Help getting my 17 year old daughter driving.

[Jaroon]

Old topic but I have searched and want to run this by the hive mind.

We can't afford a car and her own insurance at this time. Don't want her driving mine. The Association of British Drivers recoomends something like 47 hours of paid tuition along with an extra 20 hours supervised in your own car, in my wisdom I think those numbers should be reversed as I'll teacher her to drive and they can teach her to pass the test.

So I want to buy a cheap 2nd car in my name, I will be the main driver (as you'll see) but want to have her as a named driver so I can go with her on the school etc. and let her get some hours in. Here's where it might get silly. I've been fancying an ancient MX 5 (classic car insurance?) as a 2nd car for awhile which will be my toy but would daughter be insurable on this as a named driver, would it put it into a reasonable price area and do you think learning to drive in an MX 5 is an issue? This won't be her car after she passes but we want her (to shut up) to be doing something towards getting mobile.

Any advice gratefully recieved

[kambites]

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with learning to drive in something like an old MX5, although I'd pick one with power steering to make it a bit easier for her.

I learned in normal hatchbacks but my first car was an MGB and I actually think it would have been a better learning car than the Clio that my instructor had or the Maestro that my parents had.

[StottyZr]

You could call up a couple of insurance companies and ask. That would also make a great first car, IIRC some insurance companies will allow her to be insured on a provisional licence and upon passing her test, price fix for the first year.

It could be a good way to get cheap insurance and earn her 1yrs NCB. Its at the very least worth looking into

I'd have though a 17yr old girl would love a convertable sports car as her first too?

[Loplop]

Having tried getting classic car insurance for over a year now, I'm afraid that insurer's want driver to be at least 21 (most 25!!!) before they'll let you get a classic policy. SOME insurer's will allow it if you go through an owner's club (The Morris Minor OC is a good place to look!) but again, it's all variable.

[B17NNS]

Not an issue at all. In fact I'd consider it a positive. She'll learn how to drive rather than how to operate a vehicle.

My dad taught me in a LWB 190D Transit. I took my test in my mum's old mini.

[Snowboy]

As long as you're not fronting it's all good.

I've no idea what it costs to add a provisional driver onto your insurance - but expect it to be over a grand.

You'll also find that a secobd car doesn't get the same ncb as your main car.
But, some insurance companies will offer an equivalent discount if you ask them.
Admiral did for me, but I had to speak to a manager not a conputer drone.

[kambites]

Snowboy said:

I've no idea what it costs to add a provisional driver onto your insurance - but expect it to be over a grand.

Provisional is typically substantially cheaper than newly qualified. Presumably because your average 17 year old will drive much more sensibly with a parent in the passenger seat.

[Snowboy]

kambites said:

Snowboy said:

I've no idea what it costs to add a provisional driver onto your insurance - but expect it to be over a grand.

Provisional is typically substantially cheaper than newly qualified. Presumably because your average 17 year old will drive much more sensibly with a parent in the passenger seat.

Yep. Expect the newly qualified driver to be over 2 grand.

[kambites]

Snowboy said:

Yep. Expect the newly qualified driver to be over 2 grand.

Probably true these days.

[Loplop]

kambites said:

Probably true these days.

Passed my test November 2011:

Peugeot 106 = £5k+

Renault Clio = ^

Honda Civic = £4k

[Rochellc01]

If i was you, i would just apy for 20 hours more of tuition.

i am 18 and recently passed my test (5 months ago) and luckily had the chance to do extra tuition in my own car as i had the money to buy one, insure it etc.

my advice is, dont buy a 2nd car for her to learn in, it actually set me back as i gained bad habits from driving my own car. spend the extra money on more lessons per week.

and the extra experience from learning in a RWD car, wont be of any help to a typical teenage girl, driving round in her 74hp Ford KA when she can afford one.

[LongLiveTazio]

Jaroon said:

The Association of British Drivers recoomends something like 47 hours of paid tuition along with an extra 20 hours supervised in your own car, in my wisdom I think those numbers should be reversed as I'll teacher her to drive and they can teach her to pass the test.

