Electric first car for teen?

[Cutie101]

Thinking ahead to when oldest learns to drive, we both drive electric, should she be learning on a manual or is automatic ok? If it's ok is there a difference between automatic and electric or can she learn on electric? Ideas of first cars would be great too please

Youngest dd is learning to drive in a manual. Solely cos it gives more options and our second car is a manual. Middle dd did automatic cos she couldn't get to grips with clutch and gears.
There are more autos and electric cats each year so prob would be fine if chose to just go auto

The DVLA make no discernment between automatic petrol/diesel or electric.

It can be useful to drive manual at times - hiring, borrowing cars etc.

If however you are happy with auto licence then just do that.

First electric car - so many variables like budget and use.
However the obvious few are thinks like a Leaf or Ionic (the older bubble shaped ones which are cheap, safe, reliable and well proven. Some of the Zoe's are also good, but be aware of the leas vs owned batteries issue. I also like the BMW i3, but that has expensive tyres and I bet more to insure, but funky looking and very reliable. I suspect there will be some early eGolfs around as well, but they might be a smaller range. Last one, and although a smaller range are great looking and characterful cars is the Honda E - one of my lads is planning on replacing his petrol car with one if it dies.

Ours learnt in a manual and we bought them manual cars as their first car, one chose a Fiesta and the other a Golf. One has now changed to an automatic electric car, it they like having the option of both which leaning in a manual gives.

My youngest is learning in an automatic. His driving instructor has an electric car.

we were looking at buying an electric car that he’d be able to drive but the insurance options for young drivers on electric cars are limited

We looked at getting an electric car for DS and the insurance was eye wateringly expensive (of the few that would insure him.) due to there being no lag in the acceleration like there is in petrol/diesel cars.

Thinking ahead, I’d probably go with whatever suits the driver best, manual or auto. My dd is learning manual because it gives more options, but if auto feels easier I don’t think that’s a problem.
Electric is worth thinking about carefully too, because the full cost can be higher than people expect. We’re building First Car Scout because we ran into exactly these questions when we were looking for a car for our dd, and it made us realise how hard it is to compare the real costs properly.

Insurance can be high on EVs. They are fast and young drivers might be difficult to insure. We have a bmw iX3 and it’s a very high group!

Ours don't want to learn immediately but I'm firmly of the opinion we should not be adding to the number of combustion cars on the road so would only buy electric.

Has anyone actually insured their teen ur new driver 20 something on an electric car?

@deplorabelle Buy second hand then. You are not adding in another car. It’s already there but I assume you are rich and dc won’t be having an old banger.

We do buy second hand (our EV was bought second hand and is our only car). DS won't let us ask for a quote to insure him on it because he's worried it will affect our premiums. As he isn't driving yet we haven't pursued it but I was wondering if anyone had.

DS has his first lesson today. Manual. More flexible for hire cars, city car clubs etc and the potential for other vehicles like tractors & construction plant for future employment/summer/part time jobs.

@deplorabelle Do you always do what a 17 year old says!? Asking about a premium has to happen at some stage. That cannot be dodged and of course it will go up. Insuring his own ev will be mega costly too.

DS passed quite recently - very relieved that he learnt in a manual although we only had automatics . Once he passed my insurer would not add him on my EV insurance! We’ve bought him a little manual

@Stoflinewer I think this has a lot to do with very quick acceleration and research says they cost 30% more to repair so insurance is higher. Many of these cars are quicker than the hot hatches of 20 plus years ago but we now think teens should drive them. Makes no sense really. Saving the planet has to wait a few years.

He's not 17 but also he has at least two years of city living in front of him where he probably won't learn so not really any point asking yet. I was wondering whether anyone else has out of general interest since it's the topic at hand...

Manual is the best option - more choice of car, hire car etc.
EVs are not really suitable for new young drivers as the insurance is really high

@deplorabelle I should not worry yet then. He might not even live with you when he wants a car so presumably he will make his own decision.

A friend's DC has recently turned 17 and they were quoted £4k to add them to the insurance of a parent's Nissan Leaf.