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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel that being able to drive is a hopeless dream?

19 replies

BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 20:23

I just can't see how I will ever afford it. We could probably stretch to the cost of lessons, but it's the insurance afterwards, it's mad. How does anybody afford it? Confused

The cheapest insurance I can find for my age, adding someone older onto the policy, is still nearly £150 per month.

I think part of it is that I'm really missing having DP around to give us the occasional lift but I've started feeling really irrationally jealous of people who can drive because I can't ever see a time when I will be able to, and it would make such a difference.

OP posts:
sensuallettuce · 06/07/2012 20:25

£150 a month is not a lot for insurance - what is your financial situation?

scotsgirl23 · 06/07/2012 20:26

How old are you? I'm learning to drive just now, and ran quotes for me as the main driver on our car (a 2010 Megane) and the quotes were massively lower than that.

SpamMarie · 06/07/2012 20:26

Sometimes it's cheaper to add you as a second driver on a policy than to have a policy of your own, but you've probably already researched that. I know the feeling. I past my test 6 years ago and I have still yet to ever get a car or even insurance on someone else's. I fear when I finally do start driving I'm going to need refresher lessons just to remember how!

bronze · 06/07/2012 20:27

Hi Bertie
I wanted to send my commiserations as I was learning but have had to stop because I can't afford to carry on learning Sad

SquidgyBiscuits · 06/07/2012 20:27

Running a car is expensive!

Insurance quotes vary wildly, depending on the category of car, where you love, how the car will be stored etc.

Is there anyone who could go as a names driver for you? That could lower the quote too.

BBisHavingAnotherBBaby · 06/07/2012 20:30

I passed in oct, am mid twenties, on DPs insurance as fully comp named driver, do insured as fully comp and can also drive any vehicle third party. DP has 3 yrs no claims. Ours is 53 per month... Just have to shop around it isnt easy but the freedom it has granted for me with one DC and DC2 on the way is so worthwhile

Original poster
BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 20:39

I know about the me as second driver loophole, DP was assuming I'd do that, but I read that it's illegal and it can invalidate your insurance and I'm too much of a wuss Blush to risk it.

I'm 24 and £150 per month is absolutely unaffordable for us. We'd struggle with paying £40 or so a month for lessons.

OP posts:
rimmerfleadick · 06/07/2012 20:40

Spam

No it's not as that is fronting. i,e you have another person as the policy holder and you as a named driver, but are the main user of that car.
Get found out and insurance will be invalid.

Insurance would be cheaper if people did'nt always add whiplash to claims.

www.premiumchoice.co.uk/fronting

Original poster
BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 20:42

I just did the quotes on DP's car because I wouldn't know where to start on choosing a cheaper car to insure. So that could be some of it. Where we live now there is only on street parking, and it would only make sense to have one car between us anyway.

The planning about actualities is all moot anyway though because DP is in Germany with work and we're planning to go out there too at some point. Was just :( at cost of insurance and can't ever see a time when we'll have that kind of money spare each month. But perhaps I'm catastrophising!

OP posts:
storytopper · 06/07/2012 20:47

But you can possibly make it cheaper by having someone else as second driver on the policy. I am second driver on my son's policy - it brought the cost down a little bit because I am female, middle-aged, been driving for a long time and have no current convictions. Do you have a relative like this who you could add to your policy?

50ShadesOfShit · 06/07/2012 20:48

I know anecdote don't equal data Wink but a friend of DP actually got charged/court appearance for fronting. He, 18, wanted a sports car but couldn't afford to insure it as the main policy holder so placed the vehicle in his fathers name with himself as a named driver. So they can and do check, how I have no idea.
I passed my test 6 months ago, have an 54 plate hatchback and am 26, my insurance is £73 a month. Make sure you try the companies that aren't on comparison websites and look for ones where if you pay monthly, there is no APR. I'm with Directline and overall my insurance was £910 (a deposit and monthly fee upfront)
Driving is possibly, after DD Grin the best thing I've ever done. If you enjoy it, don't give up.

scotsgirl23 · 06/07/2012 20:52

If you are talking about having one car between you, which you both drive, then I don't think that would be "fronting" as such - it's more where say a 17 year old gets their own car and gets their mum to insure it. If you are talking about a car which is already insured in your husbands name then I really doubt that would be an issue.

I also recollect that my husband's insurance dropped quite dramatically at 25 - which would make sense with my quotes (I'm 25)

It's definitely worth having DP as a second driver assuming he has a clean record. You should also experiment a little on the comparison sites to see if there are any variations on your job title, as that can make a huge difference.

Original poster
BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 20:55

I don't think it makes much difference having me and DP on the same as he's the same age as me, although he's been driving since 17.

Story the £143 was with adding my mum on as a second driver. Without her the cheapest I found was over £200.

OP posts:
storytopper · 06/07/2012 21:08

Wow - that does seem a lot, Bertie. As others have said, it should drop at age 25 and then again at 30 - and choice of car makes a lot of difference.

Original poster
BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 21:09

So what kind of thing would you look for in a car if you wanted one which was cheap to insure?

OP posts:
wishiwasonholiday · 06/07/2012 21:13

Mine didn't drop at 25 or 30, I'm 30 now and mine is £49 a month with 6 years no claims and with dp having a non fault crash. Car choice has a lot to do with it, if a young man goes for a sports car it's stupid money, my brothers was £2000+ when he passed!

We had less sporty but bigger cars and it seemed to bring it down, now I have a galaxy and have business use on mine as I'm a childminder.

Janoschi · 06/07/2012 21:14

What are you driving? You need to find a wimpy engined car that is hardly ever in accidents. A yellow car apparently is cheaper because they rarely get stolen... that sort of stuff could add up. Can you keep the car in a locked garage or compound? Street parking is very expensive. Don't get a make popular with boy racers, for heaven's sake.

Your first year will be the toughest. Once you have No Claims you'll get a good chunk off pretty quickly. I think mine dropped 60% after 2 years.

And can a friend teach you to drive?

Original poster
BertieBotts · 06/07/2012 22:17

It's a ford escort Grin so hardly boy racer. Possibly the engine size is an issue though?

OP posts:
rimmerfleadick · 06/07/2012 22:33

What compulsory excess are they showing ?.

What quotes from elephant/admiral come up as.

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