Parents insurance or my own car?

Nazbit

Nazbit

Nazbit

Soldato
Joined
11 Dec 2004
Posts
3,871
Hey all,

I passed my theory today and I have a date for my practical which sort of prompted my parents to talk about what they are going to do when I pass my test.

They presented me with 2 options....

Option 1:
When I pass they will put me on the insurance to my dads car (costing £1400 at the moment but obviously that will get a bit lower with shopping around) and I will get use of the car in the evenings and weekends when my dad isnt using it, but this means that I wont get a car of my own until I have a job and can afford something decent, so probably 3 years from now when im in my last year of uni. So on the plus side I get to drive straight away and I get access to a good car (2 year old 1.8 ford mondeo) but I have restricted access to it i.e. evenings and weekends.

Option 2:
When I pass I dont have a car to drive and I wait until my 18th birthday (a good while away - august) and they will give me the £1400 that would have gone on the insurance, and a bit more for me to buy and insure my own car. So on the plus side I have the freedom of my own car, on the down side it wont be very good and I wont be able to get on the road for 6 months.

On one hand I want to be able to get on the road ASAP as I dont have all that much freedom at the moment, on the other hand I would like to have my own car sometime while Im at uni.

Both have their positives and their negatives, and I think I know what im going to choose....

But if you were me....which one would it be ladies and gents?

Cheers
 
I'd do the first one. Once you pass your test you will want to drive ASAP!!

EDIT: Oh and good luck for your test. If you're doing it in Norris Green watch out for the Broadway Double Roundy and Zebra! Eeeeek! :eek:
 
Quantic said:
I'd do the first one. Once you pass your test you will want to drive ASAP!!

EDIT: Oh and good luck for your test. If you're doing it in Norris Green watch out for the Broadway Double Roundy and Zebra! Eeeeek! :eek:
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:D Yes im doing my test in norris green, for that reason my instructor has taken me around that double roundabout about 1000 times, and im STILL scared of it :D

Just one of those things you have to look all around you every other second and keep the speed down so that you can react I suppose, is a tricky little bugger though

so....back to the issue above...you would take option one?
 
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Option 2

it will get on your wick at first but a lot better in the long run y waste 1400 to go on your dads n he would kill you if crash it or bump it. and it will be your first car so more than likly. just wait it out for 6 months then you can go out when you like do what you like in the car with out worrying if you brake somthing.!
 
Option 1, insuring and buying a car for £1400 at your age will be hell - you will end up with a £150 pile of utter horrid tat and a £1250 insurance bill.
 
Option 1 because of your age, my brother is 18 and he has cannot get an insurance quote on anything half decent for under £1600.
 
I know its a hard decision, but im leaning towards option one more than option two at the moment, I think its probably the best one, but I would be terrified of pranging my dads motor.

Any more thoughts?
 
I would say option two...but wouldnt it be easier if you saved up a bit to get your own car? I mean the auction my parents was at the other night, cars were going through for silly money!

My parents were there buying me a little run around, they got me a little .900 Cinquento for £350, and its only got 59k on the clock :)
 
i would say option 2,and this is why:-

1) your old mans car is too powerfull for your level of experience.
you get in a 1.8 litre fuel injection motor and get a few mates in and give it a bit of right foot for the fun and you'll be flying. which will be great until you overstep your abilities and it all goes wrong.

2) if you prang it, not only will you be in deep doodoo, but your familly will be without their car. and there's a reason insurance is steep for young drivers. it's not because the insurance companies hate you or because they think you're loaded, it's because the statistics show that on avergae younger, less experienced drivers make more claims. chances are you will do some damage to vehicles in your first few years driving.

3) for the money you've got to play with, option 2 will mean buying something a few years old and with a tiny engine. face facts, you're gonna get fleeced on insurance anyway. but there's an upside to this. an older motor will need a bit more maintenance, which will mean you'll have to learn the basics. this is great, it'll teach you how a car really works.

4) if you play the game right, really hunt for a bargain cheapo car, look after it tidy it up a bit, you might be able to sell it in 6 months for more than you bought it for. rinse and repeat a few times and in 3 years you'll be able to afford a much better car through trading up and earning the cash.

just my thoughts, and best of luck...
 
Option 2 for me. I personally wouldnt want to drive my parents car incase i pranged it if i did i would be on the gallows (porche 911 4S).

secondly its damn good fun to have a car of you own to drive about that doesnt cost much, my first car was great a 1.1 Fiesta. It didnt matter very muich if you scraped it a little and it didnt matter where you parked it. But if its your dads car you will be paranoid.

I wouldnt bother driving until you are working as it costs a fortune.
 
If you'll have an income and can use those 6 months to save some money to add to the £1400 then I'd consider option 2. If the £1400 is all you'll have to get yourself on the road then stick with option 1.
 
I also would say option 2, its a lot of responsibility and a large car for a new driver. You're most likely to have a few bumps and depending on your parents, that could be a lot of hassle. If I were you I would be patient.

Burnsy
 
MrWhippy said:
1) your old mans car is too powerfull for your level of experience.
you get in a 1.8 litre fuel injection motor and get a few mates in and give it a bit of right foot for the fun and you'll be flying. which will be great until you overstep your abilities and it all goes wrong.
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Errr, its a Mk3 Mondeo. It's not a rocketship in 1.8 litre form.
 
If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, then that's a big no. If he's the main driver, he has to have the insurance under his name, or else it's comitting insurance :) fraud.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
Mackass, I'm really quite interested to see how on earth insurance related fraud has anything to do with the welfare state..
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:D

Option 1 is clearly the better option. You'll get to drive a better car, and will be able to drive it sooner.
 
Mackass said:
If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, then that's a big no. If he's the main driver, he has to have the insurance under his name, or else it's comitting benefit fraud.
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If you mean insurance fraud, you can be the main driver of a car without being the policy holder. It is not illegal so long as you explain to the insurance company what you're doing. This is how I intend to insure my next car - i.e. through my parents.
 
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