Lifestyle – Veygo

A comprehensive guide to classic cars and insurance

Michael Chapman — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:27:41 +0000

Car enthusiasts will be the first to tell you that classic cars are so much more than their age – they’re a piece of automotive history. Owning a classic car in the UK means bearing the responsibility of ensuring its preservation. Tailored to the unique needs of vintage vehicles, classic car insurance offers protection and peace of mind for automobile owners looking to keep their classic cars in tip-top shape.

Buckle up, because in this comprehensive guide, we’re taking a trip to understand the world of classic cars. From the nuances of their classification to the details of their insurance coverage, we’ll debunk the costs associated with classic car insurance versus standard policies, offering clear insights for enthusiasts and owners alike.

What Makes a Car ‘Classic’ in the UK

In the UK, defining a car as a ‘classic’ transcends mere age. While HMRC sets the threshold at 15 years, with a minimum worth of £15,000, enthusiasts often consider 30 to 40 years as the true mark.

Yet, it’s not just about the number of years a car has collected; a classic car embodies a blend of unique design, distinctive features and rich historical value. This rich heritage often paves the way for classic cars to take on affordable insurance options. Owners of these timeless beauties benefit from specialised vintage car insurance, reflecting the extraordinary nature of their prized possessions.

Why Do Classic Cars Need Insurance?

Classic cars, despite the unique charm and value that drivers of all ages can recognise, require insurance just like any modern vehicle. This is essential because owning a classic car involves the same risks associated with driving any other car.

We understand that your classic car may not be your daily driver. You may even limit it to drives in the summer – we get it! That’s why we offer temporary car insurance policies. These flexible policies allow owners to insure their classic cars only when they’re in use, so you can look forward to savings when your car is parked for a season or two.

To keep a classic car uninsured, it must be declared off-road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). This way, it’s easy to not pay for insurance when your classic car isn’t being driven, making temporary insurance the most practical option for when you do want to take it to the streets.

When does a car become classic for insurance?

A car typically becomes eligible for classic car insurance when it’s between 15 and 20 years old. However, many insurers consider a vehicle ‘classic’ if it’s over 20 years old and less than 40 years old.

This classification is important for insurance purposes because classic cars often have different insurance requirements and benefits compared to more modern vehicles. For example, classic cars aren’t usually driven as often and are typically well-maintained, which can lead to lower insurance premiums.

Insurers consider factors like the car’s condition, mileage (often below 5,000 miles per year) and historical significance in determining its classic status.

What Does Classic Car Insurance Cover?

Classic car insurance usually provides comprehensive coverage, which ensures protection against a range of risks. This could include things like third-party damages, theft and fire – similar to what you’d see on standard car insurance policies. Many classic car insurance policies include a key feature known as ‘agreed value insurance,’ which guarantees that the car’s value is established and secured in advance, offering clear financial protection.

Additionally, classic car insurance policies might even include special provisions for events and car show participation, catering to the lifestyle of classic car enthusiasts. If you’ve ever been to a car show, you’ll understand the contentment that the owners of such nice cars have, knowing their car is insured against any mishaps at the show.

Many classic car insurance policies additionally provide coverage for accidental damage and spare parts, addressing specific concerns of classic car owners and extending peace of mind.

Are classic cars cheaper to insure?

Classic cars are often cheaper to insure compared to modern vehicles. This is pretty much because classic cars, which are typically covered under vintage car insurance, are consistently well-maintained, driven less often and stored securely for significant periods throughout the year.

Insurers consider everything that could lead to potentially lower risk and, consequently, lower premiums. However, the final cost of old car insurance can vary based on things like the car’s age, model and usage. Temporary car insurance can be a more economical option for vintage vehicle owners who tend to store their vehicles throughout the year.

Key Benefits of Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance offers a range of advantages tailored to the vintage nature of these exceptional vehicles. The key benefits of classic car insurance include:

Lower premiums: Classic car insurance typically costs less than standard car insurance because these cars tend to have lower mileage and better maintenance.
Agreed value coverage: The car’s value is set and agreed upon at the start of the policy, providing clarity in case of a total loss.
Specialised coverage: Tailored specifically for the unique needs of classic cars, covering things like original parts and special modifications.
Breakdown and recovery: Often includes comprehensive breakdown coverage, sometimes extending across Europe – road trip, anyone?
Flexibility: Policies can be customised for a vehicle’s specific usage, storage conditions and mileage caps, offering versatility for owners.

These benefits reflect the special relationship owners have with their classic cars, ensuring both the vehicle and the investment are well-protected.

Temporary Classic Car Insurance with Veygo

For classic car owners looking for adaptable coverage, temporary classic car insurance offers a flexible solution for whenever coverage is needed.

At Veygo, we specialise in temporary car insurance to offer our clients coverage for vehicles up to 40 years old. This type of insurance is perfect for those who may not need year-round coverage but still need protection for the occasional drive, event or trip around the block.

Our offerings allow classic car owners to revel in their vehicles with insurance coverage ranging from 1 hour to 60 days, meaning drivers will be fully insured only when they need to be. This modern approach to auto insurance aligns perfectly with the sporadic usage that’s quite common for classic cars.

Classic Cars to Insure with Veygo

Veygo caters to a diverse range of incredible classic cars up to 40 years old. Our portfolio includes:

Volkswagen Golf GX (1978): A practical, small car with a 1.5L engine.
Volkswagen Golf Driver (1983-1992): Known for sporty handling with a 1.6L engine.
Volkswagen Golf GTI 8V (1984-1992): A high-performance variant with a 1.8L engine.
Alfa Romero Alfasud TI S (1978): Italian styling with a 1.5 Boxer engine.
Ford Fiesta L (1978): A compact urban car with a 1.9L engine.
Mercedes 280 CE (1972-1985): A luxury coupe with a 2.8L engine.
Datsun Cherry GL (1978): An affordable small car with a 1.2L engine.
Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit (1980-1999): Epitome of luxury with a 6.75L V8 engine.
Land Rover 88 Hardtop (1954): A rugged utility vehicle for diverse terrains.

Our commitment to the upkeep of these classic cars is highlighted by our flexible insurance solutions. We ensure that each unique vehicle has the coverage it needs, providing owners with essential peace of mind.

Classic Car M.O.T Requirements: What You Need to Know

Every classic car owner needs to pass an M.O.T (Ministry of Transport) test to confirm vehicle safety and make sure the exhaust emissions meet environmental standards. Classic cars over 40 years old are exempt from annual M.O.T testing, provided the car has been well-kept and has not been extremely modified. This exemption acknowledges that these vehicles are not used all of the time and would naturally fall under the annual emissions standard.

Regular maintenance is crucial for the general up-keep of classic cars, even without the M.O.T. If your M.O.T status expires, it could invalidate your insurance. Explore our complete guide to M.O.T and vehicle maintenance for a more detailed look at what you need to know.

Having insurance for your classic car is just as important as keeping it maintained. There are many benefits car enthusiasts can enjoy from vintage car insurance, like lower premiums and specialised coverage.

Remember, driving without insurance could result in penalties, including fixed fines and penalty points. For learner drivers, accumulating penalty points could seriously impact the future of their driving, leading to licence suspension. Whether you’re a learner driver, classic car owner or considering driving someone else’s car, having the right insurance coverage will keep you insured no matter what happens on the open road.

