you need to improve on

Yeah it's been over two months now since my last lesson, I am wary of bad habits setting in at this stage. It all comes down to road practice, I complete the turnabout with no issues 9/10 times, the reverse around the corner maybe 8/10 times and the hill start 10/10 times when practicing. However, a couple of weeks ago I conked and panicked during a hill start, then conked again and my father had to signal for cars to go around and I put on the hazard lights, then it took me over five mins to calm down fully

Phoenix Wright

zapper55 wrote:

I'd stop watching YouTube videos on driving if I were you. There is no substitute for being in a car and those videos may make you second guess yourself or your instructor's guidance.

My instructor's advice has to take precedence I suppose at the end of the day, I wish the lessons didn't go so quickly

MascotDec85

Loads of my pupils pass with little or no practice and lessons only. The insurance is very costly but you’re basically spreading out a reduced cost over a period of time just sticking with the lessons. It’s also a benefit that there’s a reduced chance of picking up bad habits.

It’s totally possible, don’t give up just yet.

If you’ve already applied for your test be careful when it comes to you finishing EDT. Once your final lesson is uploaded you’ll be taken off EDT Hold and your test application will be completed meaning, on average, your test could be 7 weeks later. That might not be enough time to prepare. Also remember that you can postpone your test twice and not lose your fee as long as you do so at least 10 days before your test date.

Phoenix Wright

MascotDec85 wrote:

If you’ve already applied for your test be careful when it comes to you finishing EDT. Once your final lesson is uploaded you’ll be taken off EDT Hold and your test application will be completed meaning, on average, your test could be 7 weeks later. That might not be enough time to prepare. Also remember that you can postpone your test twice and not lose your fee as long as you do so at least 10 days before your test date.

I'll keep all of that in mind for sure. Hopefully I will be ready for it by January or something along those lines. Hopefully one I can come back to this thread and say that I passed