L Permit dilemma

ladyluna

Hi! I've been on an L permit for two years now, just recently renewed my first one

I'm struggling getting additional lessons as I work full time and I have no time during the day or morning. Also I'm struggling getting practice as I have no car. I've done the 12 lessons plus additional ones, so around 25 lessons so far maybe but my instructor still says I'm not ready as I need to practice more. How am I supposed to practice without a car ? I've asked friends if they'd be willing to lend me the car to drive with them but they all refused as they are not willing to take risks lol.

So, question is, do I just buy a car on an L permit? Is there any insurance that would give me insurance for it at all? Would it be cheaper then getting 80 euro lessons once weekly I can't attend either way cause of my work schedule? Unless there's someone who's available Saturdays but I'm struggling finding an instructor as all of them are too busy and there's a list of waiting for months to get one. I can't pass my test without proper practice. Still haven't sat a test yet. Not really sure how to work my way around it. I don't really have reliable people around me unfortunately. Really frustrated at this stage I just want to drive as it's been 2 years now.

FishOnABike

OP if you don't have reliable people around you who would have a B licence for more than two years to accompany you every time when you are driving on your learner permit if you bought a car?

walshtipp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311375/l-permit-dilemma

I would just go for it and buy a car. That's what I did when I was in your position. You should have no issue getting insured in your own name, but I would advise adding an experienced driver as a named driver on the policy to bring the price down a little. Do a couple of lessons with your instructor in your own car and try to get the test out of the way as soon as possible. Try hard to get someone with a licence (without N) to accompany you between lessons, this is how you will gain competence. I think the rule of learners not being allowed to drive alone is stupid to be honest.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311375/l-permit-dilemma

friends cant just lend you their car anyway, you need to be insured

Yes buy a car.

You won’t pass your test without driving experience. That’s why there’s a 6 month waiting period. You can have all the technical know how to drive a car good as much as you want but you need experience driving the likes of which you can’t get from an hour or two a week during a lesson.

Im not surprised your friends wouldn’t loan you a car but they might well be up to be an accompanying driver while you practice.

I got insurance for about €1100 with Axa when I bought my car last year. Never driven before either.

freshpopcorn

What type of work do you do OP?

Can you swap hours/days, take holidays, etc?

I did a few of my early on driving lessons in the dark.

What age are you?

I first got insurance on a learner permit when I was 27 with Axa.

Having the car allowed me to practice more often.

Learning to drive takes time and costs money unforentaly.

lizzyjane

I would get the car. You will be waiting the guts of a year anyways on a driving test if your in Dublin. A complete shambles the test waiting times is.

Amnesty should be given to L drivers who have proof of booking a test and have completed their 12 lessons that they can drive alone. We all dont live in this ideal world where people have a full driver to accompany them all the time.

djan

Make sure to check insurance quotes on the car before buying as the can vary hugely even on same model of car.

You'll need a car anyway so might as well go for it now and you can offer friends free lifts to wherever they need to go to entice them!