One of the most satisfying experiences you will encounter when learning to drive is the day that you finally pass your test and you can finally get rid of those annoying "L" plates for good. However, this feeling of satisfaction may inevitably become somewhat jaded once you realise just how expensive your life as a motorist will be in the real world. Of course, there are a number of ways that you can cut the costs of being a motorist and make life easier for yourself once you learn the ropes.
The easiest way of reducing your insurance bills is by taking part in an additional training course which is specifically aimed at helping new drivers build upon their existing knowledge and driving skills. In fact, even if you are an experienced driver you could still cut the cost of your car insurance premiums simply by participating in a recognized course such as the Pass Plus scheme which is open to anyone who holds a current driving license in the UK, although not all insurance companies will offer cheaper premiums because of this so it is always wise to shop around for one that does.
There are many different types of enhanced driving skill courses currently available and the most popular choice amongst new drivers and the most widely accepted amongst car insurance firms is the Pass Plus which leads to a certificate which is endorsed by the Driving Standards Agency. The cost of a Pass Plus course ranges between £120 and £180 which includes six lessons which last around an hour covering a wide range of driving conditions such as driving in adverse weather, driving at night and driving through built up towns. Once this course has been completed you can typically expect to save around a third on your insurance premiums.
Another popular scheme which is useful for those seeking
to save on their car
insurance quotes is course run by the Institute of Advanced
Motorists. This course is known as the Advanced Driving
Test and it costs £79 for those who are under 25 years of
age. It involves a series of eight one hour lessons which
end with the student taking a test which they must either
pass or fail.
Those looking to save money on enhanced driving schemes would do well to join the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. This is a charity based organisation which aims to help save lives by teaching young drivers how to drive in a much more safely. The lessons offered by ROSPA are usually provided free of charge by club members who donate their time and end with a graded examination which results in either a bronze, silver or gold certificate depending on the students ability.
Finally, there is another test available which called the Diamond Advanced Motorists test. Before taking the Diamond test, you will have to arrange your own tuition through a private instructor. In many ways, the test itself is very similar to a traditional driving test except for the fact that you will only be allowed six minor errors in the space of an hour long examination and it covers a much wider variety of road conditions. Once you have passed this test, which costs £58, you will be able to prove that you can drive to the same standard as a qualified driving Instructor.
The government is already planning on making driving tests much tougher in the near future although the average amount of money a learner driver can typically expect to fork out before passing their test at the moment is just over £1,330. This includes the cost of a provisional licence at £50, an additional £30 for the theory test and a further £56.50 for your practical test, assuming you pass the first time. It also includes the cost of driving lessons at around £25 per hour, bearing in mind that the average driving student needs somewhere between thirty and forty lessons before they are considered to be fully prepared to take their final test on the road.