Looking for temporary insurance? Learn more about how we can help!

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Easter

Angharad Evans — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 11:44:27 +0000

Students

For those of you studying at university, this is a perfect opportunity for you to have some downtime.

With this time off there are plenty of things you can do to spend the free time, including a part-time job, or maybe even look to gain some work experience. This way when you head back to uni you’ve got plenty of spare cash to make the most of your uni experience.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to take a trip away, then you should definitely take advantage of this. A trip away is a perfect time to relax and reset to go back ready for the final term of the year (or uni altogether). If a trip away is a bit much just for your Easter break, then visiting your uni mates is a great alternative to going away and still being able to explore.

If you need a car on a temporary basis for work or travel for you to enjoy your Easter, then we have the solution for you.

Veygo’s temporary car insurance is a great way to get about this Easter. It allows you to insure your own car or someone else’s so that you only pay for the insurance that you need.

Trips away

Taking a trip away somewhere could be one of the better ideas, it doesn’t have to be a flight away, it could be as simple as visiting a hotspot near you. We’ve come up with a list of places that could potentially be a great destination for you to visit this Easter.

Some great places to visit in the UK this Easter holiday:

Visit London – There are so many things to see and do in London, from exploring the museums to enjoying the vibrant nightlife.
Visit the beaches in Cornwall – Cornwall is famous for its stunning beaches and coastal walks, and Easter is a great time to visit.
Visit the Cotswolds – The Cotswolds is a beautiful area of countryside in the heart of England, with picturesque villages and scenic walks.
Visit Edinburgh – Edinburgh is a beautiful city with a rich history. There are plenty of things to see and do, from exploring the castle to enjoying the city’s many pubs and restaurants.
Go on a canal boat holiday – Canal boat holidays are a great way to explore the UK’s waterways, and there are plenty of places to rent a boat from.
Visit the Lake District – The Lake District is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, with stunning scenery and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy.
Go on a hiking trip – There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the UK, from the Yorkshire Dales to the Scottish Highlands.
Visit a National Trust property – The National Trust looks after some of the UK’s most beautiful properties, gardens, and landscapes.
Visit a theme park – There are plenty of theme parks throughout the UK, from Alton Towers to Thorpe Park.
Visit a wildlife park – There are plenty of wildlife parks throughout the UK, from Chester Zoo to Edinburgh Zoo, where you can see a wide range of animals up close.

Easter activities

For those of you that aren’t planning a trip away, we got you covered too. We’ve come up with a list of ideas that we think may be fun for you to plan with your children. These aren’t exclusive to children as we’re sure that you can get involved with these activities as well. And perhaps put your own spin on them.

Easter activities for kids:

Easter Egg Hunt – Set up a fun Easter egg hunt in your home or garden. Hide chocolate eggs or plastic eggs filled with small toys, stickers, or treats.
Easter Crafts – Get creative and make some Easter crafts with your children. Ideas include making Easter cards, decorating eggs, making Easter baskets, or creating Easter-themed art.
Easter Baking – Bake some Easter-themed treats with your children, such as Easter cookies, cupcakes, or a bunny cake.
Easter Movie Night – Set up a cosy movie night with Easter-themed movies such as “Hop” or “Peter Rabbit.”
Easter Science Experiments – Conduct some fun Easter-themed science experiments with your children, such as making an Easter volcano or exploring how to dye eggs naturally.
Easter Outdoor Games – Play fun Easter outdoor games with your children, such as an egg and spoon race, an Easter-themed scavenger hunt, or a bunny hop relay race.
Easter Virtual Visits – Connect with friends and family virtually and do some Easter activities together, such as an online Easter egg hunt or virtual Easter craft session.

Easter eggs hidden in cars

For all you movie buffs out there you’ll be familiar with a different kind of Easter egg, superhero movies love them. It’s not just Peter Rabbit and Hollywood that can hide Easter eggs, certain car manufacturers also have a few for you to try and find.

Vauxhall

https://www.tiktok.com/@autotraderuk/video/7163205227489791237?lang=en&q=vauxhall%20shark&t=1679055672815

Vauxhall recently went viral on TikTok after users rediscovered their shark Easter egg. They hid a little shark around the vehicles where they can and it’s up to you to find them, here’s a little video explaining.

Jeep

https://www.tiktok.com/@carbuzz.com/video/7118380558442417454?lang=en&q=jeep%20easter%20egg&t=1679055839666

Jeep’s Easter egg is similar to the Vauxhall’s shark, with their own little twist on it of course. A small silhouette of one of their classic Jeeps or a jeep car part can be found around the car, and sometimes it’s etched into a bit of plastic somewhere.

Tesla

https://www.tiktok.com/@tesla.flex/video/7198244106999631150?lang=en&q=Tesla%20easter%20egg&t=1679056047500

Tesla are the king of novelty tricks with their cars, so they had to be added to the list. With their huge touchscreen display and insane external speaker system, it’s no surprise that there are loads to discover!

Skoda

https://www.tiktok.com/@yesautouk/video/7031971367767608581?lang=en&q=skoda%20umbrella%20&t=1679056187080

Skoda also has some nifty little Easter eggs up their sleeves. These could perhaps be considered handy features, but as they’re somewhat hidden, they’re being added to the Easter egg hunt!

We don’t want you missing out on anything this Easter, so why not get Veygo’s flexible, affordable temporary car insurance to help you get out and about. Get cover on your own car or someone else’s in minutes, for as little or as long as you need.

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Everything electric cars & temp insurance

Michael Chapman — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:08:45 +0000

Everything is always changing in the world, and it always either seems to be progression or regression. So, with electric cars and the environment in mind, let’s talk about progression, specifically with electric cars.

Both the technology for electric cars and electric cars themselves have existed for quite some time, but like the wheel and the suitcase, they never seemed to exist together early enough.

Elon Musk and his brand of electric cars seem to have paved the way for popular mass-produced electric vehicles. Building a brand from the bottom up, starting with an electric sports car to eventually sell enough of them to start building and producing a cheaper Tesla model so that everyone will be able to have an electric car for themselves.

According to Heycar, we’ve been able to gather that the cheapest electric car on the market is Smart EQ Fortwo, looking at the specs and size of the car it’s pretty much designed for cities and towns. With that in mind, you’ll get a decent run around for the money you spend!

Auto Express gives us a tidy list of the electric cars that they believe to be the best out there in the UK. When referring to the list it’s somewhat important that you refer to it as a guide rather than a definite stance on which are the best electric cars to buy.

Let’s take a look at some of the electric cars we insure at Veygo!

Tesla
So, speaking of Elon Musk and his brand, let’s begin with Tesla. Being one of the first big names on the market and fully electric they’re considered a pioneer of mass-producing electric cars. They’ve been so successful with the cars that they’ve branched out into other fields of clean electricity!

Tesla’s aren’t only one of the first brands to produce all-electric cars but they also have superior battery technology, most miles covered in a single charge, and one of the fastest electric cars on the road, including a line of pickup trucks.

