Good News / Bad news

[ThomasSoerensen]

CAn you still do that "addon" to the driving test where they test you on motorways and at night? I heard it used to get you a cheaper premium as a 1st time driver. Ah, Google says: http://www.passplus.org.uk/

This is not part of a normal driving "school" education?

This explains a lot.

[d000hg]

This is not part of a normal driving "school" education?

This explains a lot.

Indeed. You're not allowed on a motorway as a learner driver IIRC so you can't drive on one until you've passed your test. I think dual-carriageway is required on a driving test but I can't recall, night-time driving and things like rain/snow driving are definitely not.

A good instructor may of course be happy to take you for a lesson at night-time, but I've heard pass-plus recommended and not just as a way to reduce premiums.

[Zippy]

Indeed. You're not allowed on a motorway as a learner driver IIRC so you can't drive on one until you've passed your test. I think dual-carriageway is required on a driving test but I can't recall, night-time driving and things like rain/snow driving are definitely not.

A good instructor may of course be happy to take you for a lesson at night-time, but I've heard pass-plus recommended and not just as a way to reduce premiums.

No you can't drive on a motorway until you've passed, but you can drive on most dual carriageways.

[DaveB]

having shopped around we've got it down to £1500 with Admiral as I'm already insured with them so we get a discount. Oddly enough they wern't the cheapest to insure the Clio *without* Son on the policy.

Pass plus gives up to a 35% discount depending on who you insure with. Most give 5%, only the really expensive insurers give the 35%. Gits.

[realityhack]

Probably not suitable for first-time drivers, but this will knock pounds off your premium too.

[Cyberman]

Consider pay-as-you-drive which means you have a 'black box' satellite tracker (installation 39 pounds) in the car. Insurers doing this are Allianz, Co-op, Equity Red Star and Groupama. I read about this in the Mail on Sunday this weekend.

A rate is paid for every mile driven, but big discounts are given for off-peak.

A 22-year-old man living in Preston driving a Vauxhall Astra pays 5.57p off-peak. 8.16p peak, and 10.97p super-peak via the Co-op.

An initial premium is taken of 20 per cent based on estimated annual usage, driver car, age, history and location and times likely to drive. The rest is taken over the year based on monthly payments for actual usage.