Transit Van

[matthew2riches]

Hi,

As I think I mentioned a few weeks back, I have been taking driving lessons since about 1 month ago. I have a theory test on Saturday :-0 and then the practical test will follow shortly.

Anyway.... Me being myself.... I have bought a transit van for me to drive once passed.

I am going to insure it as a provisional named driver with the insurance in my fathers name for the moment (a lot cheaper!) and then I can obviously drive it anywhere with an experienced driver next to me.

Everyone else is saying that I am mad. Learning at 17 to drive in a Ford Fiesta and then going to drive a Ford Transit.

I seem to find it alright to drive! The steering is heavier but that is to be expected!

What do you think?

[zazen999]

The first vehicle I drove after passing my test was a works transit.

And I'm a girl!

[Comfreyfan]

I'm sure you'll be fine Matthew. You get used to new vehicles quite quickly. A lot of us learn in nice easy to drive learner school smaller cars with power steering and then go straight on to drive big old cars that feel like buses! If you find you hate driving the transit, sell it on and try something different! Just take it easy and good luck on Saturday!

[Two_Sheds]

Is it a white one?
Then I shall come and cycle in Ipswich and you can do what comes naturally to white van drivers ... try and run me over.


Best of luck with your test

[Snadger]

You think a trannys bad! Try driving a 30 year old landrover with NO power steering and non servo assisted drum brakes all round!

Compared to a landie, a tranny van is a Rolls Royce!

Or worse still ................Two Shed's bike!

[jacob marley]

When you have passed your test driving a car will be easy (a doddle) i passed my test many years ago in a Bedford lorry and it was 3 years before i drove a car it felt very funny....jacob

[Oleander]

Not sure about your insurance solution. Having the policy in someone else's name, with you as a named driver, when you are actually the main driver, is known as "fronting".

In Jersey there have been a couple of cases where this has happened, and the insurance company have successfully refused to pay out on claims on the basis that the policy was invalid for reasons of fraud. So really you could be driving uninsured.

Basically a named drive should not be the main driver, and it's difficult to argue that you are not the main driver if the van is registered in your name, or if it's registered in your father's name, but he has more than one vehicle and it is clear that you drive the van most.

I don't work in insurance, I just researched this a lot when my sons turned 17, as I was trying to save money. In the long run its cheaper to insure in your own name as it builds up your no claims bonus, but that doesn't help immediate cash flows!

Maybe it's different in England?

[di]

A couple of months after passing my test I found myself driving an ice~cream van to Felixstowe!...was terrifying for the first five mins...but soon got used to it!Sure you'll do good!
Good Luck with the theory on Saturday...thankfully that hadn't been introduced when I took mine!

[Hilary B]

Not sure about your insurance solution. Having the policy in someone else's name, with you as a named driver, when you are actually the main driver, is known as "fronting".

In Jersey there have been a couple of cases where this has happened, and the insurance company have successfully refused to pay out on claims on the basis that the policy was invalid for reasons of fraud. So really you could be driving uninsured.

Basically a named drive should not be the main driver, and it's difficult to argue that you are not the main driver if the van is registered in your name, or if it's registered in your father's name, but he has more than one vehicle and it is clear that you drive the van most.

I don't work in insurance, I just researched this a lot when my sons turned 17, as I was trying to save money. In the long run its cheaper to insure in your own name as it builds up your no claims bonus, but that doesn't help immediate cash flows!

Maybe it's different in England?

When my daughter was 17, she purchased a small car, but since I didn't own a car at the time I used it as well as her learning in it. Since we were farming at the time we insured with NFU. I took out the policy in my name, and the loca agent sent it off etc. A bit later he eloped with someone else's wife, so I had to go to the main office to renew the insurance. I was told the original policy was not valid since I didn't have 'an insurable interest' in the car, even though I was unarguably the main driver. The problem resolved itself because at about that time my daughter went away to college, and the car was handed over to a family friend.

[zazen999]

Oleander is right, it is the same here, and insurance companies will want your ownership details if there is an accident and if the two names don't match.....they won't pay out.

They know all the tricks, unfortunately.

[FionaH]

I drove From Guildford in Surrey to Manchester the day after I passed my test! I had nightmares about lorries that night. Shortly after I got a job with a courier firm driving transits. Since then Ive driven horse lorrie, trailers, the works. Could never park any of them though!
You will be fine!

[selfraising]

Hi, you'll be fine and from a female perspective, think of all the gardening stuff you can buy and load up the van with Good luck with the theory test, I'm sure it will go well

[Headfry]

Well done you and the good luck with the tests!

[zazen999]

I'm thinking of getting a small van once I've handed my current car back to the lease people.

[SlugLobber]

My OH's transit is easier to drive than my fiesta. They're a doddle. Hope you haven't bought a front wheel drive one, though. They're known for all sorts of techy probs - my OH services and rebuilds them for a living and swearing increases 10-fold when he gets one of those in. He actually refuses to service them unless it's a friend or VERY good customer! Smileys are best (I think N reg to X), so he reckons (look at the front grille!). Good luck in the test!