Renault
One of the more popular fully electric models that Renault do is the Zoe, there are plenty of different types of the ‘Zoe’ to choose from and it has also been voted ‘What Car?’ “Best Small Electric Car for Value 2021″

Perhaps not the most notorious brand for larger or more powerful cars but Renault has a wide range of electric vehicles ranging from compact city cars, all the way up to vans. Whatever your need for an electric vehicle, Renault is likely to cover you for a great price and great quality!

BMW
BMW has been a giant in the car industry for years and when it comes to electric cars, there’s no change! After the popularity of Tesla’s, BMW jumped on the bandwagon and released the ever-popular hybrid.. BMW i8.

However, we’re talking about electric cars, not hybrids. BMW has always marketed a classy, sporty car and nothing changes with their electric range. Don’t worry if you’re a fan of their bigger 4×4 cars, the iX xDrive40 and the iX3 have you covered.

Volkswagen
Having sold the most popular car across Europe, Volkswagen has certainly earned their name, as per their ‘classic’ range, you’re able to get all the excitement of their mechanical range within their electric range.

If you’re an avid Volkswagen fan, particularly the Golf, then switching to zero emissions shouldn’t be an issue for you! If you’re not someone who’s looking to buy the sought after Golf, again, you shouldn’t have any issues. Volkswagen has plenty of range from city cars and are super close to releasing an all-electric campervan based on their classic VW Camper.

Kia
A great option for those who are looking to get into driving electric, but don’t want to pay the prices of other brands like BMW and Audi. Launching their first line of electric cars in 2014 it only took them 4 years to win an award for ‘car of the year’ with What Car?.

Kia looks to give back with their cars, so you’re not just buying the car to look out for our planet. Each of their electric cars comes with regenerative braking, long distance-driving, the power to charge your car at home or in public, and a hefty 7 year warranty. Kia really is the people’s choice.

Audi
E-trons.. Audi’s futuristic-sounding line of electric cars. Again, like Volkswagen, it’s everything you could ask from their combustion engines, in their CO2 free engines. Audi is a great option for electric cars as not only do you get the zero-emission engines, but you also get a sleek and stylish looking vehicle.

Why electric cars?

As previously mentioned the planet is warming up and running out of oil, so everyone is looking to cut back on their carbon footprint. One way for everyone to be able to achieve this is by swapping out fossil fuels for renewable energy.

Most people drive, (or are learning to drive) and driving is one thing people think of first when it comes to their consumption of fossil fuels so natural people will look to reduce their fossil fuel consumption there.

The stigma has now gone for electric cars being inconvenient. The batteries on electric cars now run for longer than you could need, charging points are becoming more and more accessible, and home charging is cheaper and better than ever!

Imagine the scenario, commute to work or the school run, you’re running late, and you notice that you’re too low on fuel.. Nightmares, you’re now later than you were before!

Now imagine this: wake up, you’re able to turn your car heater, or air con on from your bed (to heat or cool the car), get in and notice you have got a full battery, all because you went electric, convenience at its finest!

Pros

At home and on the go charging
Much cleaner energy and fewer emissions
Savings made on tax and fuel
Typically more advanced features
Futuristic, you’re keeping up with the world
Cleaner conscience (and air quality)
Less risk of things going wrong/less maintenance
Better take-off performance

Cons

On the longest journeys, you may struggle to find a charging outlet
Time to refuel is much longer than fossil fuels
Currently more expensive to purchase than a fossil fuel car
Arguably not as nice as the classic cars (despite classic models being remade with a battery)
Some electric cars will ask you to unlock hardware features on the cars to increase performance.

As with most new things, there will always be teething problems, hence the cons, but this means it gives companies time to iron out the creases and look at what can be improved.

Incentives for going electric

Similar to the pros of going electric, there are some serious incentives for getting a ‘green’ car, some are as follows;

Government grants
You’ll be given a discount from the vehicle manufacturer or dealership off the total price of the car when purchasing. To find out more about the grants for your low-emission car visit GOV.uk.

UK roadmap
Very similar to the grant incentive by GOV.UK, this roadmap intends to get all cars zero emissions from the tailpipe by 2035, so by purchasing electric now you get ahead of the game!

Features
The features that come with an electric car aren’t just driving benefits, you also have a great console to control your car from, wirelessly or whilst in the car. Tesla to name one of the few are mounted with a 17″ tablet, and it’s not just a sat-nav or movie player like most cars, it has the full capability of a pc being able to access all the car’s features.

Here’s a list of the quirky features that you’d be able to get if you purchased a Tesla!

Using Tesla again as an example, the driving features may be just as incredible as the computer features they have. Tesla can produce things like ridiculous horsepower, insane torque, and a huge mile coverage all in their batteries and engines! Access to their full specs are on the Tesla website for a full breakdown (as it will be for most car manufacturers).

If you know someone with an electric car and fancy giving it a spin, Veygo offers a great rate on temporary car insurance that’ll allow you the opportunity to give it a go and see for yourself!

Get a quote

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Cheapest cars to insure for learner drivers

Michael Chapman — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 11:06:21 +0000

Cheapest cars to insure

So you’re looking for car insurance, whether that be a full policy for the year, temporary car insurance, or learner driver insurance. If you own a car or are looking to buy one, knowing what cars are cheapest to insure is always good knowledge to have in the locker!

With the current cost of living crisis buying your next car may make you think more than usual as any savings made can be super beneficial. So here is a list of the cheapest cars to insure in the UK.

So what makes a car cheap to insure?

The cheapest cars to insure usually have similar features, these break down into a few notable features such as, engine size, safety features, emissions and so on..

So when looking at these cars don’t expect anything that’s going to do 0-60mph in less than 8 seconds, however, you won’t have to worry about safety, and mileage.. particularly with the prices of fuel these days!

The Cheapest Cars to Insure

Fiat panda

The Fiat Panda has something more to offer than just cheap insurance, it gives you the offer of a modern day car with cheap insurance and plenty of space for any kind of cargo. Typically people will assume that this means the car only has larger boot space in comparison to its competitors, but it doesn’t stop there. The inside cabin of the car also offers plenty of space both for the passenger and any variety of luggage.

Hyundai ix20
The Hyundai ix20 is considered to be quite a low key car.. It’s perfectly fit for purpose. It offers great practicability and real comfort in the cabin. The main thing to consider about the ix20 is that it isn’t a standout car, it blends in comfortably with its appearance, but does nothing wrong. It truly is an all rounder, good performance, quality, comfort, colours, and is particularly affordable!

Volkswagen up!
Everyone has their verdict when it comes to a compact car, and the stereotype probably isn’t different for this little beast, smaller cars are shaky at higher speeds, or useless on the motorway. Things are a little bit different for this car, one of its standout features is how sturdy it feels (“not just for a smaller car”). Despite the dazzling review of its motorway driving this car was initially built for city driving and held its own at the top of the city cars category. With a smart interior and the option to upgrade to a GTI model the Up! truly is a beast.

Hyundai i10
When thinking of the smaller cheaper cars, the Hyundai i10 is definitely one of the more known cars. It comes down to availability and affordability. It also comes with a built in satnav system which is super easy to use and has no issues when connecting your phone to it. With its newly upgraded interior this car has a super sturdy feel to it, due its compact build.

