Learner Driver On My Insurance?

[ringway]

My Wife finally wants to learn to drive

All my vehicles are full comprehensive.

Do I need to make any extra insurance arrangements whilst teaching her to drive?

Any information gratefully received.

Paul.

 

[Sp!ke]

Yes, you should pay for a professional driving instructor and not take the chance of your instructing her ruin the marriage or your car.

 

[219]

You would need to add your wife to the list of named drivers on your insurance - make sure you are sitting down when they give you the quote for a learner on your Merc if that is what you have in mind .

I agree with Spike that she should have some professional lessons as well ( unless you are a qualified instructor yourself ) as most 'normal' drivers will have picked up some bad habits and will end up passing these onto their 'pupils' .

Then there is the potential for 'domestic disharmony' as mentioned .

Having said the above , I taught both of my younger sisters to drive and they turned out allright . I had , however , passed several advanced driving tests , to the level that I was teaching others to be advanced instructors by then .

And just look at my driving now .....

 

[ringway]

You would need to add your wife to the list of named drivers on your insurance - make sure you are sitting down when they give you the quote for a learner on your Merc if that is what you have in mind .

Well, I was thinking more of the my 3.0 Omega Or MB long wheel based sprinter

 

[ringway]

You would need to add your wife to the list of named drivers on your insurance - make sure you are sitting down when they give you the quote for a learner on your Merc if that is what you have in mind .

Or maybe this Merc for damage limitation purposes

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...ject-Single-MEDIA.tmp/CV 714_Single pages.pdf

 

[219]

Being serious for a moment , you'd probably find the insurance pricey even for the Omega , purely because of the engine size .

Another consideration - is it automatic ? If she learns on an auto and sits her test in one then she would be unable to drive manual cars .

You might actually be cheaper buying something like an older 1 litre VW Polo or similar for her to learn on as , even taking the purchase price of the car ( a few hundred will get you a decent runner , and VW's are built just about as well as Mercs ) you will save so much on the insurance that it will be cheaper overall .

You then also have no worries about one of your cars getting damaged , and in the event she collects the odd dent in the Polo or whatever , why worry . She can run it for a year or so until she gets some driving experience then you can let her drive your cars - a driver with a year's experience will be a much better prospect for your insurer .

 

[ringway]

Being serious for a moment , you'd probably find the insurance pricey even for the Omega , purely because of the engine size .

Another consideration - is it automatic ? If she learns on an auto and sits her test in one then she would be unable to drive manual cars .

You might actually be cheaper buying something like an older 1 litre VW Polo or similar for her to learn on as , even taking the purchase price of the car ( a few hundred will get you a decent runner , and VW's are built just about as well as Mercs ) you will save so much on the insurance that it will be cheaper overall .

You then also have no worries about one of your cars getting damaged , and in the event she collects the odd dent in the Polo or whatever , why worry . She can run it for a year or so until she gets some driving experience then you can let her drive your cars - a driver with a year's experience will be a much better prospect for your insurer .

Thanks.

I bought a neighbours 97reg Passat (manual) for her to learn in and she did quite well (she is 42).

However, my 29 year old cousin needs that car more than we do at the moment (no cash - split with partner - gets up at 04-30hrs to travel 2 hours on the train to work, then back at 20.00hrs) train cancelled so cost him £42 to get to work, so I gave him that car today.

Omega is old, but in fantastic nick and auto (she loves it compared to the manual Passat) so we will take the auto test route

I doubt she'll ever drive my 320 though

 

[ackee911]

If you don't want to add her onto your policy, you could insure her on a weekly basis through:

http://www.learner-driver-car-insurance.co.uk/

Pretty cheap and doesn't affect your NCB if she crashes (hopefully not).

Hope this helps.

 

[wemorgan]

I waited for my wife to have 10 driving lessons first before I took her out in my car. That way she had enough knowledge and car control taught by a professional, before I interfered with my tips and other bad habits. I'd recommend you doing something similar.

 

[Stratman]

Old proverb say: Family members make the worst pupils and teachers

 

[BTB 500]

Somebody told me that adding a learner didn't normally affect the premium much ... they are always under supervision, after all. I guess it will vary from company to company (as usual), too.

 

[Marque]

It was cheaper to pay for weekly driving lessons for my son than to add him as a named driver on Mrs Marque's insurance for a 6-year-old Fiasco runabout.

As a bonus, he was taught how to pass his test, first time, in just 16 lessons.

I would recommend proper lessons in a small car for any learner.

 

[kwakdonut]

As a bonus, he was taught how to pass his test, first time, in just 16 lessons.

And that's the whole problem with current tests - really needs a radical shake up

 

[Peterdon]

And that's the whole problem with current tests - really needs a radical shake up

I would say the tests are harder now. I passed mine 40 years ago 6 weeks after my 17th birthday, it would have been quicker if Christmas and New Year hadn't got in the way. Was I ready for the road, probably not. My driving instructor would not let me drive home from the test so he could lecture me about "You may have passed but now is when you start to learn."

At least we have the theory test now and a bit more than hand signals.

 

[BTB 500]

My driving instructor would not let me drive home from the test so he could lecture me about "You may have passed but now is when you start to learn."

I think that's fairly standard, my instructor did the same (1978).

 

[stevesey]

My driving instructor would not let me drive home from the test so he could lecture me about "You may have passed but now is when you start to learn."

Standard practice not letting you drive home (and the lecture I think) - guessed my son had passed becuase he wasn't driving when they pulled up outside afterwards.

I put our son on the insurance (thrid party on the wife's Astra) straight away and did a good few hours around local industrial estates and shopping centres out of hours. Wanted the instructors time to be spent teaching roadcraft not getting him used to clutch control, slow speed control, reversing, hill starts etc. So I spent most of the time focusing on those things, he had probably done about 5 hours of this before first first lesson. After the first few lessons, I'd pass him the keys at every opportunity.

 

[ringway]

Wonder of wonders!

I called More Than today and added Mrs T to the 3.0 Omega for nothing

For the record, I went on the web site for the Collingwood Insurance Learner Driver Insurance Co, and they don't insure vehicles above group 15.

Many Thanks

Paul

 

[Marque]

And that's the whole problem with current tests - really needs a radical shake up

Back in 1973, I passed my test first time after just five double lessons, and without the use of another car, so 16 seems like a lot to me!

My son flew through his Theory Test and had a couple of extra lessons after passing so that he could get his Pass Plus too. I think the driving instructor was pretty good.

 

[ringway]

Somebody told me that adding a learner didn't normally affect the premium much ...

It didn't affect the premium at all. Called More Than and added Mrs T to the policy free of charge

 

[Dieselman]

Called More Than and added Mrs T to the policy free of charge

Yes, but they just accept the financial liability...you now have to deal with the fear...