Practising driving- buy car with cash or Zipcar, etc?

Hello,

I am beginning the dreaded process of applying for a full UK license. My question is, what is the best way to go about practising for driving on my provisional license? My instinct is to just buy a car now (cash in hand since I have a limited UK credit history), get short-term provisional insurance on it, and practice that way until I'm ready to take the practical. I mean, what are my alternatives, really? I was thinking perhaps Zipcars would be one alternative: since I'm in London and I believe they let you use an American license, I could just sign up with Zipcar and drive those around whenever I have time to practice, on my American license rather than UK provisional.

Buy car now option pros:
Can drive when and where I please
Have a car to take my test in

Buy car now option cons:
Risk of buying a car and not being able to use it long-term if I have serious trouble passing my practical (I'd like to think I'll pass it eventually, though)
Have to deal with short term provisional insurance

Any advice welcome....

(PS: I'm not off to a great start with this whole process. I just spent THREE HOURS applying for the provisional licence online, the site kept rejecting my info/timing out etc. My internet connection is perfect, the site was just hard to use/not working correctly and incredibly frustrating. I was in tears by the time it actually went through. Then, at the end I was told I'd be 'sent a form in the post within a week' that I would have to then post back to them with more information...I'm assuming this will be a request for my USA passport?)

No experience with Zipcar, but just wanted to say that even though I owned my own car, I found it much more helpful to drive my instructors car for my driving test.  I wouldn't have taken it without some instruction as it isn't just about driving but how you do certain things--and many of the things they tell you to do in US driver training can put you in risk of failing here (like if you cross your hands over when turning the wheel).  A good instructor can prepare you on how to drive for the test and calm down any jitters, plus I found his higher quality car easier to drive and do the manoeuvres in than the cheapie cash-in-hand I drove every day for work.

You can do it in your own car.  I think there are a few who did this, but you will need to make special provisions like buying a detachable extra rear-view mirror for the examiner, L-plates (even if you can legally drive without them under a US license), etc.

Anyway, if it's just about practice, I would be looking at how much use you'd have for the car outside of practising for your test.  Do you need a car or plan on using one?  If so, it doesn't hurt to buy one on the cheap.  Were you an experienced driver in the US?  Then personally, I'd just pay for some lessons and use your time with your instructor for your lessons as practice.  If for some reason you think you need lots more work than you'd get in 5-10 lessons, then look at car options.  If you can already drive a manual, I wouldn't bother with getting a car just for practice.  Even without knowing manual, I'm not sure I'd pay extra unless I needed the car for other things.

If you are feeling very anxious, maybe take a few lessons, see how you are getting on after having time to adjust to your instructor's car, then take a look at getting extra practice in another car if you need it.

Hi Solstince,

If I remember correctly, aren't you getting pretty close to having been here for 1 year?  If so, I'm afraid you can't continue to legally drive on your US license-rental or otherwise. I'm not entirely sure how they enforce this though--it's not like you carry your passport around for them to check the date stamp on your visa....  But if you got into an accident while driving, this could potentially come to light.

I too, am toying with the idea of getting a full UK license.  My only problem is finding the time to do it.  I'm planning on just taking lessons, see how I get on, then take the test in my instructor's car.  I probably wouldn't even buy a car once I got the license, and just use Zipcar or something similar, when/as needed. 

Do you have anywhere to park where you live in London if you do buy something?

I have mentioned this in the past, but it has been awhile. I kept putting off getting my UK license, so much I had to stop driving for a bit. In the end I decided I just wanted to do it quickly and get it over and done with-- I got my provisional, took the theory test (relatively easily with the help of prep cd-roms) and then booked myself on a two day residential course-- had two days of driving with an instructor- shared with another student, I found it helpful to pick up tips when the other student was driving and I didn't have to drive the whole time-- passed the first time.
I did it in blackpool but I am sure there are other options-- it isn't cheap but it includes accomodation and in the end I think it was cheaper than a lot of lessons with an instructor and certainly quicker--
Here is a link to where I went
http://www.learndrive.co.uk/

I used to pass by this used car lot on the bus going to and from work, and one day i saw this massive cool white Nissan Patrol jeep-thing and went WOW.  I saw it again the next day, and the next, and on the 3rd day, I got off the bus, walked back to the car lot, and drove home in the Nissan Patrol! 

It was great having my own car to practice driving in, without an instructor breathing down your neck all the time.

I did both-
I bought my own car to practice, get around, etc and then also practiced with a driving instructor for the 'test stuff'

Good luck!

I have mentioned this in the past, but it has been awhile. I kept putting off getting my UK license, so much I had to stop driving for a bit. In the end I decided I just wanted to do it quickly and get it over and done with-- I got my provisional, took the theory test (relatively easily with the help of prep cd-roms) and then booked myself on a two day residential course-- had two days of driving with an instructor- shared with another student, I found it helpful to pick up tips when the other student was driving and I didn't have to drive the whole time-- passed the first time.
I did it in blackpool but I am sure there are other options-- it isn't cheap but it includes accomodation and in the end I think it was cheaper than a lot of lessons with an instructor and certainly quicker--
Here is a link to where I went
http://www.learndrive.co.uk/

Wow. That is a really cool system! I've bookmarked that link! It is way cheaper than I was thinking it would be, too.