Chevrolet spark
The Chevrolet spark stands out a bit more than the others as it’s probably one of the lesser known smaller cheaper cars. However, don’t let that put you off it, despite being less known it’s definitely one of the more stylish cars. The style doesn’t end with its outside appearance, it also has a nice futuristic interior to match its stylish robust look. As most of the cheaper cars go, it has a nice smooth city feel to it, allowing you to whip around town in style and comfort.

Renault twingo
This is one of Renaults smallest cars, but don’t let that fool you, there’s still plenty of passenger room for you and all your friends to go on a road trip. With it being Renaults answer to a city car, you can expect some modern features, with the smartphone app by Renault, you can instantly create a touchscreen display for your car to navigate the GPS and car stereo. The Twingo emphasises its cabin space making it comfortable for 4 people to sit fine, however, the luggage/boot space doesn’t seem to have much going on so that is the compromise you make with this small but mighty Twingo.

Suzuki splash
This Suzuki is making a splash among the city cars, like many others on the list this is a smaller car perfectly suitable for city and town driving. Throughout its lifetime it’s had a few upgrades from different engine sizes and different interiors, but the ultimate takeaway from its time is that it now has very decent fuel economy, adding to the insurance savings you could be making. Again, like others on this list, the car has a decent cabin size, especially when looking at the size of the car from the outside.

Skoda Yeti
This is a great option if you’re looking to get an SUV but don’t want to spend SUV money. With the Skoda Yeti you get exactly what you pay for, it’s nothing particularly special or out of the ordinary but it does what it says on the tin! But getting to the interior, the car pretty much has all the bells and whistles, making it a complete SUV on a budget. Possibly one of the best features about this cheaper car is the look, it does have a much different feel to the others simply resembling a smaller SUV.

Ford KA
The KA is one of the more notorious cheap cars, the KA has been a servant to the list of smaller cars, and first time cars. Originally the KA was known more for being just a ‘decent little runaround’ car, but the newer model is now actually considered a tidy car. Speaking of it as its most recent model, not only did it become much nicer to look at, but the overall handling and performance of the car has become much better and smoother.

Kia Picanto
Kia’s Picanto, like many other popular cars on this list has undergone some major transformations. By the end of reading this you should be very familiar with what a city car is due to most of the cars on this list being one. Nothing changes with the Picanto, it’s absolutely Kia’s answer to a sleek city car that handles lovely. Don’t think the Picanto is the same as all the cars on this list, as it does offer a much larger engine size and with that comes a few different variations of the car, with some higher spec models on offer to get you from A to B in a quicker fashion.

FAQ’s

Are these cars definitely the cheapest to insure ?

Not necessarily, if you got to Veygo’s quote engine you can find out what’s cheapest for you!

Do all the cheapest cars to insure have to be small?

Just because a car is cheap to insure it doesn’t mean that it’ll be a smaller car.

Best ways to get cheap car insurance ?

Paying by the year, rather than the month
Better security for the car
Telematics (black box)
Have some named drivers with plenty of experience and no claims
Have a smaller car/ more economical car
Update your policy each time (don’t let it auto-renew)
Take an extra driving course, double check it helps reduce insurance cost

Looking to get cheap short term cover or find the best quotes for learning to drive ? Then look no further, Veygo offer a great way to get on the roads quick and easy!

Get a quote

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Lockdown date night ideas from your car

Simon Jones — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:28:11 +0000

If you’re living with the one you love (or just really like, we don’t want to put labels on it) during lockdown, you may have started to think about how you’re going to celebrate on a certain special day this February. No, we’re not talking about the Six Nations starting…it’s Valentine’s Day.

First off, if you’ve made it through lockdown with your partner and you still enjoy each other’s company, congratulations, you win. It’s been a tough year, so it’s the perfect time to say thanks to your lockdown love/like by making a special effort this Valentine’s Day.

The usual date nights are out the window; dinner at your favourite restaurant, a cinema trip or drinks out in town. So, we’re going to have to get a bit creative this year.

There are loads of cute things you can do from the comfort of your own home. But as our thing is car insurance, we’re not going to talk about any of them. We’re going to help you out with lockdown date night ideas you can do from your car/driveway.

Car date ideas

Most of the things we had in mind involve actually driving somewhere; heading to a scenic spot to watch the sunset, going for a spontaneous drive or taking a trip to a drive in movie theatre. But given we’re not supposed to leave the house unless it’s essential, they’ll all have to wait until later this year.

Turn your car into a cinema

Nothing beats the classic movie night. Sure, you could just watch a movie on your sofa, but it’s fair to say we’re all fed up with watching TV in our living rooms by this point. If you’ve got a car parked on your driveway you could have your movie night in there.Turning your car into a cinema will make it feel like a special occasion…and at least you technically get to leave the house, even though you’re only sitting on your drive.

Fold your rear seats forward to create a flat surface. Most cars have a button or lever at the top of the seat that you can do this with.
Some cars will already be flat after you do this, but if there’s a gap in between the boot and the seats you’ll need to fill it with something. Cushions work well for this.
If you’ve got camping mats, lay two down to create a comfortable surface and then cover with a throw.
If you don’t have camping mats, you can improvise and layer up the base with blankets.
Get a duvet and some pillows in there.
Make it cosy with more blankets and cushions…it is February after all.
Put some battery powered fairy lights around the inside of the car. You can attach these easily to the back of the front seats and the inside door handles.
Snacks! Go and pick up your partner’s favourite movie snacks…popcorn, chocolate, the works. This article even tells you how to make a Tango Ice Blast at homeif you want the full cinema experience.
Get your laptop at the end of the ‘bed’, open up Netflix and stick on your favourite movie.

Lockdown dinner: Drive through

Want to grab some dinner before your in car cinema date? Drive throughs are still open. Remember that very first lockdown when even Mcdonald’s drive through was closed…that was rough. What better way to say ‘I love you’ than with some chicken nuggs and a mcflurry?

Happy Valentine’s Day

We were going to do a little piece around “Share the love, share the driving”, but as we’re in lockdown and we can’t actually go anywhere…let’s just go for a shameless plug. If you ever need temporary car insurance for your own car or want to borrow someone else’s, you know where to find us.

Or if you’re learning to drive this could just be an opportunity to spend some more time in your car. Could do a Netflix watch party with your mates? But if you want to actually get behind the wheel, next time your parents are heading on their essential weekly shop, you could practice driving with our learner driver insurance.

Just one last thing…make sure you double check local lockdown guidelines before you use your car for any reason. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Commuter Confusion

Heledd Jones — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:20:50 +0000

Commuting into the office if you work in a big city can be a nightmare, and that’s even before you take into account the cost.

The further away you live, the more time and money you have to spend just to get into work every day, whether that’s by car, or jumping on a train.

But which is the most cost-effective way to make your way into the city? We’ve compared the cost of monthly season passes for trains and light rail against the cost of fuel for major commuter routes in some of the country’s biggest cities to find out, although we didn’t look at parking costs as part our research.

Rail vs. Car: Which is Cheaper?

