Is my budget deluded?

Helpish · 14-07-2018 10:28PM #1

Hey all, I'm about to jump into the market for a car. Have failed my test 3 times and that's because I've never been insured on a car, and have only got experience through lessons. Turns out now I really need a car, so I'm going to have to bite the bullet, get something, and deal with being a learner until I can get another test soon.

Am I crazy to think I can get a car out on the road for 3.5k? I want something that isn't going to let me down in the next year. I think I am probably mad here, as last time I tried to get insured on a car it was over 2.5k, but that was a car older than 10 years.

I'm hoping I could buy and get something insured for 3.5ish up front. I'd be happy enough if it was another 500 over the year with tax etc. and then hopefully get my costs down 50% next year if I can get the test before then. Madness?

colm_mcm · 14-07-2018 10:31PM

I think you need to get prices on insurance to start with.

Helpish · 15-07-2018 01:46PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think you need to get prices on insurance to start with.

Is there a place I'll likely get insured for less? I usually use chill for quotes.

ELM327 · 15-07-2018 01:49PM

Buy a micra or a yaris or a polo.
Pass your test.
Don't drive unaccompanied.

bazz26 · 15-07-2018 02:11PM

Helpish wrote: »

Is there a place I'll likely get insured for less? I usually use chill for quotes.

There is more than one insurance company/broker. Do a search on google and shop around.

Shefwedfan · 15-07-2018 09:15PM

As a learner are you able to drive on your own? I thought that was illegal now?

I could be wrong....it's a few years since I done my test :-)

Get insurance prices first, your 3,500 might be the insurance on its own

Helpish · 15-07-2018 11:38PM

There's been intentions to bring it into law but I have no other choice. I started trying to learn to drive 3 years ago, I should have bought back then and just done what I am going to do now and I'd have my full licence, but instead I was worried about driving unaccompanied and the consequences. I'm going to college on my own soon and not having a car isn't really conceivable, I won't really be able to function without it. Both the driving instructors I used for my last test told me I should just get a car because there's no other way I'll be able to learn and that the new law won't be enforced strictly if it comes in as they won't have the resources. I'll re-book my test as soon as possible, there's just no way I'm going to be able to get out on the road with a full licence without doing this now, I've done the test 3 times and don't have the support of a regular full-time drivers time.

Helpish · 15-07-2018 11:39PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Get insurance prices first, your 3,500 might be the insurance on its own

It was 2.5 on an old motor so I'd be pretty surprised if it was more than that.

Helpish · 16-07-2018 12:25AM

just tried to get a quote on something and no one came back to me, so i suppose thats one way they can enforce the rule.

Could anyone give me a decent idea of what filters i need to use that are important here? 1L seems like a good idea anyway.

Philb76 · 16-07-2018 12:25AM

In all seriousness ur driving instructors should be struck off get ur licence first and thing's will be a lot easier for everything

Helpish · 16-07-2018 01:15AM

Philb76 wrote: »

In all seriousness ur driving instructors should be struck off get ur licence first and thing's will be a lot easier for everything

How am I supposed to do that without a car on the road? How am I suppose to guarantee I have a full-time driver with me in a place where I don't know anybody? It'll be way harder if I wait.

Del2005 · 16-07-2018 01:58AM

Helpish wrote: »

There's been intentions to bring it into law but I have no other choice. I started trying to learn to drive 3 years ago, I should have bought back then and just done what I am going to do now and I'd have my full licence, but instead I was worried about driving unaccompanied and the consequences. I'm going to college on my own soon and not having a car isn't really conceivable, I won't really be able to function without it. Both the driving instructors I used for my last test told me I should just get a car because there's no other way I'll be able to learn and that the new law won't be enforced strictly if it comes in as they won't have the resources. I'll re-book my test as soon as possible, there's just no way I'm going to be able to get out on the road with a full licence without doing this now, I've done the test 3 times and don't have the support of a regular full-time drivers time.

It's illegal for you to drive unaccompanied now and it'll still be illegal when the introduce fines for people letting you drive illegally.

Lantus · 16-07-2018 05:21AM

1. Focus on passing your test and getting your full license. You must have this to drive on your own.

2. Research cheapest cars to insure. 1l varients are generally the best option. Display the n stickers for prescribed duration.

JustAThought · 16-07-2018 06:19AM

The days of buying a car & driving unaccompanied and getting away with it if you are white and Irish are fading. They lift cars now for unacompanied L drivers - it may have been good advice and worked ten or twenty years back but notsomuch anymore. Regardless your car will not be covered with your 3k insurance if you have a crash or if any idiot crashes into you - because you will be an unacompanied L driver -so you are just taking a big chance and wasting your money. You have failed your test 3 times - once is normal , twice is unlucky but 3 times says there is a problem. Id be getting those tick sheets out and seeing what I am doing wrong - if it is one core area like riding the clutch or if it is many and multiple things.
You saw the awful case last week of that girl driving who was seriously injured in a crash that killed her 4 childhood friends . You dont want to be part of a tragedy or cause one. 3 fails - you should NOT be be planning to be uninsured (or have what will be expensive but invalid insurance) - you will end up at best unable to get insurance in the future when you do pass it.

