From your experience how long does it generally take for a new driver to start seeing cheaper insurance quotes?
I’ve been looking at quotes just to see how they differ by different cars etc, for when I pass my test. Gives me an idea of what to buy when it comes to it.
I’ll be getting something mid range as the faster cars, the type that do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds are all coming up as approx £2,500 for that 1st year.
No way am I paying that figured slower car is the way forward to build up the history of no claims and driving experience.
The car insurance industry is designed to help protect new drivers as much as possible, by placing financial obstacles in the way. ‘Just passed your test Sir?, here are the keys to your Tesla Roadster - good luck!’ Accident in 3,2,…
Thankfully, owning a car was much more difficult when I started out - you had to buy them (no PCP, Lease) and so money was always a focus. And having an accident cost a lot of money.
Yeah I’ve heard the 25 year old threshold has an impact too.
I had a micra as my first car (the really old boxy looking one) and paid around £1,200 for insurance. I think I only paid £1,500 for the car itself This was a long time ago too.
You’ve got to start small and then work your way up otherwise it will cost you.
Oh and don’t go as a named driver under your parents because you’ll eventually have to get your own policy, so while it will be cheaper short term, you’ll be back to square one again at some point in the future.
I’m actually thinking a Kia Picanto or however you spell it.
They’re fairly cheap for a brand new model, 5 years of that then trade it in for something faster. Not that I’m going to be racing it around the streets anyway.
Saying that in 5 years time hopefully electric car prices will have come down significantly. I really do want one of those but can’t justify the price or the range at the moment.
I personally wouldn’t get a brand new car as your first.
You’ll die inside when you kerb an alloy or bump into something which is almost inevitable being a new driver and all.
Get something cheap and cheerful because you’ll be paying through the nose for insurance so you don’t want to be doing the same on an expensive new car as well.
In my car when you put it in reverse and turn the wheel it adjusts the mirrors to point down towards the kerb and your wheels. Not sure if this is a common thing or not on newer cars?
Also, if you’re actually the main driver of the car, going this route is called ‘fronting’, and the insurance company could refuse to pay out if you have to make a claim on the policy. It’s not worth the risk.
Whenever I watch driving instructors on YouTube, it’s only ever the BMWs that do this. Never heard any of the others in different cars mentioning the mirrors changing position when reversing.
If you move the mirror switch as if you’re going to reposition that mirror, that’s the mirror that will dip upon reverse. If it’s in the middle it won’t do it for either.
My Golf does the mirror thing, as for the windows, if you’re already out of the car, just hold the lock button on your key fob, after a few seconds all the windows will start doing up, they’ll stop when you let go.
Edit: Works the same for opening too but with the unlock button