tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
I've finally decided to learn to drive, test is very soon. I've been to look at a few cars and get insurance quotes, and there are a few really weird anomalies which if anyone can offer input on I'd appreciate.
Firstly, looking at a 10 year old focus I get a quote of around £850 fully comp. I tried a fiesta, same price give or take a few quid. Tried a golf, same price, insurance bracket seems irrelevant? In fact I tried cars from group 8 up to 18 and they hardly budged, so guessing it's my new driver status that gets me?
Secondly I looked at the date of test pass to date of getting the car. My original quotes were all based on a month between passing and buying but it seems that insuring a car within a week of passing your test can add a fair amount, getting one the day after passing pushed the insurance up by 25%. I guess they see people doing this as too eager? I'm happy to wait a few weeks if I can save a few hundred pounds!
Third, I looked at insuring it on my provisional license. Apparently thats less risky as it's less than half, cheapest being nearer to £350. This must be because I have someone with me when learning, even though they have no control other than yelling at me to stop!
So, with these three things in mind and also the fact I may not pass first time, I have an interesting idea. Buy the car now (seen a few now, one stood out) and insure as a learner, if I fail I still have the car fully insured to learn in. All good. If I pass however I cancel the insurance in the first 2 weeks cooling off period (so only charged for time used) and then leave it uninsured for a few weeks on my drive. I then insure it again taking advantage of the gap between pass and insuring to get it back to a reasonable amount. Any thoughts?
Of course the glaring alternative is don't buy yet, which is sound advice, but if I do then.....
Firstly, looking at a 10 year old focus I get a quote of around £850 fully comp. I tried a fiesta, same price give or take a few quid. Tried a golf, same price, insurance bracket seems irrelevant? In fact I tried cars from group 8 up to 18 and they hardly budged, so guessing it's my new driver status that gets me?
Secondly I looked at the date of test pass to date of getting the car. My original quotes were all based on a month between passing and buying but it seems that insuring a car within a week of passing your test can add a fair amount, getting one the day after passing pushed the insurance up by 25%. I guess they see people doing this as too eager? I'm happy to wait a few weeks if I can save a few hundred pounds!
Third, I looked at insuring it on my provisional license. Apparently thats less risky as it's less than half, cheapest being nearer to £350. This must be because I have someone with me when learning, even though they have no control other than yelling at me to stop!
So, with these three things in mind and also the fact I may not pass first time, I have an interesting idea. Buy the car now (seen a few now, one stood out) and insure as a learner, if I fail I still have the car fully insured to learn in. All good. If I pass however I cancel the insurance in the first 2 weeks cooling off period (so only charged for time used) and then leave it uninsured for a few weeks on my drive. I then insure it again taking advantage of the gap between pass and insuring to get it back to a reasonable amount. Any thoughts?
Of course the glaring alternative is don't buy yet, which is sound advice, but if I do then.....