It’s likely you feel a sense of elation after passing your driver’s test. After many hours of lessons, you will now have the freedom to take to the road without an instructor by your side.
While you are bound to be excited about possessing your US driver’s license, you might be a little apprehensive about becoming a legal driver and unsure about the best actions to take next.
To remove some of the stress from the process, here are the four steps to take after passing your driver’s test.
Step 1: Buy Your First Car
Once you have officially passed your test, your next step to take should be to purchase your first vehicle. It’s likely you have waited many months or years to finally step behind the wheel; however, you must avoid rushing into a decision to avoid making a big mistake. For example, you could buy your car from a Ford dealership, as they can offer competitive pricing for reliable new and used vehicles.
Step 2: Insure Your Car
Once you have secured your license and bought your first vehicle, it’s likely you’ll be itching to get behind the wheel. You will be happy to know you can start driving your car as soon as you pass your test. However, you will need to insure your vehicle before you can legally drive on the road.
It might also be beneficial to consider black box insurance, which could provide you with a discount on your premiums. The black box device will be fitted onto your car to record your habits on the road, such as accelerating and braking, and it will also monitor your travel times and the types of roads you regularly journey down, which can help an insurer to build up a profile of you. The insurance company will then use this data to identify if you are a safe driver.
Step 3: Add P Plates onto Your Car
If you like you can decide to add P plates onto your car, which can indicate to other motorists that you have recently passed your driver’s test. As a result, they will likely provide you with more space on the road and will have more patience when you stall your vehicle or make a mistake.
It could also provide you with more confidence when driving, as you’ll know people will be aware that you’re a new driver, so they will be less likely to honk their horn.
Step 4: Avoid Distractions
Stepping behind the wheel for the first time by yourself can be daunting. As you will want to provide the road with your undivided attention, you must avoid distractions during your journey.
For example, you should turn off your mobile phone before you get behind the wheel, so your attention will not be drawn to incoming texts and phone calls. You also should avoid traveling with chatty friends or family at first, too, as they could become an unwanted distraction.