Commuter Cities

Commuter City	Rail Pass	Driving Cost	Price Difference (%)
Manchester	£140.20	£67.00	-109.46%
Leeds	£163.94	£94.30	-78.05%
Bristol	£215.62	£129.90	-77.11%
Edinburgh	£189.52	£116.60	-64.77%
Cambridge	£206.42	£141.10	-53.69%
Liverpool	£117.94	£83.10	-40.80%
Glasgow	£150.28	£109.70	-35.24%
Newcastle	£139.64	£116.60	-29.01%
Birmingham	£67.88	£65.90	-21.96%
London	£396.56	£642.80	38.72%

Despite concerns that driving is less environmentally-friendly than taking public transport, in all but one of the cities that we looked at, driving into the city worked out as a cheaper alternative than taking the train or light rail, with the exception of London, where longer driving distances, as well as the city centre congestion charge, mean that driving worked out almost 40% more expensive.

Manchester was the city where drivers could save the most, with the average car commute working out almost 110% cheaper than taking the train or tram into the city.

Commuter Routes with the Biggest Savings by Car

Commuter Town	Destination	Rail Pass	Driving Cost	Price Difference (%)
Urmston	Manchester	£88.80	£34.50	-157.39%
Macclesfield	Manchester	£252.30	£102.50	-146.15%
Bath	Bristol	£162.10	£68.00	-138.38%
Wilmslow	Manchester	£144.80	£68.00	-112.94%
Newmarket	Cambridge	£140.60	£67.00	-109.85%
Bradford	Leeds	£104.10	£50.00	-108.20%
Cramlington	Newcastle	£96.40	£48.00	-100.83%
Harrogate	Leeds	£160.60	£81.00	-98.27%
Falkirk	Glasgow	£227.00	£117.00	-94.02%
Dunfermline	Edinburgh	£172.80	£91.00	-89.89%

Commuter Routes with the Biggest Savings by Rail

Commuter Town	Destination	Rail Pass	Driving Cost	Price Difference (%)
Slough	London	£260.40	£579.50	55.06%
Guildford	London	£342.60	£618.50	44.61%
Harlow	London	£358.30	£615.00	41.74%
Chelmsford	London	£392.90	£664.50	40.87%
Hemel Hempstead	London	£367.90	£594.50	38.12%
St Albans	London	£367.50	£584.50	37.13%
Coventry	Birmingham	£72.60	£113.50	36.04%
Luton	London	£413.60	£629.50	34.30%
Reading	London	£442.00	£666.50	33.68%
Oxford	London	£504.60	£741.50	31.95%

Three of the UK’s five routes where you could make the biggest saving by taking the car over the train were to be found in Greater Manchester, with Urmston to Manchester being the biggest saving, with a 157% saving of almost £55 per month.

Seven of the routes we look at were at least twice as cheap as the rail alternative, while only 13 turned out to be cheaper by rail, with ten of these being found in London.

Most Expensive Commuter Routes

When looking at the overall most expensive commutes, it’s clear that London’s commuter hubs are by far the most expensive when it comes to both rail and car travel.

As well as the general higher cost of living in London and the South East, many of these towns are much further out of the city than those in smaller cities, so it stands to reason that they would be the priciest, especially if you factor in the congestion charge when driving.

Rail
Commuter Town	Destination	Rail Pass
Milton Keynes	London	£515.80
Oxford	London	£504.60
Reading	London	£442.00
Luton	London	£413.60
Chelmsford	London	£392.90
Hemel Hempstead	London	£367.90
St Albans	London	£367.50
Harlow	London	£358.30
Guildford	London	£342.60
March	Cambridge	£274.20

Car
Commuter Town	Destination	Driving Cost
Oxford	London	£741.50
Milton Keynes	London	£734.00
Reading	London	£666.50
Chelmsford	London	£664.50
Luton	London	£629.50
Guildford	London	£618.50
Harlow	London	£615.00
Hemel Hempstead	London	£594.50
St Albans	London	£584.50
Slough	London	£579.50

Cheapest Rail Commuter Routes

Routes in the Northern and Midlands cities worked out to be amongst the cheapest that we looked at, with Walsall, Northfield and Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham cheapest by rail and Urmston to Manchester when driving.

Each of the five cheapest routes by rail were found in Birmingham, where you can get a monthly nTrain pass for all five zones for just £72.60, or even cheaper for fewer zones. Cities with light rail services also worked out amongst the cheapest, including Sunderland to Newcastle on the Tyne & Wear Metro for £76 per month and Ormskirk to Liverpool on Merseyrail for £90.20.

Commuter Town	Destination	Rail Pass
Walsall	Birmingham	£66.60
Northfield	Birmingham	£66.60
Sutton Coldfield	Birmingham	£66.60
Wolverhampton	Birmingham	£67.00
Coventry	Birmingham	£72.60
St Helens	Liverpool	£72.60
Sunderland	Newcastle	£76.00
Urmston	Manchester	£88.80
Ormskirk	Liverpool	£90.20
Cramlington	Newcastle	£96.40

Car
Commuter Town	Destination	Driving Cost
Urmston	Manchester	£34.50
Sutton Coldfield	Birmingham	£39.00
Northfield	Birmingham	£39.50
Cramlington	Newcastle	£48.00
Bradford	Leeds	£50.00
Walsall	Birmingham	£52.00
Bolton	Manchester	£61.50
St Helens	Liverpool	£65.00
Newmarket	Cambridge	£67.00
Ormskirk	Liverpool	£67.50

A great way to cut back on travel costs is to consider car sharing, which could save you hundreds of pounds on fuel costs and is more environmentally friendly than driving alone.

Sources/Methodology

Rail

Monthly season tickets are taken from Trainline, with the following exceptions:

All season tickets to Birmingham networkwestmidlands.com/swift/swift-ticket-finder/
Chester & Ormskirk to Liverpool season tickets: https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/season-tickets/railpass.aspx
Sunderland to Newcastle upon Tyne season tickets: https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro-season-ticket

Car

Monthly fuel costs calculated based on the petrol cost per mile of a Ford Fiesta, according to Next Green Car (two journeys per day, five days a week).

Congestion charge information is taken from Transport for London.

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The British train station car park index

Heledd Jones — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 14:17:36 +0000

Many people choose to get the train when travelling long distances rather than driving, largely due to the fact that it’s often quicker and less stressful than dealing with congestion. However, a significant number of train travellers will use their car to get to the station, and the cost of parking for the day can sometimes be shockingly high.

We wanted to find out just how much it costs to park at train stations across the UK and just where comes out as the cheapest and most expensive.

Our research looks at the daily parking rate at the UK’s busiest train stations* and found that there is a huge variation in pricing. *Only stations with their own car park were included in the research.

Depending on where you are travelling from, the cost of parking for just one day could be as high as £40, however, we also found that some stations offer completely free parking for rail passengers!

Top 10 Most Expensive Station Car Parks in the UK (outside of London)

The research found that the most expensive parking, outside London, is at Reading Station, with costs of £25 per day. It’s bad news for motorists in Glasgow too, as Glasgow Central charges just £1 less for the day.

Top 10 Most Expensive Station Car Parks in London

Those parking in London will find themselves forking out a staggering amount for parking, in fact, it could cost up to £40 – the day rate at St.Pancras/King’s Cross. The cheapest station car parking in London is as steep as £7. The London travellers willing to hop on another train or tube could save extra pennies by parking further out of London’s centre.

