Man, that's just wierd how you HAVE to have insurance to buy/drive a car. Here, if we want a car, we buy it, then we go thhrough the process of figuring out if we want to insure it or not. I've been driving stick since I was 9 and finally got my liscence at 18, and with this experience I can tell you that everybody makes mistakes on the road.

Always be aware of your surroundings, you can be the best driver in the world but it only takes someone else to get you killed.

Always indicate before turning and changing lanes.

Avoid peak hours.

Your first car should not be flash, get something cheap but reliable. here in Austrlia it's pretty much a Holden Commodore.

Learn the change a tyre and always carry a spare. It's pretty easy to do actually, just jack up the car, unscrew the nuts, take the tyre off, fit on the new tyre, screw on the nuts in a star pattern, check balance, tighten the nuts. lower the jack.

Do a weekly engine check that includes fuel, oil level, power steering level, radiator fluid level, abs brakes fluid level and wind screen washer levels. These are all easy to find and easy to check. If you want to go further check the headlights, indicators brake and reverse lights while you are at it.

Have you guys thought about getting a trailer instead and using that?