Keeping costs down for young drivers

With the price of running a car continuing to rise for young drivers, Parker's has some handy tips and advice on how first time drivers can cut down on their costs.

Driving lessons

• Have more lessons with family members. As long as they have been driving for at least three years and are over 21 then they can legally supervise a learner, just make sure you're insured on the car.
• Ask around for recommendations. There may be a cheaper, local instructor that friends have used.
• Look for offers online. Major driving schools often have discounts when you book your lessons through their website.
• Don't go with the first driving school you find. Shop around looking for the best deal and look at smaller companies not just the biggest most popular ones.

First car

• If you can afford a newer car then this will mean it will be more fuel efficient and safer than an old car as well as having lower maintenance costs.
• If you can't buy new then go for models with a reputation for reliability. Japanese brands do well here such as Nissan's Micra. However, at ten-years-old much will depend on how well the car has been looked after. 
• So shop around and search for a car with plenty of documents proving it has been serviced and cared for. A car with one elderly owner is more likely to have low mileage and full service history compared to a younger driver looking for a quick sale.

Insurance

• Get insurance cover on your parent's insurance. This will knock down the price of a premium and some companies even let you build up your own no claims bonus as a named driver.
• Shop around for specialist insurers that give better rates to young drivers. At the same time agree a lower limited mileage or higher excess.
• Take a Pass Plus course. This will bring your premium down and some companies will even offer discounts to young drivers that have passed.
• The most basic way to save on insurance is make sure that your first car is in a low insurance group.

Maintenance

• Know the basics. Get someone who knows about cars to show you how to do things like checking the oil, brake fluid and tyre pressures as well as looking out for any other problems.