Strange attitude to take unless you are au fait with current methods/syllabus? There is nothing unsound in what a good instructor will teach, nor do they teach merely to pass a test. A Grade 5/6 will likely be applying best practice that would be just as relevant were your daughter to carry on and receive advanced tuition.

I'd be less worried about the mechanics of justifying a second car for yourself and more interested in securing the services of an instructor who knows what they're doing.

[otolith]

Let the instructor teach her. Your job is to sit in the car while she practices what she has been taught and not intervene unless absolutely necessary.

[kambites]

LongLiveTazio said:

There is nothing unsound in what a good instructor will teach

I think that depends on your definitions. My instructor taught me lots of things that weren't good practice because they were what I needed to know to get through my test. He also told me that they were poor practice, why they were poor practice and what other options were available.

When I carried on having lessons after I'd passed my test, he got me to stop doing them and drive what he considered "properly".

[LongLiveTazio]

kambites said:

I think that depends on your definitions. My instructor taught me lots of things that weren't good practice because they were what I needed to know to get through my test. He also told me that they were poor practice, why they were poor practice and what other options were available.

When I carried on having lessons after I'd passed my test, he got me to stop doing them and drive what he considered "properly".

Giving you an informed choice is teaching you soundly. With everything you learn there will be alternatives, no matter what it is, but the inherent system is sound and by using it you shouldn't come in to any bother. The problem is an unconfident learner going home and being told what they've learned is bks - not constructive. How long ago was this, out of interest?

[kambites]

LongLiveTazio said:

kambites said:

I think that depends on your definitions. My instructor taught me lots of things that weren't good practice because they were what I needed to know to get through my test. He also told me that they were poor practice, why they were poor practice and what other options were available.

When I carried on having lessons after I'd passed my test, he got me to stop doing them and drive what he considered "properly".

Giving you an informed choice is teaching you soundly. With everything you learn there will be alternatives, no matter what it is, but the inherent system is sound and by using it you shouldn't come in to any bother. The problem is an unconfident learner going home and being told what they've learned is bks - not constructive. How long ago was this, out of interest?

15 years, so not exactly recently.

I thought my instructor was very good, generally, but I know a lot of other people who were simply told that the way to pass the test was the "correct" way by instructors who wouldn't accept there was even another option.

[LongLiveTazio]

kambites said:

15 years, so not exactly recently.

And this is entirely the problem. I learned much more recently than you but the syllabus may well have changed again for some reason or another. I honestly don't recall learning anything that would be considered poor driving; maybe some things you would do differently with experience but that's what building up the hours is for (and after you pass).

[Riknos]

Rochellc01 said:

If i was you, i would just apy for 20 hours more of tuition.

i am 18 and recently passed my test (5 months ago) and luckily had the chance to do extra tuition in my own car as i had the money to buy one, insure it etc.

my advice is, dont buy a 2nd car for her to learn in, it actually set me back as i gained bad habits from driving my own car. spend the extra money on more lessons per week.

and the extra experience from learning in a RWD car, wont be of any help to a typical teenage girl, driving round in her 74hp Ford KA when she can afford one.

I passed my test in my own car, after being insured and practising in it beforehand - and I passed my test with flying colours I knew the car like the back of my hand by my test, made it much easier than using someone else's car I had to borrow once a week for 2 hours.

I suggest you're just a crap driver

[gshughes]

MX-5 sounds a great idea, easy to drive, not too powerful but with responsive controls. I passed my test after having been taught to drive by my Dad and then 6 one hour lessons with an instructor to polish technique a bit, so it ca be done.

[LongLiveTazio]

kambites said:

I thought my instructor was very good, generally, but I know a lot of other people who were simply told that the way to pass the test was the "correct" way by instructors who wouldn't accept there was even another option.

Sorry, posted before I saw the addendum. I think this comes down to, as you say, the instructor, which is why they're graded and is why I've said it's best to crack on and find one who's suitable. Mine was a Grade 6, an ex Boeing pilot and a nice bloke to boot - but I spoke to plenty who I didn't want to teach me! Personality/teaching styles and all that.