So, a related question- whenever you book private driving lessons, does it generally include the car? I've seen some advertised in London for pretty cheap (20£/hour?) and I wasn't sure if that included the car. We don't have a car and probably won't for a while (if ever). I just want to be able to drive and hire a car if I need.

So, a related question- whenever you book private driving lessons, does it generally include the car? I've seen some advertised in London for pretty cheap (20£/hour?) and I wasn't sure if that included the car. We don't have a car and probably won't for a while (if ever). I just want to be able to drive and hire a car if I need.

Yes the lessons are in the instructors car --at least any that I have heard of

So, a related question- whenever you book private driving lessons, does it generally include the car? I've seen some advertised in London for pretty cheap (20£/hour?) and I wasn't sure if that included the car. We don't have a car and probably won't for a while (if ever). I just want to be able to drive and hire a car if I need.

Yes, it includes the car (I've never heard of lessons not including the car), because both driving schools and private instructors will have specially adjusted cars for teaching in, with rearview mirrors and foot controls on the passenger side as well as the driver side, so they can take control of the car if necessary.

Bear in mind that the majority of driving students will be 17-year-olds who do not have a car themselves (not many UK teenagers have their own cars), so they will be relying on the instructor to provide a car for lessons and for taking the test in.

Yes, it includes the car (I've never heard of lessons not including the car), because both driving schools and private instructors will have specially adjusted cars for teaching in, with rearview mirrors and foot controls on the passenger side as well as the driver side, so they can take control of the car if necessary.

Bear in mind that the majority of driving students will be 17-year-olds who do not have a car themselves (not many UK teenagers have their own cars), so they will be relying on the instructor to provide a car for lessons and for taking the test in.

Ah good point! I forgot about the special safety pedals. I never took lessons in the US (my dad taught me!) I had assumed that it included the car, then I started thinking that maybe the price was so cheap because it didn't include the car! Good to know. I will probably get on this asap before I lose my US driving skillz.

then I started thinking that maybe the price was so cheap because it didn't include the car!

To me, £20 actually seems pricey, because when I learned to drive (2000/2001), lessons only cost £13-14 per hour .

These days though, £20 is a good price - I think a lot of places charge £25-30 per hour now. However, schools/instructors will often offer discounts if you book a block of lessons together.

I guess I was expecting it to be much more? I have no idea what the going rate for driving instruction is in the US even.

I guess I was expecting it to be much more? I have no idea what the going rate for driving instruction is in the US even.

When I learned in NJ back in 2003, it cost around $300 for 3 x 2 hr lessons. So yeah, the prices here seem pretty ok! 

HG-- I might end up doing something like that residential course you linked...thanks!  It's probably a lot easier to just book a few days holiday off work, and get it done than try to squeeze in a lesson here, and a lesson there...etc.  Did you already know how to drive a manual?  Because I have no experience with that at all..

  Did you already know how to drive a manual?  Because I have no experience with that at all..

I did and had been driving here in the UK for a year and had taken a couple lessons with a local guy which is why I felt comfortable doing the two day course. My daughter when she turned 17 did a little driving locally and got the basic start and go skills...she then did the full 5 day residential course..and past test first go

Hi guys,

I'm the OP, sorry for disapearing after making the thread- had internet problems! I haven't read the comments yet, but this is the plan I am following:

1) Apply for provisional license (I've done this)
2) Secure parking spot in London. (Not being super picky with this since for now since I'll only be driving the car occasionally while I 'learn'...hoping to pay no more than £80/month) (Working on this)
3) While waiting for provisional license to come in mail, research which cars are cheapest to maintain and insure.  (Working on this)
4) When get prov license in mail, buy car and get short-term provisional driver insurance. Also sign up to take theory test.
5) Study for theory test and take it (pass it). Schedule practical test.
6) Take some lessons/get comfortable enough to ponit where have chance of passing practical test.
7) Switch to proper insurance when I pass and have a full license. (Will need to call around, REALLY hoping the fact that I'm 26 and female with a cheap car will mean I can keep this under £800 a year?)


Does anyone have any input? I could especially use advice on how not to be swindled by buying a cheap used car in Central London. The problem is, before, I was going to take my boyfriend, who is rather clueless about cars but could have at least pretended to know what he was doing. However, we just broke up. Now, I have to go to buy one alone, a young American girl by herself. And I really don't know much about cars. Should be interesting- regardless seems like I'll  be taking a chance on the vehicle, but since we're only talking £300-£400, I'm hoping it just won't be the end of the world if someone DOES sell me something that isn't worth what's asked.

The other great thing about the breakup means that I no longer have a licensed adult to drive around with me. Its really inconvienent timing for all this but I'm still determined to get my license before the holidays ...