Learner driver own car

[TractorAndHeadphones]

Is it a good idea to have your own car as a learner?
I’m an advanced learner and can drive well - have finally managed to get a test date.
However if I fail the next available date is likely to be several months away owing to the Covid backlog.
I don’t want to keep paying for lessons and I have friends who can supervise.
Share your wisdom please wise Mumsnetters

I can't think of why it wouldnt be a good idea, surely the reason people don't is to do with cost. I don't know anyone who has learnt to drive as an adult but I live semi rally and it's quite normal for 17 year olds to have cars when they are learning to drive

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair

I can't think of why it wouldnt be a good idea, surely the reason people don't is to do with cost. I don't know anyone who has learnt to drive as an adult but I live semi rally and it's quite normal for 17 year olds to have cars when they are learning to drive

Thanks for your reply. I’ve just been reading lots of driving threads and wondered why more people don’t - as it’s cheaper than an instructor once you can already drive. I suppose Covid is an unusual situation though - as the waiting time is months instead of days leaving test-ready pupils with a huge gap. Driving is something you forget if you don’t keep up the momentum….

Yes I had my own car while learning. It made me a much better driver imo

I have my own car, but it's so different from my instructors car.
So sometimes it takes me a while to get used to the biting point again in either car.
His car has 6 gears whereas mine only has 5.
It has made me more confident though. I split journeys with my DW now (apart from motorway obviously) 😀

@Ozanj

Yes I had my own car while learning. It made me a much better driver imo

Thanks - how often did you practice in your own car?

@Nutrigrainygoodness

I have my own car, but it's so different from my instructors car. So sometimes it takes me a while to get used to the biting point again in either car. His car has 6 gears whereas mine only has 5. It has made me more confident though. I split journeys with my DW now (apart from motorway obviously) 😀

Haha yes cars are so different! My regular instructor got Covid so I had 3 different replacements for 3 weeks. Actually regressed because some of their cars I could not drive well at all and it was only 2 hours of lessons! That’s why I want my own car because no matter what I have a backup that I’m used to.

@TractorAndHeadphones Everyday.

[quote Ozanj]@TractorAndHeadphones Everyday.[/quote]
That’s the ideal 😎

Having your own car is a great idea, even if you only get out in it a couple of times a week. The more experience you have, the more confident you will be. Practice makes perfect. Good luck!

I had my own car while learning and once my instructor was confident enough in my ability, he allowed me to have my lessons in my car too. I also took my test in my own car.

I did similar but only coz I failed the first time 🙈 Was due to pick my car up day after my test 😂

I still had lessons inbetween it was only around a month though between tests but I didn't want to slip in to bad habits. I also used to drive my own car most days. Mum wld sit in passenger seat and I'd go pick dad up from work which was about 13miles round trip.

I passed my test in my own car, I'd bought it while I was learning & my dad took me out every weekend to practice after my instructor told me I didn't need any more lessons, just practice. I had a very old Fiesta my dad's friend who was a dealer got me from an auction, it was a solid car & perfect to learn in.

Hi Tractor
Regarding a long wait for another test if you fail, an app called Driving Test Genie can text you cancellation dates, which you have 10 minutes to accept if you want it. And if you do accept it, it still texts you earlier dates as and when they become available. May be worth using. My son’s test was cancelled twice due to the pandemic and when he used the app to get two months shaved off the wait (and could have got other, earlier dates if we wanted). His driving instructor recommended it.