The Price of Station Parking in the UK – Ranked (outside of London)

Outside of London, some stations offer free parking for rail users, namely Selly Oak and Kirkby (Merseyside). On the other hand, other stations such as Benfleet in Essex and Paisley Gilmour cost £2.40 and £3 respectively for the whole day. From Berkshire (Reading Station) to Essex (Benfleet Station), there are less than 100 miles, however, the daily parking costs rise by £22.60.

The Price of Station Parking in London – Ranked

Not everywhere in London charges the earth for train station parking, with Norwood Junction costing a mere £4 per day, and Forest Hill and Hayes & Harlington charging a reasonable £5.

Croydon and Camden are less than 14 miles apart, however, there is a £36 difference between the two stations daily rates. London travellers could save money by parking the 14 miles further away and hopping on an extra train or tube.

If you’re trying to decide on how to get from A to B, it might be worth taking a look at our car sharing insurance or car rental options.

Methodology

We used Office of Rail and Road statistics data on the busiest train stations in the UK as the source for our list of stations to use. We took the top 100 stations outside of London that had their own car parks, and the top 30 in London with their own car parks.

We then took the daily rate for parking from the National Rail page for each station where available. In some cases the prices were not available on the National Rail site, so prices were taken from the car parking operator website instead. Please see the full list of sources below.

Sources

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

https://www.apcoa.co.uk

https://stpancras.com

https://www.parkme.com/

https://www.sabaparking.co.uk

https://www.ncp.co.uk/

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/

https://www.scotrail.co.uk

https://www.southernrailway.com

https://www.gwr.com

https://www.q-park.co.uk/

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk

https://www.greateranglia.co.uk

http://www.stevenage.gov.uk

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Taking the practical test with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Ellen Littlejohns — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:50:37 +0000

Driving test day is nerve-wracking at the best of times – but taking the practical test with ASD may seem more daunting if you’re not sure what to expect. Everyone experiences an Autism Spectrum Disorder differently, so we won’t say that there’s one right way to prepare for the test.

We shouldn’t group everyone with ASD into one category, as every individual will have varying behaviours, levels of ability, and characteristics.

All of these qualities make for a brilliantly diverse population, but it also makes it difficult to provide solid guidelines on how to approach driving. So, everything we say in this article will be very basic information, and it shouldn’t be generalised to everyone.

You may feel confident in preparing for your practical test, or you may decide that it isn’t the right choice for you. Either way, here’s some general guidelines based on information and real-life experiences of people who have taken the practical test with ASD.

We’ve also got a guide on taking the theory test with ASD that you may find helpful.

The practical test format

To pass the practical test, you must be able to:

Drive safely in different road and traffic conditions.
Show that you know The Highway Code by the way you drive.

The national standard for driving cars details everything you need to be able to do to pass the test. You should only take the test when you can do everything without instruction.

If you have ASD, you’ll still have to do the same practical test as all drivers and display the same ability. The test will last approximately 40 minutes.

There are 5 parts to the driving test:

An eyesight check
‘Show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
General driving ability
Reversing your vehicle
Independent driving

1. Eyesight test

You will have to read a number plate from a distance of:

20 metres for vehicles with a new-style of number plate (new-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers e.g. AB51 ABC)
5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

If you fail the eye sight test you’ll fail the driving test, and the test will end straight away. Your instructor will come to collect you and drive you home safely.

2. ‘Show me, tell me’ questions

Your examiner will ask you to answer 2 vehicle safety questions:

A ‘tell me’ question at the start of the test, where you will explain how something is done when driving e.g.
Q: Tell me how you’d know there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system
A: A warning light should illuminate if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system
A ‘show me’ question that you will have to demonstrate the answer to while you are driving
g. When it’s safe to do so, show me how to wash and clean the front windscreen

These questions are asked to demonstrate that you are comfortable with how to use your car, and that you can display important knowledge of vehicle safety.

3. General driving ability

During the test, you will drive in different road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways.

The examiner will give you directions and you’ll be asked to pull over onto the side of the road before pulling away again. These stops may include regular stops at the side of the road, pulling out from behind a parked vehicle, and a hill start.

NOTE: You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.

4. Reversing your vehicle

The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:

Parallel park at the side of the road
Park in a parking bay – either by driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and re-join the traffic

5. Independent driving

You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:

Directions from a sat nav
Traffic signs

The examiner will tell you which you have to follow. They’ll set the sat nav up for you, and you can’t use your own.

The examiner won’t give you a driving test fault for taking a wrong turning – they’ll help you get back on route if you do. What matters most is that if you do take a wrong turning, you handle the situation well and continue to drive safely.

Faults

There are 3 types of faults you can make:

A dangerous fault – this involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
A serious fault – something potentially dangerous e.g. hitting the kerb when parallel parking
A driving fault – this isn’t potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault, it could become a serious fault e.g. indicating too early

You’ll pass your practical test if you make:

no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)
no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)

Check out our full guide on driving test faults for more information.

Preparation

If you have any anxiety regarding taking the practical test with ASD, talk to someone that you trust for support. This could be a friend, family member, your GP, you driving instructor, or anyone!

If you’re part of any online forums (or perhaps a community) for people that have ASD, it may be helpful to speak to them and ask about their own experiences with driving.

We caught up with some learner drivers who shared their experience on learning to drive with anxiety which you may find helpful.

Do you have to tell DVLA if you have autism?

You don’t have to disclose your autism diagnosis to the DVLA unless it affects your ability to drive safely.

If autism does affect your ability to drive safely and you don’t disclose it to the DVLA, you may be fined up to £1000 and prosecuted if you’re in an accident. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to speak with your GP about the fact you’re going to learn to drive so you can run through the guidelines.

Some drivers with disabilities may be allowed extra time for their test, so it’s important to contact the DVLA prior to your test and discuss this with your instructor if you think that this may help.

While you will still have to display the same ability and meet the same criteria during your practical test, letting your examiner know that you have ASD will help them to consider your behaviours/needs/anxieties while you are driving and allow them to offer you additional support.

What happens on the day?

On the day of your practical test, you should make sure that you are well-rested; so try and get a good night’s sleep beforehand. You’ll need to demonstrate to your examiner that you have quick reactions to hazards and that you can assess your driving well, so sleeping well is vital.

Your driving instructor will collect you from your home to go to the test centre. Most instructors will advise that you have an hour’s lesson before your test begins so that you can practise driving and relax. If your anxiety is particularly strong, you may even want to have a longer lesson to build your confidence in your abilities and feel prepared. This time will be particularly useful for practising manoeuvres, as well as general driving practise.
After your lesson, you will drive yourself to the test centre and sign in at reception with your instructor. They will need to see your provisional licence and your theory test pass certificate, so don’t forget these.
Your examiner will then call your name and ask to see your licence.
You will then walk to your car with your examiner ready to begin your test. It’s your choice as to whether you want to have your instructor sit in the back of the car for the duration of your test. Some people find the extra support helpful, but the instructor is not allowed to give you any help or advice while you’re driving.
Before getting in the car, you’ll have to do the eyesight test so that the examiner can agree that your sight is good enough to safely drive.
Your test will then begin. You’ll have to take care in leaving the test centre so that you can demonstrate safe driving to your examiner from the beginning of the test.
See the section on ‘the practical test format’ above to see what happens during the test.
When the test is finished, you’ll drive back to the test centre, park up safely, and await your examiner’s decision as to whether you’ve passed or failed.

