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I really want to start driving. I haven't yet learnt yet, but I am looking at doing it now. Since I told my parents, they basically have been trying to convince me that it's a terrible idea (money wise). I'm working full-time now, so I feel there's a strong possibility that I WOULD be able to afford it.
So anyone who drives, can you tell me what cars are good to get that aren't going to cost a bomb with insurance etc. And how much on average it costs you a month/year?
+Rep for good advice!
my car costs me £280 per month on petrol and insurance, that's £200 on insurance and driving 26miles each day to work
everyone's is going to be different though, i'd concentrate on lessons before thinking about how much a car / insurance is going to cost you
It will be ridonkulously expensive, I paid £1400 on insurance in my first year and apparently that would be considered really cheap now for new drivers, then you have the cost of the car itself, petrol, tax, any repairs etc., so it does mount up quickly. Been driving nearly 5 years I think (insurance renewal coming up soon) and I'm currently paying about £65 a month on that even with 4 years of no claims bonus, plus about £150 a year for road tax and idk tenner a week petrol at the moment, depends how much you use it obv. Lessons aren't cheap either generally :P
Realistically the best advice these days is to only get a car if you really need one, it's just too expensive to have as just a fun thing
Is it good advice to say I agree with your parents.
I agree with your parents.
Whoa Adam 200 a month on insurance do you drive a 747 or something
Only thing that'll fit him and his mum.Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingJesus
i think getting your driving tests passed when you're young and can afford it is a good idea, once you're done you're pretty much done for life and apparently it's easier to learn the younger you are? idk anythih about insurance as im only insured on my mums car, i really didnt want to learn but she used those excuses on me to get me to ;p
I realize I have to get the tests out of the way :P getting all of it done ASAP. It's not ideal to just stick with sharing my parents car, it's an automatic which is no good, and it's hardly ever going to be available when I need it. Thanks for the advice though! :)
1lite 57plate corsa, only been driving 7months though mehQuote:
Originally Posted by FlyingJesus
Ridiculous waste of money if you don't need a car.
I would deffo try and get your lessons and test out of the way anyway. It was fine when I was at uni and didn't need to drive but now I really regret not learning when I was young, and its annoying depending on other people for lifts. So expensive though :(
you're old enough to make your own decisions lin life now
it's odd that your parents are against it even though you work full time, it's not like they're paying for it!
i agree it's expensive and perhaps unnecessary at this age maybe but it's a good skill to have and it lasts a lifetime so it's a good investment i suppose
well there is no harm learning and getting it out the way if u can afford it. doesnt mean u have to get a car and start driving when u pass
A few of my friends have just started to pass their tests and get cars (all aged 17/18), insurance wise iirc the cheapest they're on is about £1500 p/y and that's with a relatively small engine (less than 1.4L) on their parent's insurance but from there it goes up quite a bit. One of my friends is paying £2200 p/y and that was the cheapest he could find so really depends.
Some of them have managed to get the cost of insurance down by having a black box fitted to their car, not too sure on the details but I think it just assesses how well you're driving and if you're driving well then it can bring the cost down a bit in your next review. Haven't researched it properly but if you're serious about learning then that's worth looking into as well.
You should absolutely get lessons and test out of the way, past 25 (Or earlier) your ability to pick up physical skills (Like driving) degrades pretty severely. Beyond that is entirely situational, but keeping practised at driving is fairly sensible.
Car was near 10k
Insurance is £1800 a year with 3 years no claims and 3 points
Road tax is £470 a year
and Petrol is generally £80 a year for naff amount of miles haha
I love driving though, relieves stress etc, Its a great feeling!
Worth doing
this is terrifying I AM 21 OH MY GOD DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THISQuote:
Originally Posted by Chippiewill
IM GOING TO START LEARNING STRAIGHT AFTER MY EXAMS NOW
sorry. You've still got a good four years.
Do the test and pass, don't worry about actually driving afterwards.
That is what I did :)
I'm going to agree with your parents and some of the posts above. You should only get one if it is REALLY needed.
I was paying £2,600 first year for insurance and putting £40-50 petrol in a week.
Personally I would wait a few years and then think about it again. If your then really in need of it, do it. If it's just for social purposes then don't bother.
Personally I would say if you want to and you can afford to then now is the right time to start learning. The cost of learning to drive never decreases. Surely your parents appreciate that?
