How much did it cost you to get your 17 year old on the road, and how did you afford it?

[Howsaboutthat]

My eldest turns 17 this year, and is very keen to get out on the road. I've told her she'd better start saving now as I don't have the £4,000 required to get her on the road.

Breakdown of costs:
£2,000 Insurance for Vauxhall corsa, Nissan Micra type car (who insures their 17 year old nowadays?!)
£400 Driving lessons (20 x £20 1 hour lessons)
£100 for driving test and theory test
£250 Road Tax (dependent on car)
£50 MOT
£400 Provision for tyres/work if cheap car
£800 for an old banger (that I'm not too happy about my child being in but costs must)

AIBU to wonder how people do this? Should I have been saving for this day since she was born?

Hollyberry, please tell me which dealers are doing 3 years free insurance for 17 year olds because I'll be first in the queue for DD2.
We bought DD1 lessons for her 17th birthday. Not sure how many it took but many more than 20! She is insured on my car. She will be going to university this September so IMO no point in a car sitting on our driveway unused for most of the year. Unfortunately for DD2 my car is just about ready for the scrap heap so if I can buy her a new one with free insurance and I can be a named driver then I'm very interested!

Hello

This isn't really an AIBU, so we've moved it to Teenagers now.

Posted this on a similar thread. I have a 17 year old DS about to take his test and he has friends all doing the same. I don't think I am going to sleep for the next two years.

He is currently insured as a named driver on my car and when he passes his test I will let him use my car a couple of times a week to build up experience. Am insured with Direct Line who will let him accrue NCD as a named driver.
Even without buying a car the cost adds up though. Lessons, license, test and insurance.

I am very interested in the government proposal to impose stringent restrictions on young new drivers.
In Northern Ireland for example, novice motorists must carry an R-plate and are not allowed to drive faster than 45 mph until they have been driving for a year.
The UK proposals go further, they include a 12 month minimum learning period and a ban on carrying passengers other than close family for the first year. Won't be in time for DS1 though.

I have told DS I don't want him giving lifts to friends or going in their cars. I know how distracting it is for me to have a car full of 17 year old boys let alone an inexperienced driver. Not to mention the showing off factor.