It's All About The Driving

Car Insurance - Hit Back - Save Hundreds

2011-10-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Car insurance UP another 16%
Hit back and save £100s with the 10 need-to-knows

It's time for a car insurance fight back. New data from the AA shows prices have gone up 16% in the last 12 months, on top of 30% in the 12 before. Some predict we're now at the peak (see MSE News), so here are the 10 things every driver needs to know to cut insurance costs.

1.	New quote, same insurer, can be £100s cheaper. Existing customers often get a raw deal. Shockingly, the same person applying as a new customer may smash renewal quotes. Firms will usually honour this, if you ask. Sometimes, they'll price match other deals too - no harm asking.


2.	Use your partner or parent to pay less. It's always worth seeing if adding an experienced driver with a good history to the policy smoothes the risk and reduces the premium (it varies by firm). Yet NEVER front, which is where you falsely put someone as the main driver (eg, parents on kid's car); it's fraud and invalidates cover.


3.	DON'T assume 3rd party insurance is cheapest. The lowest level of cover, counter logically, isn't always cheapest. For some, comprehensive wins, as choosing it may mean you're considered a lower risk. So if you were planning on 3rd party, also get a comprehensive quote in case it's cheaper.


4.	Combine comparisons then check ones they miss. Never just renew, always compare. For the max quotes in min time, combine comparison sites. Use as many of Moneysup, Gocompare, Beatthatquote* and Confused* as you've time for. Then add the two big insurers missed, Aviva* and Direct Line*, double check the cover's suitable and search for hidden cashback (full step-by-step in the Car Insurance guide).


5.	Beware 'pay monthly'. These don't really exist, in effect; the insurer pays upfront, then loans you the cash and most charge hideous interest (eg, Aviva's 36.9%, AA 26.9%, see full monthly APR list). Try to pay upfront, if not, compare the interest with your credit card to see which is cheaper (or use a 0% Credit Card, ensuring it's clear before next year's renewal).


6.	Young & new drivers pay per mile. As well as comparing, consider specialist policies where a black box monitor is fitted in your car. Pay per mile: Coverbox. Pay how you drive: Co-op. Pay less daytimes: i-kube*. Full help in the Young Driver's Car Insurance guide.


7.	Discounts if you've more than one car. If you've two or more vehicles in your household (Vans may be included, Bikes usually aren't), some providers give discounts which aren't included by comparison sites (still check them too), Admiral* (10% for Cars, up to 23% for 4), Aviva* (up to 33%) Privilege* (10%), Direct Line* (10%), Churchill* (15%).


8.	Pick your cheapest job title. As long as it accurately describes what you do. Eg, 'machinists' may pay 5% more for car insurance than 'factory workers'. Try playing with our fun Car Insurance Job Picker.


9.	Ask yourself, how much would I bother claiming for? You pay the first portion of any claim (the 'excess'). Eg would you actually claim under £500 as it could increase future insurance costs and invalidate no-claims? If not, try increasing your excess to that to see if it reduces costs.


10.	Final inspiration... 96p/year fully comp. To finish with a smile. The record result using our full Cheap Car Insurance system is 96p fully comp in 2009 by a grandmother. She first got a £120.96 quote, then grabbed £120 hidden cashback. This year's cheapest so far is £78, pls report successes. Also see: Cheap Van Insurance, Motorbike and Young Persons guides.

So You Think You Want To Be A Driving Instructor?

2011-07-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the TRUTH about the Instructor Training industry.

There is a tremendous amount of exaggeration in the Driving Instructor Training Industry. Firstly, don't believe the sales speak and the surreptitiousness of some of the national driving schools who promise you 30k per Annum, “work whenever you like”, “work around your other commitments”, “go into business on your own”. How easy do you think is it to set up in business on your own? You don't have to be a mathematician to do the math.

Don't take my word for it check out internet reviews for a couple of the 3 letter acronymed schools. Just try and get the cost of training out of them. Would you trust a school that will not tell you the cost of training over the phone and require you to attend a sales presentation?

