Price Of Driving In The UK
Sunday, 27. April 2008, 14:31:19
In the UK, our government takes us for an absolute ride. I became all too aware of this when I started to drive.
To become a fully licensed driver in the UK you need to take both a theory test and a practical test. Before you even consider taking either of these you must apply for a provisional license. The unbridled pleasure of doing this will set you back £50 ($99). Fifty Great British Pounds for a damned piece of plastic! Did I miss something?! Are these cards gold plated? Does it let me get out of jail free? Maybe I can access those exclusive lounges in airports. No, it's non of these things. Infact, it's a gateway to further ludicrous, unjustifiable governmental pricing.
So now you have your green bit of plastic, and that's all it is, a glorified bit of plastic, you can take your theory test. This consists of 50 questions about cars, road signs and safety. This will cost you £30 ($59). Finally, if you pass that you can take your practical test, which will pluck a further £56.50 ($112) from your pocket. This means that the overall cost of becoming a legal driver in the UK is £136.50 (£270)
BUT, I feel I may have left a significant part of the process out - actually learning to drive. Our driving tests are becoming notoriously difficult to pass. The test includes a few questions about the engine including how to check oil, water and brake fluid levels and also how to check if your power steering is working etc. You then must drive for 20 minutes and perform two reversing exercises which include things like reversing around a corner and reverse parking. You also have to show you can navigate several multilane roundabouts. The current pass rate is only 43%. This means that you need an awful lot of preparation to meet the current standard. It's no wonder why the UK has the safest roads in Europe, we're all trained to NASA standards. The government states that people who pass have an average of 47 hours professional training. At around £20 ($39) an hour this isn't cheap but it is essential. The average learner spends £940 ($1865) on lessons.
This brings the total cost of becoming a full UK driver up to £1076.50 ($2134)
To become a fully licensed driver in the UK you need to take both a theory test and a practical test. Before you even consider taking either of these you must apply for a provisional license. The unbridled pleasure of doing this will set you back £50 ($99). Fifty Great British Pounds for a damned piece of plastic! Did I miss something?! Are these cards gold plated? Does it let me get out of jail free? Maybe I can access those exclusive lounges in airports. No, it's non of these things. Infact, it's a gateway to further ludicrous, unjustifiable governmental pricing.
So now you have your green bit of plastic, and that's all it is, a glorified bit of plastic, you can take your theory test. This consists of 50 questions about cars, road signs and safety. This will cost you £30 ($59). Finally, if you pass that you can take your practical test, which will pluck a further £56.50 ($112) from your pocket. This means that the overall cost of becoming a legal driver in the UK is £136.50 (£270)
BUT, I feel I may have left a significant part of the process out - actually learning to drive. Our driving tests are becoming notoriously difficult to pass. The test includes a few questions about the engine including how to check oil, water and brake fluid levels and also how to check if your power steering is working etc. You then must drive for 20 minutes and perform two reversing exercises which include things like reversing around a corner and reverse parking. You also have to show you can navigate several multilane roundabouts. The current pass rate is only 43%. This means that you need an awful lot of preparation to meet the current standard. It's no wonder why the UK has the safest roads in Europe, we're all trained to NASA standards. The government states that people who pass have an average of 47 hours professional training. At around £20 ($39) an hour this isn't cheap but it is essential. The average learner spends £940 ($1865) on lessons.
This brings the total cost of becoming a full UK driver up to £1076.50 ($2134)
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that's pricey.
By michaeljung, # 27. April 2008, 17:38:55
By the way, the pound has dropped a little today, so it's even more expensive dollar-wise.
By Deke, # 27. April 2008, 17:40:22
By Ravo, # 27. April 2008, 23:51:44
By dragon_harrower, # 28. April 2008, 14:55:48
By Abbacus, # 10. May 2008, 01:44:40