Yesterday I took my practical driving test and YES I passed! I was ecstatic, but to be honest I’ve been so overwhelmed by so much going on in my life I had almost forgotten about it until the day before. Still, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.
My examiner was the funniest little old man I ever saw. So…soft. Gentle to an almost disinterested level. When he spoke it was as if the words were struggling to cling tight onto his voice-box, and when they came out they were hazy utterances formed into neat little sentences. He was incredibly calm, it made me wonder what its like, to step into the passenger seat of some dodgy teenager five times a day five days a week, knowing full well that the nickname “suicide seat” is not unfounded.
Well, it all went well I suppose, and one of the reasons it did was how lucky I was with the manoeuvres. The dreaded parallel park, the infamous bay park and even the three-point-turn all passed me by on this lucky day, and I got away with just one minor at the end of the test.
But now I find myself in that classic situation where, as a student with limited income, not in the possession of a car of my own, I am unlikely to actually drive for at least another few months, and even then, insurance and fuel all begins to add up! So why did I do it?
Why learning to drive as soon as you can is worth it:
Driving is handy.
Yes, I may not own my own car and I may not be able to drive for years to come, but it is DEFINITELY going to come in useful later in life. Heck its even the kind of thing you can put on a CV! It could even come in useful in an emergency situation.
Learn young to save money.
Learning to drive while you’re still at home means you can put all your financial efforts into it. Yes its an investment, but while you’re still living at home you don’t have to worry about rent, bills, tuition-fees or the general bank-breaking cost of living.
It isn’t actually that expensive!
Yes, I was immensely put off by the prospect of such an investment when I first began looking at lessons and couldn’t find anywhere cheaper than £23 an hour. But its worth it!
Here’s how much I spent on learning to drive:
- Provisional License – £34
- 18.5 Hours of Lessons (including the test itself) – £440
- A total of 10 weeks of insurance on our car (spread out) – £136
- Theory Test – £23
- Practical Test – £60
This comes to a grand total of £693. A lot? Not really… It’s less than I paid for the laptop I’m writing this on now, and that will last me another 6-7 years if I’m lucky. Driving is a skill for LIFE. Yes I don’t have a car, nor am I insured on my parent’s car. But I’ll thank myself later when I’m a fully functioning adult who has nothing but overdue notices for utility bills, steadily increasing rent and taxes looming round the corner.
Shout-out to my main man Tim for helping me pass. Legend. Shout-out to my parents for risking life and limb and allowing me behind the wheel of their car.
One day I’ll see you on the roads. Better wear a seat belt just in case. Oh, and Stay Hydrated of course.
Happy New Year!