Aviva Ignition Test

levi · 27-01-2010 11:43PM #1

Has anyone done this? Is it difficult? Are they as pernickety as in the driving test?

The best quote I got by a long shot was from Aviva so I'm gonna have to do it!

ninty9er · 27-01-2010 11:51PM

I passed it back in August, I'm yet to receive the refund though.

They want excellent "real world" driving. That means if the traffic is doing 60 in a 50 zone, keep up with it, but use your mirrors, have cop on, and drive as you normally should.

Fizman · 27-01-2010 11:55PM

Is this test relevant to all ages, or more so to younger people in terms of discounts/refunds?

levi · 28-01-2010 12:07AM

I think it's for people who have their licence for less than 5 years and/or less than 5 years driving on their own policy.

Also, surely they can't fail you for going 50 in a 50 zone? I would be the kinda person with the better safe than sorry mentality.

ninty9er · 28-01-2010 12:22AM

It's open to anyone who's passed their driving test in the last 5 years IIRC
http://www.aviva.ie/online/driving/ignition/qualify/

Cookie_Monster · 28-01-2010 12:25AM

I did it, made only one mistake (the tester chats to you after and this is all he said I did wrong), still only got 20% instead of whatever the max was :mad:

Just drive like in the test, both hands on the wheel and all that rubbish. Bout 20-30 mins in some ****box Mazda 2. I think using the testers car takes away from it to be honest as potentially you don't know what its like (ie SH1T). I was chatting to the bloke the whole time too, very relaxed

ninty9er · 28-01-2010 12:28AM

In the past it was very much "by the book" driving when operated by the Institute of Advanced Motoring, but since Aviva took it over last July, the mantra seems to be to hell with the driving as long as it's not likely to cause an accident, and cost us money.

levi · 28-01-2010 12:30AM

Did they fail you for that one mistake?

My plan was to drive just like in the test but I was hoping it wasn't quite as strict as the test.

Also, is it safe to assume I won't have to reverse around a corner?

Cookie_Monster · 28-01-2010 12:35AM

levi wrote: »

Did they fail you for that one mistake?

My plan was to drive just like in the test but I was hoping it wasn't quite as strict as the test.

Also, is it safe to assume I won't have to reverse around a corner?

no didn't fail but got less than the maximum discount.
Its just normal driving. I started in Killiney Castle hotel and drove to Blackrock and back via Dun Laoghaire.

Mistake was not to indicate as moving into lane to go straight on as driving past the bus terminal in DL. As the lane along that road become the righ hand turn and when the bus stops end you should indicate left to move inot the new, straigh ahead lane apparently.

levi · 28-01-2010 12:38AM

I got a quote for the car on the condition of 'passing' the Ignition test... Oh well, I'll just do my best. It's a hell of a cheap quote compared to everywhere else. No one else went near it!

plonk · 28-01-2010 12:39AM

I found this test pretty good and am still using some of the things they taught me. As 99er said its real world driving and how to keep yourself out of an accident using awareness

Cookie_Monster · 28-01-2010 12:44AM

plonk wrote: »

I found this test pretty good and am still using some of the things they taught me. As 99er said its real world driving and how to keep yourself out of an accident using awareness

they didn't teach me anything just tested

Its just an assesment rather than a learning experience

Oynas · 02-09-2010 06:05PM

Do you have to use the testers car or can you use your own car for the ignition test?

af_thefragile · 02-09-2010 06:19PM

It's worse than the driving test!

You first have to use the testers car and if you're not familiar with it, well you're in ****!
They want you to drive perfect everywhere. If the speed limit is 50 they do not want you going anywhere above the speed limit even if people behind you get pissed off and start overtaking you. I was faulted for doing 70 in a 60kmph zone when everyone else was doing over 80...

And then apparently if you don't pass, you have to wait 3 months till you can do thr test again and you'll have to pay 75eur to do the test again. Which is ridiculous.

You'ld be better off saving the hassle and finding a cheaper insurer.

Though no harm in doing the test and see how you get on...

lee_baby_simms · 06-09-2010 11:55AM

Is it all based on driving or are you examined on road signs, hand signals etc?

Cookie_Monster · 06-09-2010 01:01PM

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

Is it all based on driving or are you examined on road signs, hand signals etc?

just driving, basically to ensure you have cop on and ability rather than a rundown of the rules

ninty9er · 07-09-2010 09:56PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

It's worse than the driving test!

You first have to use the testers car and if you're not familiar with it, well you're in ****!
They want you to drive perfect everywhere. If the speed limit is 50 they do not want you going anywhere above the speed limit even if people behind you get pissed off and start overtaking you. I was faulted for doing 70 in a 60kmph zone when everyone else was doing over 80...

And then apparently if you don't pass, you have to wait 3 months till you can do thr test again and you'll have to pay 75eur to do the test again. Which is ridiculous.

You'ld be better off saving the hassle and finding a cheaper insurer.

Though no harm in doing the test and see how you get on...

It's completely the opposite. I did it and kept within the limit, did everything even more carefully than my driving test and failed. Did it 4 months later and passed by just driving normally. I reckon they can tell if you're "putting on" driving and if you're comfortble driving. I got a 30% discount 2nd time round after failing the first time.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

just driving, basically to ensure you have cop on and ability rather than a rundown of the rules

Nail...head

GTE · 07-09-2010 10:01PM

Isnt there a silly engine size limit?

tommyx375 · 21-11-2010 11:12PM

my mother has a car insurance policy with aviva. i want to get a policy for a 2000 1.1L peugeot 206. can i get the 6 months free car insurance by booking 10 lessons and also avail of the ignition test. i need the policy to be in my own name. thanks

L1011 · 21-11-2010 11:45PM

bbk wrote: »

Isnt there a silly engine size limit?