Once you’ve passed your test you automatically gain a new level of independence. I learnt while I was at college, which was 2 bus journeys, which took anything up to an hour each way on some occasions, assuming the buses turned up. Having passed my test I was then able to drive myself which would take between 15-20 minutes each way.
Learning to drive at an early age is surely when your mind and body are at their best. Your reflexes are sharper, and your brain should easily engage to learning new skills.
Driving lessons with the tests and everything will probably set you back £500 alone but it's really nice to have so then you won't need to worry about going through the whole process later on if you decide you want to get a car. You'll be able to just do it straight away
Depends on what car... Smaller cars & diesels are usually better on economy, insurance and tax. You also have to consider maintenance and the yearly MOT/Servicing on the car - what is your budget to buy the car?Quote:
Originally Posted by Clumping
Include at least £20 a lesson, for 20 lessons - £400 (average) and then pay for the actual tests (£125 average).
Driving is expensive but if you get the right car, with the right insurer (usually become a named driver on one of your parents' policies for said car) and then you can go! Consider how far you have to travel every day and multiply that by how much fuel is and work out the MPG of the car.
IE: My new car that I'm getting (fingers crossed, tomorrow) is an 09 plate Volvo C30 R Design, looks nice, economical, cheap on insurance and tax, MOT is done till next year, so for now I'm good.
My lessons and tests are covered, my parents gave me money for them, so those aren't a worry :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Demi
And great, thanks :)
Brilliant, thanks :)Quote:
Originally Posted by danzooo
If you need help hunting for a first car, let me know :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Clumping
I bought a Corsa SXI for £3000, 1.2l. First year's insurance was £1450ish, tax is £120 a year, I spend about £50-60 a week on petrol. Renewal is up soon, with my insurance being about £750 with a years no claims, fully comp with my parents as added drivers, and I'm 22. But I've just had a promotion and a good pay rise, so I'm looking at getting a Vauxhall Astra VXR
£80 on petrol whilst doing 26 miles a day? Yeah right!Quote:
Originally Posted by mrwoooooooo
I get 50mpg with my car, that would cost me around £3.50 a day just to do that journey.
3.50 x 25 working days (excluding weekends alone...) £105. Slap on another 30-40 miles a weekend and you're close to £150 a month on petrol, if not more. Recently I've been going through £50 a week :S
My insurance was £250 p/m.
Then don't forget costs such as MOT & tax disc. Car can be swell one week, then require £300 work the next week. Only do it if you have cash saved up, if you don't, welcome to the land of debt.
Not everyone gets 50mpg I get 15...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cixso
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Unlucky ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenMerc
Wow! That sucks... I get 63 ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenMerc
Have you ever thought of instead of a car getting a motorcycle? They are cheaper and they cost less to keep as well. Personally, I can't get my lessons right now 'cause I'm too young and my parents forbid me to get one in Scotland because of the weather, but as soon as I come back I'll think about it again. I think it's way more profitable.
Not sure you mean to use the term "profitable", but instead "slightly less extortionately expensive" :P Would be surprised if the users parents allow them to ride a bike mind - but certainly a good suggestion.Quote:
Originally Posted by LiquidLuck.
Well yes, I guess what expression fits better. xD If their problem is about the money then a motorcycle would be better, but of course it is more dangerous and you need to pay way more attention to literally everything around you. I use to be in the back seat of motorcycles and I've had some scares from it, but was never into any accident. I guess it's a question or whether you trust it enough or are scared of it. My mother had one when she was around my age, my dad wanted to get one but my grandparents didn't let him, so I guess I was raised into wanting one as well. xDQuote:
Originally Posted by Marketing
Iknow you can get that "program" thing that makes your insurence cheeper, but with that you have like cerfews and limits, but its works out cheeper all round, but like people have said pass your test then take it from there!
i wouldn't even think about insurance and a car right now just get in with your lessons, the sooner the better i think! once you have your license then you have nothing to worry about, you can just get a car and insurance when you're ready and found a good deal at the time
For everyone saying it's a waste of money, I disagree. I'd say get your lessons and test out the way as soon as possible. I wish I'd of done it when I was younger, now I'm 20 and have still had no lessons because I've been putting it off for so long. You wont have to buy a car if you pass, it'll just mean you've passed and it'll be out the way. Lessons are only probably going to go up in future, there's no time like the present if you can afford it.