Starting work with a Driving School as a Trainee or ADI

1. How much have you paid for training, £4k? work out the repayments. According to some reports £10k if you default! Loan Calculator

2. How many hours are you doing a week, 10, 20, 30? Many experienced ADI’s do no more than 30 hours.

3. How much are you paying franchise fee per week, £280?

4. Fuel costs in a city will be in excess of £150 per week.

5. Is the car included in the price? Some schools may expect you to cover the cost of a vehicle. Car Leasing is approx. £100 per week.

6. Are you actually able to work enough by choosing your hours? I think you'll find the answer to that question is no. You’ll have to work when your pupils are available. Usually, after work and weekends.

7. Advertising....the sky is the limit with this one. You have to know how to target and which type of advertising is a waste of money and which isn't. In the past I've spent a fortune on useless adverts and have learnt to target my ads a bit better now. It took some time.

8. Is your Pass Rate good enough to generate repeat business without the advertising or are you going to rely on the driving school to generate new leads for you?

9. The advantages of working with a school (if you get a good deal the advantages are immense). If the driving school that you work with operates for the benefit of its instructors and clients whilst sharing the costs and profits then, you’re onto a good thing. If it’s in business just to make money out of your efforts for themselves then, stay well away. The advantages of joining a good school are great. Firstly, you have backup, if the car breaks down, if you have a double test booking, talking over training techniques improves your quality of instruction, new rules and regulations or just simply someone to talk over how your day went etc etc. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Have a look at Driveaway School of Motoring and see how they have managed to do it. Driveaway School of Motoring Limited has been providing driving tuition in the City of Cambridge and surrounding Towns & Villages since 1989. It is the only Co-operative Driving School in the UK. It has brought together experienced, established and highly qualified Driving Standards Agency Approved Instructors for the benefit of its Clients.

10. Just do your Homework first before you make any commitments.

Going into business on your own.

1. How much are you going to charge for driving lessons? As a trainee instructor you have to work under the supervision of an ADI. As an inexperienced instructor you will not be able to command the best fees. With over 48,000 instructors on the ADI register it's not like the old days where it would take approximately 18 months to build up your own self generating clientele. Now it's more like 3-5 years. It takes approximately 1 year to train prior to that.

The amount of work you generate is dependent on a couple of things. Being a professional driving instructor doesn't just require you to change your job but to learn a lot of interpersonal skills. If you don't have one it is best that you develop a sense of humor, your students will take to you a lot easier if they groan at your jokes. You also need a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of driving, an ability to teach, awareness of changes in the statutory regulations that govern the content and conduct of driving tests - as well as driving instruction, an ability to provide a professional service to people from diverse backgrounds and what’s more business sense.

2. If you can't cope with a particular personality, pass them on to someone else. That's why being a part of a school is so important.

3. We all know that ADIs are mostly self-employed, one-person businesses. Therefore, each ADI is each other’s competitor. Because of the way the industry operates, many ADIs are reluctant to share ideas and teaching skills. Also, ADIs who might need help are less likely to ask one of their competitors.

4. ADI's have to work hard to generate work. Lack of work due to the recession and consumer attitude has required them to do things like intensive courses. Not the ideal way to teach someone to drive. This also means fewer students which mean fewer recommendations. That's the only way they could generate business. They have the opportunity to collect lump sum payments in advance from customers for example, by getting pupils to book a course of say 20 lessons etc. That was the only way many ADIs can survive and pay their day-to-day bills. ADI’s have to work;

Long hours.

Work unsocial hours (after 7 .00 pm and weekends).

Have problems because they are Self-employed ( Tax, National Insurance and vehicle running costs).

No paid Holiday.

No Sickness benefit.

