Obviously the most exciting thing about passing your test is driving by yourself for the first time. While the process of learning to drive is both exciting and a challenge, you’ll always have the all-important test lingering in the back of your mind. There’s also the issue of insurance to factor in and taking out a policy at the right time (or even on the right day!) can be beneficial in terms of making the biggest savings.
Collingwood, specialist car insurance providers have created some smart tips for learner drivers. Whether you’re deciding what day to sit your test or what day to insure your car, we have you covered.
What time of the year should I start learning?
Despite the fact that many driving instructors will have busy schedules all year round, many learner drivers understandably have different preferences in regard to when to start driving lessons. When the nights draw in earlier and the temperatures plummet in the late months of the year, driving lessons might not seem like an appealing prospect to commit to. However, learning to drive in the unpredictable British autumn and winter climate could pay off in the long run as you’ll learn some vital skills that other learners who begin in the summer months do not experience until they’re behind the wheel alone.
Although the UK is notorious for unpredictable weather, spring and summer have undeniably easier conditions to drive in on the whole. If you are keen to broaden your driving experience as a learner, it’s recommended that you begin at the end of August/early September and continue into the onset of the colder weather. This will equip those who are set to take to the open road with a wider variety of driving experiences, proving beneficial in the long run.
When should I take out a car insurance policy?
Interestingly, a Saturday is apparently the worst day to take out a new insurance policy. The way that insurance brokers determine policy prices depends largely on the nature of the market, and for this reason, insurance policies are prone to fluctuate in line with market changes as well as supply and demand.
This is more likely to affect young drivers. In 2017 the pass rate for 18-year-old drivers was an impressive 49.32%— with recent data finding that in terms of seasonality, the late summer months of August and September showed soaring pass rates. In fact, interest surrounding car insurance remains at a steady value across the entirety of the year, with the only evident decline shown in the run up to the festive season.
Not only the day, but the time can also affect the rate — 8am provides the best deals and even a saving of up to £738 as opposed to the 2am internet surfers who face the biggest price differentials. Insurance policies benefit from a steady level of interest, as young people continue to take their motoring careers up a gear.
When should I sit the test to for the highest chances of success?
The tip that we are all desperate to know — which specific day and time should we sit our practical driving test to increase chances of passing? While we’ve already identified that August is the best month for learners to pass their test, there is one date in particular that you might want to consider if you are eager to swap your red ‘L’ plates for the notorious green ‘P’ variants. Try to secure a slot on the 4th of August, as it has scored a superb pass rate of 50.3%. The successes of August aren’t that surprising, especially when you consider that many students will be making the journey back to resume their studies in September for the new academic year — as passing a driving test at this point will provide them with the necessary freedom living away from home.
The day that all learner drivers should avoid is Boxing Day. Unsurprisingly, Boxing Day, 26th December has been deemed a particularly bad day for test pass rates. Most of us use Boxing Day as an opportunity to recover from some serious festive indulgence, so it doesn’t really come as much of a surprise that heading out to the test centre might not be a successful feat.
Although some may seem fairly obvious or are completely new tips, we wish you learner drivers good luck on your journey to freedom.