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Car or motorbike/moped

I need a vehicle of my own to get to college and football, as public transport takes wayyy to long and I feel like I'm wasting hours away doing nothing. But I don't know whether to start learning to drive a car or moped/motorbike. Motorbike will be cheaper, but I don't know how sustainable that will be for me as eventually I will need to learn to drive a car probably. However, I do not really want a car right now and it will cost lots more. Any advice/suggestions would be really helpful, thanks.

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 1

Muttly

Safety - A motorbike is always more exposed to physical elements and if you come off you hope not to hit something solid. When it rains you have reduced view out of your visor if you bike it and you arrive soaking wet, and need to change your clothes.

Expenses
Costs of learning to drive a car
Application for provisional driving licence
DVSA Theory Test (about £32) - you have to do another one even if you have a motorbike theory test pass
Driving lessons (Professional lessons - about £2000 at £30/hour or £2700 at £40/hour for 67 hours on road experience (minus 22 hours if you have private home practice) A year at least for 1 x lesson each week. Six months for 2 hours a week. (Be wary of intensive courses and paying a huge amount to a driving school and then finding you can't stand your instructor. The first 20 hours are very intense and demand huge bucketfuls of concentration. It is a sheer slog and very hard work)
DVSA driving practical test costs around £66 approx

The car you drive - A second hand car - a cheap run around circa £2500 (or if you are flash and do monthly personal finance payment plans for a spanking brand new one but limited mileage (£150 to 450/month) Some councils operate care share schemes or rent-a-car on a street near you - explore the costs for cheap ad hoc driving but you have to join the club or the scheme (some councils use e-scooters)
Road Tax - £20 to £800 dependent on engine size and CO2 output
Ulez - Don't even go there!!
Insurance - New driver insurance is silly £££ - £1200 to £4500 fully comp albeit can reduce with other older sensible risk free named drivers (like parents)
Maintenance (Tyres/oil change/replacement parts) average £100/month
MOT - approx £80 year for a car 3yrs after first registration
Fuel costs - depends on the mpg and the miles you do (average £200 month - £50 a tank fill)
Car Parking or car storage - depends on street parking or car parks in city centres. Can be £15/day

Costs of riding a motorbike (consider a moped too if your journey is urban)
Application for a provisional driving licence (circa £32)
Compulsory Basic (off-road) Training (CBT) £150
Motorbike Theory test (£32)
Motorbike Course (A1 licence U21) £950 - these can be intensive courses by arrangement
Practical Motorbike Test £
Leathers/protective Jacket & trousers £250 - £400
Helmet £100 to £250
Gloves £35
Sat Nav

The bike you ride
Basic second hand bike - £2500
Insurance (comprehensive £1500 to £2000)
Tax £30 to £50
Paniers? Sat Nav? Bike Locks?

Then you have to weigh up the miles you need to travel. If you are on narrow country roads with really bad icy weather (those same minor country roads are left out gritting) and dreadful unfilled pot holes you may think twice about a motorbike. Urban and country roads can have diesel spills and other debris all waiting to hike you off your machine. You are at risk of death and serious injury (neck/chest) but it is the best fun you can have keeping all of your clothes on. A 125cc will do motorway work but is very small and very exposed in high winds and heavy traffic. Bike thefts are on the increase. There are some good motorbike clubs who go all over the world if you enjoy it, and specialist bikes like Harley's offer their own training. Wicked.

A car may give you better protection in a crash; keep you dry in wet weather and avoid you having to get changed at the other end. Parking it is expensive. You can be popular with everyone else who needs a lift. A car can act as a dreadful overnight bed if necessary, a mobile refuse dump and a storage bin. Your car licence can open doors for employment.