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Child Item

Electric car for learner driver?

xboxdad

Hi everyone,

Did anyone use a small electric car for learner training / subsequent accompanied driving (when Aviva's 6 months learner cover runs out)?

Thinking of getting a Hyundai Inster that'd be used like that.

The model is too new to put into comparison sites, but in general it's a size of a Kia Picanto and its performance is 97hp. (new price is 19k approx).

Does this sound acceptable for insurance cost? (cheapest/smallest new BEV essentially)

Thank you.

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kirving

The only think to consider is that if the learner does their test in an Automatic, they're restricted to driving Automatics. This is a non-issue for most people, but just worth remembering.

As for the insurance cost, it's a new car with the latest safety features, which insurance companies look favorably on. The second hand car market is outrageous still, so when once upon a time a starter car for a few grand was a good idea, it makes less financial sense now.

It's great value at €19k, but I would strongly suggest going for the €22k Elegance version.

€3k for the following is great value.

Larger battery
Heat pump (more efficient heating in the winter
Battery heater (better charging, better range)
LED lights
Front parking sensors
Roof rails (it's not a large car and this makes a roof rack easier)
15" → 17" Wheels
Adjustable rear seats
Auto Dimming Mirror (a godsend)
Rear seat phone charger

You'd probably get at least €1k back on selling it in a few years too. You don't want be be trying to sell the base model IMO.

xboxdad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123064676#Comment_123064676

Thank you for your advice.

We were looking at the 2nd hand market for a stick shifter for weeks and the state of things is shocking. Makes no sense I'm afraid.

We've an Ioniq 5 as our family car, so the only reason to look at an ICE was to get him a full license. We dropped that plan now it appears.

"As cheap as possible" with 5 years bumper to bumper and 8 years battery warranty is our goal now.

Battery heater wouldn't be used, heat pump is nice on the Ioniq 5, but we didn't have it on our previous e-Niro and that car was still awesome. 7kWh higher capacity makes no difference for us as a 2nd car.

So my only concern is insurance right now.

Akrasia

My oldest child is 15 now and I have no qualms with him learning to drive in an electric Leaf. In fact, I can see many benefits. Manual transmissions are on the way out. No point in spending thousands extra just on the off chance that your son/daughter might some day need to drive a manual.

That was a perfectly reasonable idea up to now, but for the current generation of learners, its less and less necessary

cobham

Does the need to sit a test in an electric car make for delay in getting appointment for driving test or no difference?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123064908#Comment_123064908

Why would the fuel type of your car effect the waiting time for your driving test?

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123064908#Comment_123064908

Its just auto vs manual. And any driving tester should be able to certify either

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123064908#Comment_123064908

I don't think the RSA or driving instructors do lessons or tests in Electric cars yet. Its either ICE Auto or Manual. That is it. I suppose an electric car can be classed as an Auto on the test if you have your own.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123064858#Comment_123064858

We've also got teenage kids and have been thinking about the same. We're still going to get them learned up on manual for a few reasons.

If they go traveling, especially off the beaten track to poorer countries, manuals will be more common than here for the next 10 years. This would overlap with a lot of their years in their 20s, prime years for traveling.
Even in developed countries, being able to drive both a manual and automatic will give them more choice with airport rentals, especially at peak times with low availability.
In an emergency situation, eg elderly family member takes ill and needs to be taken to the doctor/hospital in their manual by one of our kids.
If they do something like jeep camping on Fraser Island in Australia, someone will need to be familiar with clutch and gears.

I agree that they are unlikely to encounter any of these scenarios, but if they do, I don't want to be the one getting blamed for not getting them a manual to learn on 🙂

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123065551#Comment_123065551

Some instructors do have electric cars, mostly around the bigger cities. The RSA have absolutely nothing to do with what car you do your test in.

Hungry Burger

Even today, being able to drive a manual is essential.

I’d never advise anyone to do an automatic licence. Seems a hindrance more than anything not being able to drive a manual car.

Just my 2c

xboxdad

Well, we own BEVs since 2020 and don't have access to a stick shifter anymore. We'd have to buy one… By starting this topic I was hoping to read about 1st hand experiences of insuring small BEVs for learners.

Anyways, we went with the Inster - quit trying to navigate the 2nd hand market for reliable and affordable stick shifters.

Buffman

Hopefully you got some actual insurance quotes before buying the Inster?

Insurance for a learner is always going to be expensive no matter what.