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:04AM

JustAThought wrote: »

The days of buying a car & driving unaccompanied and getting away with it if you are white and Irish are fading.

What if you're not Irish and white?

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:04AM

JustAThought wrote: »

The days of buying a car & driving unaccompanied and getting away with it if you are white and Irish are fading.

What if you're not Irish and white?

challengemaster · 16-07-2018 10:07AM

Helpish wrote: »

How am I supposed to do that without a car on the road? How am I suppose to guarantee I have a full-time driver with me in a place where I don't know anybody? It'll be way harder if I wait.

Plenty of people able to pass a test just by doing lessons. If you're blaming that for failing then you're just kidding yourself.

Alun · 16-07-2018 10:10AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

As a learner are you able to drive on your own? I thought that was illegal now?

It's always been illegal, apart from the old "second provisional" fudge from a few years back. I don't know where people get this idea that this is a new thing.

Alun · 16-07-2018 10:12AM

challengemaster wrote: »

Plenty of people able to pass a test just by doing lessons. If you're blaming that for failing then you're just kidding yourself.

Whole countries manage to get people on the road and driving with just lessons from a qualified instructor in dual-control cars.

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:14AM

challengemaster wrote: »

Plenty of people able to pass a test just by doing lessons. If you're blaming that for failing then you're just kidding yourself.

I don't know anybody who's passed that way, and every instructor I've had has said road experience outside of lessons is vital. Are you a driving instructor?

Mooooo · 16-07-2018 10:16AM

Tbh you're unlikely to get a quote online, you'll have to ring each company or try a broker. You were insured before why did you discontinue? What age are you. It's highly possible you won't get a quote for anything within your budget. Id suggest looking for accommadation closer to college and perhaps new driving instructors

professore · 16-07-2018 10:17AM

Helpish wrote: »

I don't know anybody who's passed that way, and every instructor I've had has said road experience outside of lessons is vital. Are you a driving instructor?

You can go into a field or private road and work away there. Have you no friends or family with driving licences?

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:23AM

Alun wrote: »

Whole countries manage to get people on the road and driving with just lessons from a qualified instructor in dual-control cars.

I didn't know teaching people to drive was a public service in some countries, which countries are these? Maybe the criteria to be an instructor is also better.

sonyvision · 16-07-2018 10:25AM

Yes your budget is mad. My first years insurance on a 1.2 clio was 2,500 euro a year with axa. They allowed me to pay it monthly 208 or so a month earning a my no claims bonus during the year and reducing the monthly cost each quarter. (It was a student policy deal) may still do it.

My car was 8,000 but this was 3 years old with no millage I got it on finance. You can get a budget car 2,000 but it may not be up in the years.

Oh and I never had a car before this and passed my driving test with 7 driving lessons and used the school car all while sitting my leaving cert so it can be done! Bad information from your driving instructors telling you to just buy a car and the law won't be enforced. You need a better instructor!

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:27AM

Mooooo wrote: »

Tbh you're unlikely to get a quote online, you'll have to ring each company or try a broker. You were insured before why did you discontinue? What age are you. It's highly possible you won't get a quote for anything within your budget. Id suggest looking for accommadation closer to college and perhaps new driving instructors

I've never been insured. I've never had a car because of my learner permit, and have never had the privilege of being insured on someone else's car to drive under their supervision. I'm in my mid-thirties.

morritty · 16-07-2018 10:28AM

Helpish wrote: »

I don't know anybody who's passed that way, and every instructor I've had has said road experience outside of lessons is vital. Are you a driving instructor?

I passed the test that way.

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:29AM

professore wrote: »

You can go into a field or private road and work away there. Have you no friends or family with driving licences?

No one that can help with where I'm living, which has been the case for a while. Anybody older would not know half of the rules required to pass the test nowadays anyway.

Heres Johnny · 16-07-2018 10:32AM

Helpish wrote: »

challengemaster wrote: »

Plenty of people able to pass a test just by doing lessons. If you're blaming that for failing then you're just kidding yourself.

I don't know anybody who's passed that way, and every instructor I've had has said road experience outside of lessons is vital. Are you a driving instructor?

I did. Uncle and employer at the time bought me 12 lessons for 18th birthday and made me book the test for when lessons were over. Failed but booked again and passed couple of weeks later with 1 more lesson on the test course in Naas. No other driving experience at all.

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:34AM

morritty wrote: »

I passed the test that way.

Well done, how many lessons did you do?

Helpish · 16-07-2018 10:40AM

sonyvision wrote: »

Oh and I never had a car before this and passed my driving test with 7 driving lessons and used the school car all while sitting my leaving cert so it can be done!

The test is different now to when you did it. Cheers for all that information though, its food for thought.

sonyvision · 16-07-2018 10:48AM

Helpish wrote: »

The test is different now to when you did it. Cheers for all that information though, its food for thought.

I doubt it changed that much, the basics are the same! Even had to point out how to fill the washer fluid for the wipers, answer questions at the start, reverse around the corner, observation skills... only difference now is your forced to take 12 lessons so your chances of passing should be improved!

Is my budget deluded?

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