If you’ve passed…

Congratulations! If you’ve passed your test, your examiner will:

Tell you what faults you made, if any
Give you a pass certificate
Ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically – you’ll need to give the examiner your provisional licence if you want to do this

Apply for your full driving licence within 2 years of passing your test if you don’t want to get your licence automatically.

You may also want to consider a Pass Plus course. This will help you get used to driving without the support of dual controls, and will show you how to drive on motorways. The course can take as little as a day, and many instructors provide it at an affordable rate – so check if your instructor can help you out. It will boost your confidence in your driving ability, and give you that last bit of extra practice with an instructor before starting to drive independently.

If you haven’t passed…

Don’t worry – the examiner will tell you what faults you made. If you decide that you want to book another test, you can bear these faults in mind and have more driving lessons to help you overcome these issues. You’ll have to pay again and choose a date at least 10 working days away.

If you have a negative experience during your practical test and decide that you don’t want to continue driving, then that’s completely okay! Learning to drive and going on your practical test shows great courage and determination – that’s something to be proud of whether you pass the test or not!

Now can be a great time to reach out to your friends, family, or community for other people that have ASD to seek support and encouragement. They may be able to reassure you that you have done something worth celebrating, or simply give you the chance to talk about your experience.

What next?

You can start driving straight away when you’ve passed your test. You don’t need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

Contact the DVSA if your full licence hasn’t arrived 3 weeks after you applied for it.

If you’ve passed and you want to borrow someone else’s car to carry on driving, we might be able to help you out with temporary insurance to borrow a friend or family member’s car for as little as 1 hour.

Or if you want to carry on learning, our learner driver insurance may be perfect for you. You can practice driving with a friend or family member to help build up your confidence ready for your driving test.

GET A QUOTE

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Taking the theory test with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Ellen Littlejohns — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:58:23 +0000

The theory test marks one of the final stages of learning to drive and can be nerve-wracking for a lot of people. However, there is some great news for learner drivers with ASD. The format of the theory test has changed. The written case studies have been replaced with a short video clip, followed by 3 questions. As well as this, there are plenty of options for you to make the experience more accessible.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are incredibly diverse, and no one person will experience it the same way as the next. So, we can’t promise that anything in this article will make taking the theory test an easier experience for everyone; but we can share some basic information that we’ve found that may help some people with ASD.

You can take your theory test from your 17th birthday onward, or you can take it from your 16th birthday if you get (or have applied for) the enhanced rate of mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The theory test format

Multiple-choice section

You will be given 57 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions.
These questions are based on 3 books: the Highway Code; Know your traffic signs; and Driving – the essential skills.
You’ll need to get 43 questions correct to pass this part of the test.
Before starting, you’ll be given instructions on how the test works.
You’ll also be given the option to do a practise session to get used to the layout of the test.
At the end of the practise session the real test begins.
A question and several answer options will appear on the screen, and you must select your chosen answer by touching the screen – some questions may require more than one answer.
Some of these questions will be presented in the form of a short silent video clip on which 3 questions will be based. You can watch the video as many times as you like in order to answer the multiple-choice questions. You can find an example video here.
The subject of the scenario will focus on real life examples and experiences that you might meet when driving.
You can flag questions that you want to come back to later, and you can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.
You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception section

You will be presented with 14 clips which feature every day road scenes.
In each clip, there will be at least 1 developing hazard (but one clip will feature 2 developing hazards).
You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.
The maximum you can score for each developing hazard is 5 points.
You should respond by pressing the mouse button as soon as you see a hazard developing that may result in you, the driver, having to take some action, such as changing speed or direction.
The earlier you notice a developing hazard, the higher your score.
You will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard, so you will have to concentrate throughout each clip.
If you react inappropriately during a clip by clicking continuously or in a pattern of responses you will score 0 for that clip.
You will need to score 44 out of 75 to pass.

For more information on the theory test format, click here.

Learning to drive with autism

To prepare for your theory test, you should try to give equal attention to revising both the multiple-choice questions and the hazard perception section. Think about how you learn best and how you can apply this to your revision.

For example, if you personally find comfort in structure or routines, you could revise the Highway Code or road signs systematically to aid your memory of the content. Or, if you learn well through visual aids, you can (and should) practise some example scenarios for the hazard perception section through the official guides which can be found below:

NOTE: You can also buy a theory practise interactive DVD from most high street and online book shops.

If you or your GP/guardian/family member feel that an aspect of your ASD may make the theory test more difficult or less accessible, it is important to contact the DVSA prior to booking your test. The GOV.UK website offers information on how to contact the DVSA if you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.

What if I have a reading difficulty?

You can ask to hear the test through headphones when you book your test. You can listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as you need to.
If necessary, you can have extra time to take the multiple-choice section of the test (just under 2 hours to answer the questions, rather than 57 minutes).
You can get someone to read what’s on the screen and record your answers.
You can have someone to reword the questions for you.

What if I have a hearing impairment?

If you know British Sign Language, you can take the test in BSL through a video that appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.
You can have a BSL interpreter with you during the test if you contact the DVSA before booking your test – this service is free.
You can arrange to have a lip speaker with you at the test centre or use a listening aid (hearing loop).
A private environment or separate room to take the test in may be available on request.

What if I have a different impairment or requirement?

You can contact the DVSA to discuss any other disability or health condition before you book your test. Then, they can accommodate to help make the experience of taking the theory test with autism as smooth as possible. When contacting the DVSA, you’ll need to attach proof of any special needs – a letter from school/college (stating what provisions were made when taking tests/exams) or a letter from your GP (detailing the medical condition and special needs requirements) on headed paper will be fine.

For more information on things that can be done to help accommodate ASD, click here.

NOTE: No special allowances can be made when taking the hazard perception test.

Is the theory test hard?

The theory test is a challenging part of learning to drive. But it will test you on important skills and knowledge that will keep you safe on the road. Making sure you’ve understood exactly what to expect and spent lots of time preparing will help make the process easier for you.

What to bring on the day

On the day of your theory test, you must bring your provisional licence with you. The photo ID will help the invigilators to confirm that you are the right person to be taking the test and that you have not sent someone to take it on your behalf. If you only have a paper licence, you must bring your passport with you too for the photo ID.

You can’t take personal belongings into the test room such as headphones, bags, mobile phones or watches – but anything you do want to bring with you on the day can be stored safely in a locker. You’ll be able to retrieve your items when the test is complete.

What happens in the test centre

You should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your test to give you time to relax before the test begins.
When you go to the reception area you’ll be asked for your name and have your licence checked.
Next, you’ll be shown to the lockers to store your personal belongings.
You’ll then be shown to the waiting area, where you’ll be given a copy of the test procedures to read through.
An invigilator will check you in by signing a registration log and confirming your details. They’ll also check that you have nothing with you that could be used to cheat.
The invigilator will escort you to the test room and show you to your allocated individual booth where you’ll sit the test.
On the screen there will be instructions on how the test works; as well as the chance to do some practise questions and get used to the screens.
As long as the details on the screen are right, you can press ‘Start’ to begin.
If you have any problems, raise your hand and a member of staff will come to assist you.
When you’ve finished, you can leave the room and be signed out. Next, collect your belongings and take a seat in the waiting room to await your results.
You’ll then receive your results and be given a letter saying whether you’ve passed or failed.

