I’m teaching my son to drive myself & I’ve saved over £700 so far… but there’s seven things every parent should follow
A MUM has shared how she managed to save £100s on expensive driving lessons by teaching her teenage son how to drive herself.
Cassie Cooper, from Darlington, County Durham, has opted to guide her 17-year-old son through the basics in her own Nissan Qashqai, saving an average of £35 per lesson.
Speaking to MoneyExpert, Cooper said that she and her son have been going out as much as five times per week.
Over the course of several months, this has added up to savings of more than £700.
Cooper, 42, a librarian and blogger, said: “We felt that teaching him ourselves gave him vital experience on the road and also helped build his confidence in driving.
“We remember how expensive it all was when we learnt, and how much time and money can be wasted.
“At various times growing up, I wasted money on theory tests that eventually ran out because I didn’t have the funds to continue with the lessons.
“I was lucky my grandmother helped me pass my test when I was 30, as I had never been in a situation to fully commit to learning.”
Of course, neither Cooper nor her husband are professional instructors.
He has already gained so much confidence, and it’s great to be able to support him.
Cassie Cooper
Cooper added: “We’ve taken him out on about 15 to 20 occasions so far, and are going to build up to mastering more experiences, like busier roads or dual carriageways, for example.
“My husband or I take him out about five times a week, and he drives himself down the road to college after his lunch when we’ve been out.
“We just try to get him out in the car as much as possible, even if it’s a short journey.
“He’s definitely keen and asking to drive, which is much better than how I remember feeling during the process. I’m actually really pleased with how he’s doing.
“He has already gained so much confidence, and it’s great to be able to support him.
“We have had to research differences from back in the 2000s when I learnt.
“It’s been even longer for my husband, as he passed his driving test at age 18.”
MONEY SAVER
In the UK, the average cost of learning how to drive is somewhere between £1,125 and £2,700, according to the latest figures from the RAC.
This includes weekly lessons, tests, and other costs.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, or DVSA, recommends around 45 hours of lessons minimum to pass your test – which comes to around £1,575.
But there are many cases where this cost is even greater, considering some learners need many more lessons or learn in areas with a higher cost of living.
That’s not even considering the price of having to take multiple tests again, especially as the theory test is only valid for two years from the pass date.
Naturally, this is a significant barrier for many young drivers across the country who want to gain independence and learn how to drive.
So, in some instances, parents have turned to becoming driving instructors themselves to teach their kids to drive and save money in the process.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
To take someone out to drive, a supervisor must be at least 21 years old and have held a full UK driving licence for at least three years.
What’s more, the licence must be for the same category of vehicle they’re teaching in – such as manual for a manual vehicle.
Naturally, they must also make sure they’re not under the influence of drink or drugs, or using their mobile phone while supervising.
There are other, lesser-known things to remember too, including making sure you have the correct insurance.
Liz Hunter, Commercial Director at MoneyExpert, said: “Get insured – ensure that both you and your child have insurance to drive your car.
“Even though they’re only learning, they still need to be named on your car insurance.
“You could either add them to your own insurance or have them take out their own temporary learner driver insurance.
“This shouldn’t impact your existing policy; however, if you are supervising a learner, you do need to let your insurance provider know.”
Supervisors must also brush up on their own skills, including researching the latest regulations and making sure you don’t pass on any bad habits you might’ve picked up.
It’s worth planning the route before each lesson, to make sure the learner is heading down roads that match their driving ability, as well as ensuring they have extra variety as their experience increases.
To that end, building up your confidence, as well as the learner’s, is important here, so start slow, on quieter roads, and build up to busier roads and more challenging situations later.
The process, in general, requires patience and calm, and while it’s natural to feel nervous, it’s important not to show it—panic can hurt a learner’s confidence.
Be clear with instructions, stay composed, and use mistakes as learning opportunities.
Aim for consistent weekly practice, similar to what they’d get with an instructor, as more time behind the wheel builds confidence and experience.
Finally, vary the driving conditions.
They should practise in different weather, traffic levels, and times of day – especially at night – to prepare for real-world driving.