Learning to drive can be an exciting but nerve-wracking venture. If you’re lucky enough to own a car before passing your test, or your parents have a car, there are several benefits of learning to drive in your own vehicle.
The Law on Learning to Drive In Your Own Car
It is completely legal to learn to drive in your own vehicle. Before you start, you’ll need to apply for a provisional driving licence. You’ll also need to fix learner or ‘L’ plates to both the front and back of your car, where they’re clearly visible to let other road users know that you’re still learning. If you’re planning to learn to drive in your own car or a family car, you’ll also need to take out learner driver insurance to ensure that you’re covered in the event of an accident.
Here are some of the key benefits of learning to drive in your own vehicle.
Saves Money
Learning to drive in your own car can help you make considerable savings on the cost of expensive driving lessons. On average, driving lessons in the UK cost anywhere between £25 and £35 per hour depending on where you live and the vehicle you’ll be driving. When you consider that the average person needs around 45 hours of lessons to pass their test, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, you can see how the costs can soon mount up!
By using your own vehicle, a friend or family member can teach you instead providing they meet certain criteria, such as being over the age of 21 and having held a full UK driving licence for at least three years.
More Convenient
Learning to drive in your own car, or a parent’s car is more convenient than having to schedule driving lessons in advance and coordinate your lessons to fit in with when your instructor is available. You don’t need to worry about rearranging at the last minute if something comes up. Plus, if you have some free time, you can always ask a family member or friend to take you out for some extra practice.
Familiarity
Driving a vehicle that you’re already familiar with can be a real comfort when first learning to drive. There’s so much to take in and remember as a learner driver, but if you’re already familiar with the car’s features and layout, as well as how it handles, its dimensions and any little quirks, then this can help you feel more confident and at ease as you take to the road.
Consistency
Practising driving in the same car every time can help you develop consistent driving habits. This is particularly helpful if you’ll be driving the car after passing your test as it means you won’t have to apply your newfound driving skills to a whole new vehicle!
Sense of Ownership
Driving your own car creates a sense of ownership and pride. This gives you a deeper connection with the car, which can help when it comes to car maintenance. If you’re learning to drive in your own vehicle, you’ll be more likely to notice sooner if it develops a fault and you’ll also be more motivated to properly maintain your car through regular checks and services as well as keeping it clean and in good condition.
