Started driving lessons

[matthew2riches]

I don't really know what else to say....

Oh, 1 quick moan about insurance.... Even for the oldest VW Polo banger I am looking at £1600!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nicos]

Quick....clear the roads!!!!!!

Hope you enjoy yourself....the freedom driving will give you is fantastic!
Insurance.....Yup- sounds about right!

[jackie j]

Good luck ......

[Hilary B]

The insurance thing will improve. Insurance companies aren't in it to be nice, they want to make money, so they will assume the worst until you prove otherwise. As a learner I was a 'named driver' on OH's car insurance, and because I was not going to be driving alone, HIS driving record was relevant.I stayed a 'named driver' until about 5 years after passing the driving test, THEN I got a good deal, and my experience counted to a discount on TFT insurance.

[selfraising]

Good luck with your driving lessons! The Insurance is high but it will come down. This is my daughters 3rd year of driving and it has come down by a couple of hundred already.

[janeyo]

Good luck, it is VERY useful to be able to drive.

If you can get out on someone elses insurance it will cost you a lot less.

[blue411]

I found that if you can find a insurance company that deals with your age group,that can have a major impact on what you pay for your insurance, im not a girly girl and dislike all thinks pink etc (powered by fairy dust..Grrrrr) but shelia's wheels have done and still offer the best deal for me because im a woman, much better than all the other companies by over £200.

[di]

Quick....clear the roads!!!!!!

O.K for you to joke....you're in France....Matthew's in Ipswich!!!

Good luck with the lessons Matthew...I keep contemplating taking a course to become an instructor,but as I'm the worlds most nervous passenger with even good drivers,think it's a bad idea!...I could've been your instructor otherwise!!!

(sorry Nicos...had to delete the smilies off your quote or it wouldn't let me have any!!!wink,smile!!!)

[Gwen11ian]

I just applied for my learners permit last week! I drove for ten years in the States, a year in New Zealand (which is driving on the wrong side of the road just like UK), and could have driven in the UK for a year if I could have afforded the insurance (you think it's bad for new drivers, check out what it is for Americans! ). Now since my year is up I have to apply for a permit, take drivers lessons, sit both exams, and go through the whole process.

It might be a good thing though, been studying for the theory test.. and finding all all sorts of things I didn't know! Did you realize you're not supposed to signal if there is no one there to see you?! I always have with the idea maybe someone was there that I didn't notice or see (ie. pedestrian, cop hiding in the bushes, etc).

[di]

Are you really not supposed to signal if thhere's no~one there???....I'm one of those sad peeps that finds herself indicating to go into my parking spot at the lottie!!!....I guess the good thing though,is at least it's not an offence you could ever get done for as if you were spotted then someone was there!!!

[Hilary B]

Are you really not supposed to signal if thhere's no~one there???....I'm one of those sad peeps that finds herself indicating to go into my parking spot at the lottie!!!....I guess the good thing though,is at least it's not an offence you could ever get done for as if you were spotted then someone was there!!!

Exactly so<g>
I signal 'just in case'. I always assumed it was a case of 'you MUST signal if there IS someone to notice'. What does it matter whether you signal if there doesn't happen to be anyone about?

[HeyWayne]

Good luck matthew - I used to love my driving lessons. If I had a good lesson, my instructor would "treat" me to a blast on country roads at the end of a lesson.

On holiday last year, LadyWayne and I befriended a couple - the dude of which was a driving instructor (the dudette was training to become one). He told me that current teaching was to reach the speed limit as quickly as possible (ie: from a 30mph to a 60mph) - which I've never had a problem with. However, my instructor always quoted to me "they are a limit Wayne, not a target". How things change eh?

[dammad49]

I don't really know what else to say....

Oh, 1 quick moan about insurance.... Even for the oldest VW Polo banger I am looking at £1600!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can usually get 20-30% discount with a pass plus certificate, worth doing 'cos it covers Mway driving and other stuff not in the normal test.

[petal]

True about insurance, i will get on my husbands insurance. I have big ambitions though as I want a 4 wheel drive so I can tow trailer to horse shows but my husband raised his eyebrows when I said this to him!

[coreopsis]

1600????
I had about 400£ in a 1st year and this is my 2nd with 260£.
Mind you,I'm a woman and over 25.
All lessons I had were with instructor(nobody wanted to go with me)
Good luck,matthew,you'll be fine.