2017 has arrived, and many New Year’s Resolutions have arrived with it (particularly for New Drivers). A resolution for a New Driver goes a little something like: pass theory test, practice driving, pass driving test, get a car, get insurance, drive from A to B.

Here at Safely Insured we believe in helping people to achieve their goals and in this case, we offer New Drivers Insurance for those who have just got on the road.

New Drivers’ Resolutions

How does making a New Year’s Resolution (with regards to getting on the road) work? I hear you ask. Well, if we break it down step by step, it’s easier for you to see what to do, how to do it, and it brings more structure to your resolution which in effect, gives you more control over achieving it.

Step 1 – Pass your theory test 

To get a full driving licence, you will need to pass your driving test. To pass your driving test, you would have had to have passed your theory test first. This one is simple – it’s all down to the number of hours you put in to revising. The more revising you do – the more equipped you’ll be for the test.

Step 2 – Practice driving

To pass your driving test, you’ll need to have confidence behind the wheel. What gives you confidence? Practice. Why not combine your tuition with your driving instructor, with some home learning? Not sure what we mean? Well, did you know that you can get Learner Driver Insurance so you can practice in your own car or someone else’s? Well, yes you can, and our sister site InsureLearnerDriver offers it. Practice in your own time, with a parent, guardian, or other accompanying driver (providing they meet the conditions of the acceptance criteria for an ‘accompanying driver’). The more practice you have – the better you will be!

Step 3 – Pass your driving test

Now this is the part that most people struggle with. The trick is to not let the test get the better of you. The more anxious you are, the more likely you are to make a mistake or be unaware of your surroundings. Relax, remember what you’ve been taught, and listen to the instructions carefully.

Step 4 – Get a car

Again, unless you’ve been fortunate enough to have your first car bought for you, this can also be a hurdle for most people. Today, there are some fantastic finance package options to choose from, in addition, many second-hand car dealerships now offer warranty with the car, so should something go wrong, say within the first year, you wouldn’t need to worry.

In terms of the car itself, you’ll want to look at getting one with a high safety rating (e.g. NCAP safety rating of 5). You’ll also want the car to have a low insurance group rating. The lower the rating, generally reflects a lower cost of insurance. Here at Safely Insured, we recommend the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, and the Ford Fiesta. You can read more on our blog: Recommended Cars for New Drivers.

New Drivers Insurance

Step 5 – Get Insurance

After your driving test, you’ll become a New Driver. At this point, it is still so important for you to continue to drive well. Wouldn’t it be good if you could monitor your driving and improve where necessary? Well, guess what? You can!

Here at Safely Insured, we provide Black Box Insurance (otherwise known as Telematics Insurance). It not only helps to reduce future premiums (should you continually drive well) but it also enables you to keep track of your driving performance, allowing you to monitor and review it where necessary. The ‘black box’ (which is fitted to your car – usually underneath your dashboard) monitors your driving habits, recording things such as: your speed, how smoothly you drive, and your acceleration levels – these things influence how well you drive day to day. You are then provided with a score. The better you drive, the better your score will be.

Young and New Drivers premiums can be extortionate, we’re here to challenge that!

Step 6 – Drive

And there you have it, once you’ve completed all the above steps – your set, all ready to get on the road and find your independence!

Hopefully this structured set of resolutions can help you, or someone you know. We’d love to know if it does. Let us know in the comments…

Further Information: Young Drivers Insurance | New Drivers Insurance | Black Box Insurance | Telematics Insurance | Learner Driver Insurance