As the title implies, I got my drivers license today! The test was extremely easy, and only lasted about three minutes. It's so nice to have the freedom to go wherever I want! My dad even gave me his old car which is a 1996 Dodge Intrepid. It's a clunker, but the fact I have a car makes me extremely happy!

The bad news is how much this is going to cost me. Even though my dad was nice enough to give me the car, it needs a few hundred dollars worth of fixing, and gas is around $3.90 a gallon. Also, my dad put me on his insurance, and even with my 10%-15% discount for doing Drivers Ed this summer, it's going to cost me $1050 a year. Looks like I won't be upgrading my computer anytime soon XD. Still, it's worth it, and I just got my first real job, so hopefully I can pay for the car, and have a little left over to save and spend.

This is fine news...a driver's license is all the rage nowadays!! Congratulations and have fun and drive safely.
(Now you can run your mum to the store!)

Congratulations Sterling.
Do you make VERY good grades in school? If you do, ask your insurance company if they give good student discounts in addition to drivers ed discounts.
This is one of those things that a lot of insurance companies offer, but they don't tell you about.
I got a 10% discount when my son was in high school and college. While it didn't lower the rates dramatically, it did save me a few bucks.

Hey good for you. Have agreat time and enjoy.
remember"Watch out for the other Guy"

Congrats on passing the test.

Huh?

Congratulations though, driving is cool

Congrats. I remember (barely) how it feels to get a driver's license and the freedom it implies. As you are finding out, it can also be a very big burden.
Just be very careful, and watch out for the other drivers.
Cheers,
John

Please be patient and understanding when your parents seem to be worried about turning you loose without them in the car. It's the nature of parents to worry about their children, escpecially when those children start driving. Be careful, earn their trust, show them that you are a resposible driver.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and advice! I'll drive safely.

I swear the needle just likes being close to E.

Congrats Sterling14!

On your way home tonight, could you stop and pick up a few bars of Snickers for me?

Congratulations!! Enjoy!!


That's very short. Are driving tests usually that quick in the US?


OMG you don't know how lucky you are..... it is 110.9p a litre in the UK, that's $9.29 US a gallon

I would love to get a car, the cost of the upkeep is the only reason for holding back.

Wow! Once gas gets over $5 here, which probably won't be long now, I'm going to stop driving lol. Next year it's suppose to be around $7 a gallon when here in New York minimum wage is $7.15 an hour. So you can work a whole eight hour day, just to fill your tank.

The driver's test here is pretty easy. I think it's because in New York, once you turn 16, you can't get your license, but must first get something called your learners permit. This means you can drive as long as the person sitting next to you is over 21 with their full license. After taking a 5 hour driving course, which you don't drive in at all, and telling the state you have driven at least 20 hours, you can take the 3 minutes road test, lol.

The UK has a similar setup, when you get to 16 you can apply for a provisional driving licence where you are allowed to drive on the roads if you have an experienced driver supervising. Once you are confident in your abilities you can then take 'the test'. You need to sit down and do a written test with questions on the highway code and rights of way and stopping distances, (its really strict, a couple wrong questions and its a fail).
Then you have to do the road test where an instructor will ask you to perform a series of everyday manoeuvres. Once all that is done you can then apply for your full licence.

There were talks of upgrading the system some more, so the above may have changed slightly.

Be careful do not lose it like I did, I got arrested for Street Racing about a year ago lost my license for a year and paid a heavy fine.

REMEMBER DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE , NOT A RIGHT!

Lol right now in Atlanta gas is like 3.45

Be careful out there.

BG

And not just drivers, but pedestrians, cyclists, deer, etc.

To quote one of my motorcycle basic rider instructors, the single most dangerous thing to a rider - or car driver - is other people.

A handy acronym - SEE

Search around you for potential hazards up to 45 second ahead. Don't get stuck focusing on any one thing so you miss something else

Evaluate any potential hazards: railroad crossings, pedestrians, deer, holes in the road, someone getting into or out of a car etc.

Execute the proper action to avoid the hazard.

The basic rider course has made me a more alert and better driver.



The requirements for getting a driver's license vary from state to state as do traffic laws. Each state has its own driver's manual.

Indiana now has a probationary licenses for teenage drivers under 18. There are more restrictions with these licenses.

This is the page that links to all the different licensing stuff, regarding motorized vehicles that is, in Indiana: http://www.in.gov/bmv/3280.htm

Orange Blossom

We learned the SEE Acronym in driver's ed. It's a good one to remember .

Anyway, I take my car into the shop tomorrow to get fixed. I just hope it doesn't cost a lot, but I know it's going to .

Shop + Fix=s $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Stay safe, im not going to learn how to drive, im going to cycle EVERYWHERE i want to cycle the world! like Mark Beaumont!

congrats...i'm trying to get mine...hehe

Congrats.... enjoy!

Couple quick things,

First just wait for your mom to be asking you "Can you run to the store and get some bread for supper"... It's fun in the beginning but god... I am tired of it now...

Second, if you are handy with cars and tools a little what you could do and this is what I do, Go to your friendly neighborhood Canadian Tire and get them to do an estimate on all that needs fixing on the cars. Then go to NAPA and get the parts and replace them yourself. A lot of resources on the internet these days on replacing various things on a car. Not saying that you should start rebuilding transmissions but an example today I replaced the A/C Blower resistor, 45 dollar part that would have cost me 200 in labor and parts at the dealer or mechanic and it was simply unscrew old part, unplug wire harness, throw in garbage, plug in new part and replace screws...

P.S. Anyone with a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am the blower resistor is a pain in the arse to get to...

Thanks klinkaroo, I never though about that! I am very lucky though because my uncle co-owns a used car dealership. We get huge family discounts. My estimate on getting all of my brake pads, rotors, brake line leak, and exhaust leak, was around $540. I'll admit some tears came to my eyes when I heard that. Once we got it fixed though, they talked to my uncle and my total only came to $206. I was so happy!

The cars not going to pass inspection in December though, and all the struts need to be replaced. They also said something about some valves being blown off the motor, and the costs to replace these can be really high. It is sometimes slightly cheaper to just buy a new motor. I don't need to repair these valves to pass inspection though, so they may remain broken forever .