You’ve just passed your driving test? Congratulations! Passing your driving test is an exciting time but can be expensive. A report from GoCompare Car Insurance suggests that it costs over £6000 to get a young driver on the road but there are some ways that you can keep costs down.
Find a car
If you want to drive straight after your test, you may need to look at buying your own car. A new car can be very expensive, but many car dealerships will allow you to pay monthly which makes getting a brand new car possible. While buying a car outright used to be the norm, supposedly 20% of 18-24-year-olds now lease their cars, so this could be an option worth looking into.
Another choice is to buy a used car which can keep costs down and be equally as good. Used cars may be preferable for new drivers as 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident in the first year after passing their test. As such, you may consider waiting to buy your dream car until you are a little more confident on the roads.
Insurance
You need to remember to insure your car. While insurance is expensive for new drivers, if you drive without it, you are breaking the law. However, there are a few things that you may want to consider if you are looking to keep costs down. Firstly, using a price comparison allows you to see the full range of options that will suit your needs. You can filter by your requirements and compare prices which should allow you to ensure that you aren’t overpaying for your insurance. You could also opt to get a black box fitted to your car. This device measures how well you drive which can reduce insurance costs immediately and also in the future.
Tax and MOT
You can quickly and easily tax your car online which is essential or if you don’t want to pay a £2500 fine. Many cars nowadays, like electric vehicles, may have a zero road tax charge but you will still need to register your car for tax.
An MOT will last for a year and but driving without one results in a fine of up to £1000. If you buy a used car and the previous owner has had an MOT in the last 12 months, then you won’t have to get one. For new cars, you will not need to get an MOT until your car is 3 years old which can help to keep costs down.
Consider extra qualifications
If you are wanting to become a better driver, or as a way to further reduce insurance costs, completing a Pass Pluss qualification may be a good idea. The course takes at least 6 hours to complete and will ensure that you feel comfortable driving in a range of terrains, including towns and motorways, as well as in all weathers. This qualification does come at a cost but your local council may offer discounts as an incentive.
How to keep costs down as a new driver is a featured post