5. Again, Do your Homework before making any commitments.

How to become a Driving Instructor

Getting Started as a Driving Instructor
YOUR ROAD TO BECOMING AN APPROVED DRIVING INSTRUCTOR (ADI 14)
Driving Instructor Application Form (ADI 3)
Current Copy of DSA ezine for Road Safety Professionals

At the time of writing this Blog the following News was reported about the New changes in the Driving Instructor Industry.

Current Driving Instructor Industry News

Pass Rate

Test	Pass rate
Theory test - part one	47 %
Test of driving ability - part two	48 %
Test of instructional ability - part three	34 %*

Graffitied French Coach

2011-07-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

Looks like this Graffitied coach must have parked somewhere dodgy on the way to Cambridge.

10 Top Tips for After you`ve passed your Driving Test

2011-07-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, you've passed your driving test! Now all those nerve wracking moments are behind you, you're free to drive a car unaccompanied from now on, but it's important to take everything you've learned with you as you go. Here are the top ten tips for when you've passed your driving test.

1. You must exchange your pass certificate for your full driving licence right away. The pass certificate is valid for a period of two years and if it is not exchanged, you will have to take your test again. While it may seem that you have time on your side, it's easy to put the certificate in a drawer and forget so do it right away.

2. Obtain some probationary plates. This is purely optional but there are some advantages to displaying P-plates and letting other motorists know that you are new to driving. Most other drivers will display more patience when you are new to the road.

3. Avoid distractions. One of the biggest causes of accidents is the use of mobile phones while driving. While it may be tempting to use the phone as soon as you're on your own in the car, remember that it's illegal for a reason. Avoid using your mobile at all times.

4. Learn to be instinctive. Becoming an instinctive driver will come with time but you can start the learning process right away. Predicting the actions of other drivers can avoid accidents.

5. Advanced tuition. Motorway driving can make anyone nervous and as a new driver, you won't have any experience of this. Seriously consider some lessons in this respect as well as looking at the advantages to taking the advanced driving test.

6. Keep some basic tools in your car. A basic car tool kit can include jump leads, a jack and a set of spanners and screwdrivers. While it may be prudent to join a motoring organisation for major breakdowns, a few everyday tools can get you home.

7. General maintenance. Take care of the basics by checking oil and water levels and keep an eye out for the petrol gauge. It sounds like a cliché but if you look after the car it will look after you.

8. Drive defensively. If you encounter an aggressive driver just stay out of their way. Getting involved in senseless arguments or 'racing' should be avoided by motorists new and old.

9. Stay alert. For new drivers, it can take time to get used to longer car journeys and driving on your own requires levels of concentration that you've not experienced before. Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before any journey and that you take plenty of rest stops at regular intervals when you undertake longer drives.

10. Remember all your lessons. Keep the good habits that you've learned from all those driving lessons and from the test itself. They were taught for a reason and when you adopt them as soon as you get behind the wheel on your own, they will help you to stay safe. These lessons are vital and if you keep in mind all that you've taken on board when you were learning, you should ensure life-long safe driving.

Cambridge Drivers

2011-06-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

How Not To Park in Budgens Car Park!!

The Essential PARKING GUIDE

2011-06-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

The Essential Parking Guide from Money Saving Expert - Martin Lewis

Are All The Rumours About Driving Examiners True?

2011-05-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

It has long been said that if you take your driving test on a Friday afternoon or at the end of the month, the chances are that you will fail. Do the examiners 'manage' their pass rates. Are these rumours true?
In fact the truth is yes and no. Like every large organisation the Driving Standards Agency which conduct the Driving Tests in the UK keep records of everything. They keep records of each Driving Examiners test.

The Driving Examiners at each test centre have to keep within a 10% pass rate from all the other Examiners in their centre. If their rate changes i.e. they pass too many, the change is highlighted at head office. Someone from regional office is then informed of the said crime and they are sent to the centre to examine the examiner. They do this by sitting in the back of the car whilst there is a candidate on test.