1600cc.

sean1141 · 22-11-2010 12:31AM

i done it a good few years back. had my licence a while at the time.. done it in kilkenny. if your not comfortable driving any car other than your own it might not be worth the hassle.. i found it good tbh. they cut out a lot of the crap that would get you a fail in the driving test like going down through the gears coming up to a roundabout.. say you were coming into it in 4th they dont wind if you coast coming up to it and drop back to second to take the roundabout.. not like the driving test where you cant coast and are ment to go back trough each gear....

as the lads said above its about real world driving and being aware of the dangers around you.. liked parked cars on the street pulling out in front of you, leaves on the road causing longer braking distances and stuff like that.. the tester will be asking you all sorts of questions like what dangers can you see on this street and what actions would you take.. basicly they are distracting you from driving and seeing how you handle yourself.. its easy to chat away to them but you need to be aware of whats going on around you.. this is what they are looking for.. you will fail if you start looking at them when you are chatting or forget to look in your mirrors etc!!

Irish_Girl29 · 08-01-2011 01:00AM

Hi i was just wondering if any1 cud give me any information about this aviva ignition test. I just got insurance with them today, and heard about this test if u pass ur test within 5yrs....wat im wondering is do u actually have to do it though? Or can u just continue being insuraned with them without doing it? If any1 cud help i wud be grateful. Thanks.

**Timbuk2** · 08-01-2011 01:03AM

Irish_Girl29 wrote: »

Hi i was just wondering if any1 cud give me any information about this aviva ignition test. I just got insurance with them today, and heard about this test if u pass ur test within 5yrs....wat im wondering is do u actually have to do it though? Or can u just continue being insuraned with them without doing it? If any1 cud help i wud be grateful. Thanks.

You don't have to do it. It's just an 'extra' that got potentially give you between 20-40% discount on your insurance if you pass. It's free though, if you ever consider doing it. But you can just carry on being insured without doing this.

**Timbuk2** · 12-01-2011 12:15AM

Sorry for the double post -

I passed the Ignition test today, with a 20% discount, but in reading the results e-mail, it appears the 20% discount only applies to "your own personal motor private insurance policy."

But I don't have a car! I am a named driver on my mother's policy (with Aviva), and I thought that the discount would apply for that as well. To further complicate matters, the current policy spans up to the start of December, so I don't know whether the discount can be applied until it is renewed then.

Have I screwed up a bit here? This line of the e-mail
"If you are not currently a Aviva policyholder but wish to take out a new motor private Insurace policy and avail of the 20% discount, you can do so by contacting your Broker/Aviva Branch within 3 months of successfully completing the training course."
seems to imply that it only is good for 3 months. I can't repeat the assessment as far as I know. Have I shot myself in the foot?

I'll try ringing them some day this week.

Redisle · 12-01-2011 12:26AM

Are you planning on getting your own car/a policy in your own name? If so you could just have your mother remove you from hers and get your own policy. She would get back any money she previously paid to insure you.

**Timbuk2** · 12-01-2011 12:31AM

Thanks for the answer!

Sadly, I'm not planning to get my own car (and consequently, my own policy) in the near future. I should have stated in the above post, I'm an 18 year old male so having my own policy on the car would work out more expensive, even with the applied discount (although it has the added benefit of allowing me to accumulate NCB). But besides that, I don't think one car can have two policies. She is the main driver of the car, not me.

**Timbuk2** · 15-01-2011 12:45AM

Sorry again for the double post - I can't edit this into my last one as I wrote it too long ago.

I went into the Aviva office, and it turns out that as a named driver, the 20% discount doesn't apply to me. A bit of a kick in the face really - I was sure it would, as a named driver premium still is based on risk level, and surely passing the Ignition would prove I have a slightly less risk? Maybe it's just something to attract people towards Aviva?

She said she applied it to the policy anyway, but the system kept the premium the same, confirming what she said about it not applying to named drivers (although she said she will look into it). I was told that it's now 'recorded in the system' that I have it passed if I ever do get my own policy, but I'm not sure how long that is 'valid' for - she reckons it will be there indefinitely, although I don't think that's right either.

moncai · 23-05-2011 04:43PM

Hey i'm just about to sit this test on wednesday... there seems to be two consensus' here about sticking to the speed limit or matching the traffic speed in your driving, can anyone clarify this for me? I don't want to fail because i went 5 miles over the speed limit in a 50 zone just to match the drivers around me...

Also is it true that first you drive, then they drive and tell you what you did wrong, and then you drive again and are expected to show them that you picked up on what they said??

Cheers

23-05-2011 05:25PM

I did this years ago, back in 2004 I'd say, I was on shift work so had lots of time on my hands. I found it quite good, was an advanced driver who did it with me, it sounds like it's a different kettle of fish these days though.

biko · 23-05-2011 06:15PM

They don't fail you per se, as long as you don't feck up majorly you'll be grand.
If in doubt, stick to speed limit and let others overtake if they're in a hurry.

stryker mcqueen · 01-07-2011 06:33PM

Doing this tommorrow , actually more nervous than my driving test because i dontt know what to expecy haha .....

Are the results graded as pass , merit & distinction ??

Aviva Ignition Test

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