NOTE: You must have passed both sections to pass overall.

You’re then free to leave the test centre.

Taking the theory test with ASD may be daunting and cause anxiety – if your ASD involves any other behaviours/characteristics that may make the experience difficult, you can bring someone you trust. They won’t be able to come into the testing room, but they can wait for you in the waiting room ready to support you when you’ve finished.

What next?

If you’ve passed…

Congratulations! If you’ve passed, then you can continue taking driving lessons until you and your instructor feel that you’re ready to take the practical test. You’ll need your theory test pass certificate number to book your practical test. You’ll have two years from the date of passing your theory test to take your practical – otherwise you’ll have to pass the test again. For tips on taking the practical test with ASD click here.

If you haven’t passed…

Don’t worry, your test results will tell you which parts you didn’t score enough points on, so you know what to practise. You must book and take the full test again, even if you passed one part this time. You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking the test again.

Taking the theory test is a great achievement – whether you pass or not. It demonstrates dedication through committing to revision, and it shows that you’re determined to succeed. Keep trying, and seek more support if necessary. Your driving instructor may have some valuable advice, and if you’re a member of any forums or communities for other people that have ASD then consider asking them for their thoughts too! Even if you eventually decide that driving isn’t the right path for you, you can congratulate yourself for persevering and giving it your best effort.

Book your theory test here.

For more general information on learning to drive with a disability, check out our article here.

We know it’s hard learning to drive, so drop us a line on twitter if this helped, or if you think there’s anything else we could to help support other taking the theory test with ASD.

If you’re still learning and want to practise driving in someone else’s car ready for your practical test, then check out our learner driver insurance – you can get cover for as little as 2 hours and for as long as 180 days.

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Learning to drive with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Angharad Evans — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:00:16 +0000

Learning to drive is often seen as a huge milestone; and having ASD doesn’t always have to be a barrier to freedom and independence. We’ve got together this guide on learning to drive with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to help you through the process.

Before we get into it, we thought we’d answer some of your frequently asked questions about learning to drive with autism

Can you learn to drive with ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorders are very diverse, and it’s impossible to say what an individual will or won’t be able to achieve if they have one. Everyone is different, and we’ll all relate to experiences in different ways. You may find it difficult, or you could take to driving very well and pick it up quickly!

So, we can’t predict how easy or hard learning to drive with autism will be, and we can’t make any huge assumptions about how one person may find it.

But we can give some basic information that we’ve found from The National Autistic Society website and others like it, so that you can get a general overview and basic pointers if you have ASD and are considering driving for the first time.

Do you have to declare autism to DVSA?

You’ll need to tell the DVSA if you have a disability that affects your ability to drive safely – if you don’t notify them of this, you could be subject to a fine or prosecution if you’re involved in an accident.

You may want to speak to your GP if you’re thinking of learning to drive so you can discuss guidelines with them, as well as any other questions you may have about driving safely with ASD.

Step 1: Applying for your provisional licence

You can apply for your provisional licence when you’re 15 years and 9 months old, and typically start driving when you’re 17. However, if you have the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), then you can start learning to drive when you’re 16.

For more information check out our guide: what age can you learn to drive.

Step 2: Finding a driving instructor

Finding a driving instructor that can adapt their teaching style to your needs is really important. A lot of instructors specialise in teaching learners with a disability; some of which can be found here.

You may also have friends, family, or someone else in your community who can recommend an instructor. Many offer taster lessons, so you can “shop around” before finding the right one for you.

Before meeting your instructor for the first time, you should think about your worries about driving, as well as anything that could impact your ability to learn – you might want to write this down to give to your instructor or tell them before your first lesson.

How can they make it easier for you?

If you have any calming methods that help you manage your anxiety, let your instructor know so that they can be prepared to help you with these if necessary.

You should also think about what could help you to progress; not just what could hold you back. So, if you’re a visual learner, you should tell your instructor so that they can make use of any visual aids they have – most will have a handheld teaching guide which includes detailed diagrams, and explanations.

If you have a shorter attention span, you can ask for breaks during lessons rather than doing them in solid chunks. Think about what helps you to learn best and talk to your instructor about how you can include these methods in your lessons!

For some more general tips, check out our guide on how to choose a driving instructor.

Step 3: Preparing for your first lesson

Getting ready for your first lesson can cause anxiety for a lot of people. So, it’s important to find a strategy that works for you to manage your nerves effectively and focus.

If you find visual learning is best, try observing traffic as a passenger in another person’s car, or watch videos online. This might help you to familiarise yourself with road signs, the rules of the road, and the behaviour of other drivers.

You may also want to look at the Highway Code so that the rules aren’t new to you when you first get in the driver’s seat. There are plenty of cheap second-hand copies of the Highway Code online, and there are some great apps out there that help you to learn and put your knowledge into practice with quizzes and tests.

Check out our guide on the top 5 theory test apps.

It’s also important to note that you may be able to get help with the cost of lessons through a Motability Charitable Grant.

If you need inspiration or you’re doubting yourself as a driver, then check out Julia Malkin – a qualified driving instructor with autism.

Step 4: Going on driving lessons

The most important thing to do when it comes to curbing your driving anxieties is acknowledging them. Nerves are your brain’s fail-safe mechanism and exist to protect you from dangerous situations – but you need to acknowledge where your nerves stem from.

If you’re worried about your own abilities as a driver, think about how you can actively manage these fears. You may want to get advice from your driving instructor, a GP, therapist, family member, or friend.

You should also focus on your strengths, and how you can use them to your advantage when learning to drive. For example, if you have a good memory, you can revise the rules of the road and know that you’ll put them into practice when you’re driving. Or, if you benefit from routines, you may be better with manoeuvres.

Speaking to your instructor

Your instructor’s role isn’t solely to teach you how to drive, but is also to act as your guardian during your learning experience. So, you should try to communicate any worries you have with them to see if you need to try a new learning strategy.

If you don’t feel confident doing this, then try speaking to someone that you trust and they can speak to your instructor on your behalf.

Practice makes perfect, so try to get as much as you can. When you have a provisional licence, you’ll need to be supervised by a driver over the age of 21 who has held a full licence for at least 3 years.

Your driving practice doesn’t have to stop just because your lesson is over – you can get learner driver insurance on a friend or family member’s car and practice your new skills outside of lessons.

Step 5: Have faith in yourself

Learning to drive can be difficult, but focusing on the small victories can also be a huge help. Make sure to reward yourself when you’ve learned something you’ve been struggling with and congratulate yourself regularly.

Being able to drive is an achievement, so take pride in your abilities regardless of how long it takes you to learn. And if you decide that driving isn’t right for you, it still shows great determination and ambition to consider learning in the first place.

For more information, check out our post on learning to drive with a disability.

When it comes time to prepare for your test day, we’ve got some more detailed information on:

If you’re practising in someone else’s car outside of lessons, check out our learner driver insurance – we might be able to help you out with cover from 2 hours to 180 days.

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