Many examiners maintain that this pressure to conform does not affect the way they conduct the test. Assuming examiners are human beings, then they will have human characteristics. On a day they are not under pressure to conform, they will mark the test according to how they usually do. On a day they are under pressure then their perspective may be different. With an error that requires discretion. One day they will perceive the error as a minor fault and the other they may perceive the same error differently maybe as a serious fault and thus fail the test.

If you have any stories about unfair marking please post.

Cost of Driving Lessons

2011-05-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Cheap driving lessons? Prices of lessons vary considerably. The length of lesson (the length of lesson can vary between 45 minutes and a full hour) where you live is also relevant.

It’s unlikely you can get lessons for less than £20, and some schools charge up to £28. Please remember, the cheapest may not be the best.

It’s worth asking - if a Driving School has cheaper than the cost of an average driving lesson, ask yourself why are they so cheap?

They could be using you for training their instructors.
Question their ability for teaching. If they are charging below average fees then is the tuition will be below average, what corners are they cutting to make ends meet are they sitting by the side of the road wasting time and saving fuel?
Any driving instructor worth their salt should really be generating recommendations. If not then question their ability.

In Cambridgeshire for example expect to pay about £25 for a good quality, full hour’s driving tuition.

£25 for an hour is in fact very cheap when you consider the Instructor's overheads. The Driving Instructors Association calculates that to earn the national average wage an Instructor should be charging £30+. So comparing the cost per hour to other professions you would be getting a great deal.

I am looking for the cheapest quote. Surely, the standard of tuition should be the same?

2011-05-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Many cheaper schools are cheap for a reason. They either do not have faith in their ability as an instructor. They may also not be good enough to genereate recommendations therefore have to reduce prices to get work or some may use pupils for practice for trainee instructors.

It is worth considering that the larger instructor training schools are instructor focused because there is more profit from people training to become instructors to pay franchise fees. The pupils are a minor inconvenience. Many trainee driving instructors are granted a licence so they can gain experience before their qualifying examination.

However, a trainee instructor who is required to display a pink badge, may have had as little as four months' training, and no formal qualifications to teach learner driviers.

New drivers who learn with approved instructors rather than trainees pass with fewer lessons and will be more likely to pass first time.

If you want more advice on choosing a driving instructor click the following DSA link. Choosing a Driving Instructor

For an instructor in your area see the Driving Standards Agency Find your nearest DSA Driving Instructor

How many driving lessons will I need?

2011-05-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone is different and will need a different number of lessons. Other relevant factors may include whether you’ve ridden a motorbike and whether you will get practice in your own car in addition to your lessons. Most Instructors agree that for most people it is between 1 ½ & 2 lessons per year of your life. So a 20 year old could take between 30 & 40 lessons. Some Instructors and the Driving Standards Agency recommend a minimum of 45 lessons. Remember, it’s not just being able to control the car, but also about gaining experience in different situations. Also there is a basic syllabus of lessons that all Instructors teach that needs to be fully covered by everyone. It is unrealistic to expect to cover the syllabus in less than 20 lessons. Remember, Driving Instructors are expected to teach their pupils to be good drivers, not just to be able to pass the test.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are concerned that many candidates have not had enough lessons before taking the test. Their statistics show that the average is 45 lessons + lots of private practice.

Are intensive driving courses any good?

2011-05-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Certainly they work for some people but for others an intensive driving course (or crash course) is too intense! It will depend very much on the individual. But remember it's not a short cut. You still have to learn the same amount.

I would suggest that to gain the best from learning that you allow time in between your lesson to internalise what you have learnt. Slow and steady about 2 hours per week is usually good.

In reality humans have a limited amount of concentration in one go. If you have booked an intensive course that includes about 4 hours per day over several days you can assume some of those hours would have gone to waste.
If you have some driving experience already and nearly at test standard then a short intensive might be of benefit.

If you would like any further advice please don’t hesitate to ask.

Learn to Drive in Cambridge and Surrounding Towns & Villages