Learning To Drive?

[Knobley]

Here are two skills that everyone who operates a motor vehicle should aquire, and that are NOT required by any law as far as I know... but they should be.

1). You should know how to and be able to change a tire. This can be particularly tough for some, since the lug bolts can be stuck on pretty tight. Still, the ability to change a tire can save lots of time and money and can even be a matter of personal safty. I never cease to be amazed that people are allowed to operate a motor vehicle without this basic skill. It's something you'll need to do only very rarely, but when the time comes, believe me, it's worth knowing, and it's not that difficult.

2). You should be able to check your fluid levels. Technically, this means oil, radiator, transmission, and brake fluids. At the very least, you should be able to check the oil. Checking the radiator should only be done when the engine is cool. NEVER UNSCREW A RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT... NEVER EVER EVER EVER. Everyone knows that you can't drive a vehicle without gasoline, and everyone who drives knows how to tell when they are low, and how to add more. The other fluids are just important, it's just that the effect isn't as immediate if you don't bother.

I'm not suggesting that you need to be an auto mechanic. Far from it. But changing a tire, and checking fluid levels is something you should know. All the information for doing these things should be in your owner's manual, but it's far easier to just have a friend show you how.

Knobley

[Gaffy]

Can I buy a car without a license? Could it actually be titled to me? (Suvega will not let me TOUCH his car, particularly not for learning, so I am stuck buying my own to learn in)

Yes, vehicle ownership has nothing to having a license.

Can you get insurance for a car without a license?

Yes. Insurance =/= license to drive. Although most policies have a clause about only covering licensed drivers. Basically you would have insurance on the car, but until you had at least a learners permit, you would not be covered in an accident.

Can you reasonably learn to drive in 1-2 months?

Easily, the basic mechanics of driving are simple. Just takes time to get used to paying attention, reacting appropriately, etc.

My advice would be to go get your learners permit, buy a cheaper "beater" car (less insurance cost, and if you total it out......), get insurance, and learn to drive.

Just avoid 405, I-5, 520 and 90 during rush hour. Trust me, I drive Bellevue to Tacoma every afternoon and that is NOT the best place to learn.

[Bigfish]

Vyn, you seem to be doing everything backwards.

Step 1: Learn to Drive. You can do this in a parking lot just fine. The requirement to have a license to operate a car typically applies to "on road" driving. You should be fine if you are on private property, aka, a parking lot.

Step 2: Get License to Drive.

Step 3: Get a Car and insure it. One doesn't necesarily come before the other. You can buy a car and they won't give a flying poop if you plan on insuring it. Financing and the law will want to make sure you get it though, although they typically don't require you have it immediately. Usually just a "Do you have insurance lined up?" question, which you can say yes to. When you get the insurance policy, you will have to report who the financer is to the insurance company anyway, and they'll take care of their end of proving your are insured.

The thing to keep in mind here is that you are insuring the car, not yourself. If you want to buy a car before you get a licence or learn to drive, insure it and put Suvega or whoever will drive it home down as the primary driver (Insurance policies will ask who primarily drives the car, as well as who occasionally drives it) on the policy until you get your licence and can add yourself to it.

So I guess to sum it up, you CAN insure your car without a license. You'll just have to list someone else as the driver. Whatever order you want to go in is your business, but personal experience tells me its best to learn how to operate something before you buy it, particularly with large purchases such as cars. Wife and I bought a stick, under her insistance that she would learn to drive stick. A year later, she still hasn't learned, not from lack of wilingness, we just don't have the time to do it.

[Vyndree]

I am a bit backwards. I'm 23, after all.

I have yet to call someone about the whole buying a car, getting it insured with Jason/Suvega as the primary driver, and still having the car titled in my name so I can update the insurance later. At this point, if I can get something like that to work, that'd be ideal.

I know I can pay someone with a driver's course so I can use their car, but I'd like the freedom of being able to practice whenever it's convenient for us (i.e. evenings and weekends). And, while driving stick shift is a skill I should learn eventually, I think I'm going to stay away from that for now...


And Fur, I may end up taking you up on that offer with the home mortgage advice. We're already doing some weird stuff with the loan when we got pre-qualified, and it's mind boggling. I'll send you an e-mail.

[elsegundo]

i know im not in WA, but in CA, if you dont own the car you drive or are a dependent of the owner, most people will not insure the car.
if you both are willing to co-sign for the car (if its a beater, then it shouldnt be a major issue, right?) then that would also work.

[beyond-tec]

seems to be very complicated in the US ...

in Germany you can buy a car, own a car, getting the car titled on your name, insure the car with your name ....
even if you don't have a drivers license. You can even drive your car as long as you're doing this on your own
ground or on streets which are private property (i.e. racing courts).

Only thing you aren't allowed to do is driving on public streets when you don't have a drivers license.

[ahi]

what a fun topic!

buying cars on autotrader.com , paying cash then driving them unliscensed and uninsured works for millions of americans


For me, I got the permit, borrowed Gparents car, got a friend to sit next to me, then
backed out of driveway into neighbors parked car for $1000 damage.

I did not learn to drive till 5 years later. :cursing:

good luck!

[Frosty]

I'm going to throw out a couple of extra tips that I assumed where common knowledge, but apparently are not taught in NY.

1. Blinkers are way more useful if you use them BEFORE you turn or BEFORE you make a lane change.
2. If there is a shiny object on the side of the road, do not come to a complete stop in the middle of the highway to look at it.
3. If there is an emergency vehicle with it's lights on and everyone is pulling over to get out of the way, it's not the right time to sneak around people you wanted to pass.

There are more, but I need coffee.

OH Yeah... "Don't drive angry"! - Bill Murray, Groundhog Day.

[Skuggomann]

Took me 10 hrs to lern how to drive a stick shift, its np.

btw how to solve nr.1: deny him sex until you get his car = ??? = profit.

[Bigfish]

Took me 10 hrs to lern how to drive a stick shift, its np.

btw how to solve nr.1: deny him sex until you get his car = ??? = profit.

Relationship counseling at its finest!