South Meath Driving School

Most parents will tell you their children are never reared. When the kid arrives at 17 a whole new plethora of expense begins, from finding a job to 3^rd level fees to learning to drive.

In learning to drive, there are many considerations to hand especially in the area of websites and advertising.  Where to find this information and assessing it is another kettle of fish. Here I am going to outline what South Meath Driving School have to offer the student driver and compare it to that of one of the larger commercial companies such as Aviva. This involves driving lessons fees, its wider involvment for parents and car insurance aspects.

As stated on my website, my fee for a driving lesson this year is 30euro per hour or 360e for the Essential Driver Training programme of 12 compulsory lessons. In certain circumstances, the fee is 25e per lesson. While the lessons are per one hour, invariably an hour turns into 70 or more minutes ( the extra being free gratis.) Thus at the end of the 12 hour programme, the student has had the equivalent of at least 14 lessons in time. An important aspect for the parent is that their time or further expense is rarely involved in a lesson. Reason being that I meet the student at his/her own house and bring them back at lesson’s end – that’s if they live within a few or more miles of Trim town.

My car is a modern dual controlled, easy to operate and I’m Road Safety Authority qualified, with nine very successful years in the trade.

When a student first acquires a learner permit, s/he cannot undergo a driving test for at least six months. Driving lessons can be spread over that time, giving the student plenty of time to practise with a parent or other sponsor in between lessons. Of course I recommend that such practice sessions should not commence until three or four lessons have been delivered, in case of causing damage or injury. Getting such young person insurance at that early stage is unwise unless there’s plenty of cash to spare. Quotes of 3,000.00e and more are common. One would need to be using it to its fullest capacity. A learner cannot. So, why not just practise in areas off road where insurance is not required, such as a farmyard, private laneway or sections of closed roads etc. As the Cavan man sayeth, ‘Progress slowly.’

After ten lessons, I give the student a certificate to that effect and they can then get their own insurance cover with a particular company, nominated by me, at a price that is very attractive compared to any other quotation, probably. Of course there are terms and conditions. That would depend, inter alia, on age, type of cover sought etc. This sets the student up for their future in independent insurance cover without being a burden or risk to a parent’s own insurance. It must be remembered that where a parent adds their child as a named driver, they risk losing their own no claims bonus in the event of a claim on the part of such named driver.

Then compare the above plan with that of Aviva or other parties.

Driving lessons and insurance cover are in the deal. This is how it works. The driving instruction and motor insurance cover is a six month contract. Take John who applies for driving lessons for his son James who has acquired his first Learner Permit. James is given ‘free’ insurance for six months on the following terms. John must first take out his own car insurance with Aviva. (Should John already have insurance cover with another company, he must take out new cover with Aviva in any case in order to initiate his sons programme for driving lessons. John may now be doubly insured.) This new cover costs John about 500e. The 13 hour driving lessons will cost 499e. That’s 999euro which must be paid forthwith. James will still not get insurance cover until he has done his first lesson. So, he’s covered for the remainder of the six months.  James is a named driver on his father’s insurance now and cannot drive unless accompanied by the principal insured, his father. Should John live in, say, Trim or Longwood or Ballivor, he must accompany James to an assigned meeting centre such as Navan or Mullingar. He has to wait out the hour while James is undergoing his lesson. Therefore, for those 13 lessons the father has been engaged for a duration of 13 hours plus driving time of some six hours to and from the centre: that being a total of up to 20 hours in time alone, plus fuel and running costs. Remember the old saying, ‘I’ll give you a pound but not my time!’

Compare that aspect alone to South Meath Driving School where James was collected at his door and left home, paid 30 euro after each lesson and the father didn’t have to give up a minute of his time.

Should James be unable to fulfil an appointment with Aviva for his lesson, he must give 48 hours notice. Otherwise he will forfeit his prepaid fee. Would the South Meath School do that – not on your nanny.

Vouchers are issued for the taking of driving lessons usually within one year. Aviva’s vouchers are void after the year is up. South Meath will honour a voucher beyond the expiry date (within reason), albeit for a small additional charge if it’s an extended period.

And after those 13 lessons with Aviva, James will pay 40 euro for any further lesson; he is no longer insured and daddy must drive him to the centre and pass another boring hour alone. If James wants further insurance cover at this stage, he will have to reapply. On request, Aviva could not give me an answer as to what the cost might be or if there would be a reduction in the circumstances.

The above is based on what people have told me and on checking Aviva’s website.

In a word, with South Meath Driving School it’s 360euro (spread over six months) for the learner for the full EDT programme with little or no time usage from another family member; with Aviva it’s 999euro upfront, plus about 20 hours involvement of parent, plus running costs of a car to/from the particular centre. I rest my case.