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Learning to Drive - Buying your First Car.
Buying your First Car - What to Consider
To learn to drive in the UK you must be in possession of a provisional driving licence, which can be applied for up to three months prior to your 17th birthday. To legally drive a car in the UK you must be aged 17 or over, and when learning must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over who has held a full driving licence for at least three years. No matter whether you`re a learner or a seasoned driver, your vehicle must be roadworthy and have a current MOT certificate and road tax and you will need car insurance too.
Buying your first car
If you`ve passed your test and are desperate for a car of your own, remember that choosing the right first car is one of the most important decisions you`ll make. After all, it can have repercussions not only in terms of your financial wellbeing but also in terms of practicality and safety too.
So, first things first, you`ll need to set a budget - and stick to it! It`s important to factor in all costs, including the initial purchase price of the vehicle, depreciation, car insurance premiums, road tax, regular servicing and maintenance plus the cost of fuel. There`s really no point in buying a car that you can`t afford to run or maintain.
You`ll then need to weigh up whether to buy new or used. Whilst a new car is likely to be more reliable than a used car, its value will depreciate rapidly during the first three years of ownership. You won`t have the worry of a hidden history if you do buy new, but you`ll almost certainly need comprehensive car insurance and for a new driver premiums can be prohibitive. With an older vehicle you can take out third party or third party fire and theft cover to keep premiums affordable, which will help to reduce your `on-the-road` costs.
Whether you do buy new or used, you should always do your research first. This includes reading plenty of reviews for the model you`re interested in, not just written by professional motoring correspondents but by owners too. You should check insurance groups and calculate running costs, such as fuel consumption. If you decide to opt for a used car, be sure to obtain a vehicle history report. According to the RAC, one in three used cars has a hidden history and a report will provide you with a wealth of information, including whether the car has been stolen and recovered, written off, had a colour or plate change or is subject to outstanding finance.
For your first car it really is wise to stick to a vehicle that is going to be affordable to buy, run and maintain. Cars with low insurance groups are typically cheaper to insure than those with high insurance groups as they have lower repair and replacement costs. Some insurers will require that you are aged at least 25 before they will offer cover on performance or prestige vehicles. You should also avoid modifications as these increase your level of risk and load your insurance premium as a result - some modifications may even invalidate your policy and you will need to declare any mods to your insurer, no matter how trivial. So, the key is to stick to a conventional car in your first few years of driving - you can always drive a flash sports car when you`ve built up a few years no-claims bonus and have plenty of experience behind the wheel.
Where to look for bargain cars
These days there are a whole host of ways to locate cars for sale. Not only are there traditional methods such as newspaper classifieds and car dealerships, but car auctions, car supermarkets and online trading sites too.
Many online car retailers are able to offer cars at discounted prices due to reduced overheads, whilst car supermarkets pride themselves on offering competitive prices. You can also use an online trading site such as Auto Trader to compare cars the length and breadth of the country. This is one of the best ways to gauge availability and pricing.
Car finance options
If you can`t afford to buy your first car outright, there are a number of finance options open to you including personal loans, hire purchase and car leasing. The finance option that`s best for you will very much depend on your circumstances, and there are advantages and disadvantages to all three options. Do your research into each type of finance before you commit.
Car insurance
New drivers face high car insurance premiums due to their inexperience behind the wheel and their higher accident rate (it`s estimated that one in five people are involved in an accident within six months of passing their test). Always shop around and compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers in order to find the best deal - a car insurance comparison site is the most effective way to do this. You should always compare policies on features as well as price to ensure you have the most suitable cover for your needs. If you take a Pass Plus course within a year of passing your test you will be eligible for discounts from the insurers who participate in the scheme.
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Why choose Eco Driven!
Our driving school only uses fully qualified DSA approved driving instructors.
Every lesson is on a one to one basis in a modern dual controlled car.
If you are a new or maybe a nervous driver no need to worry, Eco Driven really
does offer the best in tuition with lessons being structured around each
individuals needs.
Lessons can be taken Monday to Saturday with no extra charge for evening or
weekends
YOU decide on the pick up and drop off
for your driving lessons (as long as it is within the driving instructors area
and pre-arranged).
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Call us today
01275 849 505
0705 004 9974
Bryan@eco-driven.co.uk
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Special needs
Pupils learning to drive with special needs such as dyspraxia
dyslexia and attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder are catered for and most
welcome, our experience shows dyslexic dyspraxic and other special needs pupils
cope perfectly well with slight adjustments to lesson plans.
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Driving lessons!
Parents or partners are most welcome to sit in
and observe during lessons and will be offered help and advice by their driving
instructor if requested.
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