Collaborative post
Learning to drive is a big deal, no matter what age you decide to do it. Some people get right to it as soon as they’re 17, some people wait until later in life and some people never feel the need to learn at all. However, if you decide to learn at a younger age then you’re going to have a lot to think about and to plan for.
Get an eye test
Before you can learn to drive you must be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away and this can be with glasses or contact lenses if needed. No matter what age you are, you might not know if you need glasses, or if the ones you do have are right. It’s important to go for an eye test before starting your driving lessons just to be on the safe side. If you’re under 18 and in full time education you can get help towards the cost of your glasses.
Cost of lessons and tests
Driving lessons cost a lot of money and you really must be able to afford to do them regularly to make it work. It would be an idea to save up some money ahead of your first lesson so that you can either book a block in one go or ensure you can keep going for a few week. It would be a shame to run out of money part way through your lessons.
Learning to drive means having to take tests. There is the theory test as well as the practical test and both of these cost money and take time. You might have to travel a little bit to a test center so it’s worth figuring that out beforehand, or while you’re taking your lessons.
Insurance
As a younger driver you might not be ready to purchase your own car immediately after passing your test. However, there are a lot of reasons why you might need to drive a car that you don’t own and you still need to be insured for that. Instead of full insurance, you could opt for temporary car insurance for young drivers.
This kind of insurance can cover you for things like testing a car before you decide to buy it or maybe even taking a new car home once you have bought it. You might even want to carry on practicing after you pass your test in someone else’s car. I’m sure that many people won’t realise that they need insurance for these kinds of activities.
Temporary insurance can also be a great idea if you might only need to use a car for occasional use. You might need to rent a car for a one off trip or maybe you need to share the driving with a friend or family member if you plan on being on the road for quite some time. This way, you’ll save yourself from having to shell out for cover that you won’t need or use.
Buying a car
Cars are expensive and it’s worth taking your time to do some research before you buy. It would be a shame to waste a lot of money if you make the wrong decision. You might need to save up for some time before you’re able to buy a car or you might be lucky enough to have some help from a family member. Either way, do some research or ask for some profession help during your search.
What tips would you have for someone learning to drive as a young person?