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vkorchevoy's avatar

Are there any services that provide drivers who have learning permits with passengers who have driver licenses?

Asked by vkorchevoy (44points) July 5th, 2016

I’ve just moved in USA and don’t have relatives or friends with driver licenses in here, however, I need some practice before the driving test, and I already know the rules and how to drive, so I don’t want to pay for instructors, I just need a passenger with license. I’m ready to pay to him/her just for sitting in the car, while I practice.

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14 Answers

Dutchess_III's avatar

Interesting question. Well, if you already know how to drive, and know the rules, how about you skip that part and just take the test? You can get a pamphlet at the DMV that covers everything they may ask on the test.

vkorchevoy's avatar

As I already said I need practice, but I don’t want to break the law, thus I need a passenger with license

BellaB's avatar

If you’re going to pay for the passenger, why not pay for the instructor? I can’t imagine it would be much difference in cost (especially given the possible insurance consequences for your passenger if something does go wrong).

Is your car covered for you driving it before you are fully licensed?

Seek's avatar

I probably shouldn’t suggest this, but if you’re over 18, you just need to attest on paper that you’ve had X hours of driving practice.

Lie.

I mean, you have driving experience. Just not in your state.

I had to lie to get my drivers’ license. My parents wouldn’t teach me so I couldn’t get the 40 hours, and so I lied on the paperwork. As long as you pass the test it should be fine.

vkorchevoy's avatar

BellaB, I though it would be a significant difference, because instructors ask for about $400 for 8 hours which is a fantastic reward, if you just ask a person to sit in the car and do nothing

vkorchevoy's avatar

Seek, I actually don’t need any proof of how much practice I had, because I’m 22, but I need some practice for myself to feel comfortable on driving test, because I have not been driving for a while.

jca's avatar

You want them to sit in your car or provide a car?

If they have to sit in your car, you are paying for their time and also, they need to be brave enough or confident enough that you’re not going to kill them.

For me, to sit in someone’s car, I’d have to know them, so I could trust they wouldn’t do me any personal harm, and I’d also need to be confident enough in their driving ability. If I needed to let this person (the OP) drive my car, and possibly wreck it, I’d need insurance to cover that.

If the OP has his own car (which I doubt because he doesn’t have a license), he’d have to pay for someone’s time and confidence.

When you pay a driving instructor, that’s what you are paying for. Not only the person’s time, but the car with the insurance on it. Plus the life of the person who is the instructor.

Dutchess_III's avatar

If I recall my one and only driving test, from 1000 years ago, we drove around the block and she had me parallel park. It was the first, and last time, I executed a perfect parallel park.
A 5 year old could pass it. You don’t have anything to lose if you don’t pass it.

jca's avatar

The downside of not passing it, though, @Dutchess_III is that it may take months for him to get the chance to retake the test. If he practices enough so that he’s not likely to fail, he can have his license asap.

CWOTUS's avatar

Welcome to Fluther!

Your question is perfectly understandable and reasonable; it makes sense to me that you would and should want more actual practice behind the wheel, even if you could reasonably take and pass the test right now. That’s a good plan and ambition.

What I would suggest is that you contact a local high school that offers driver training – assuming they still do that (!) and see if you can somehow qualify for inclusion in their program. Even participating from the back seat as you listen to an instructor discuss issues with a different student driver would give you some “practice”, even if it’s not turning the wheel and pushing the pedals. (That stuff can be learned in no time at all, anyway.)

Aside from that, perhaps you can find some elderly folks in your neighborhood who have outgrown their ability to drive, but who still hold valid licenses. Offer then rides around the neighborhood, to stores for shopping, etc. After all, there’s no requirement that the ride-alongs be “able to” drive, only that they have licenses.

vkorchevoy's avatar

I have a car and it is insured. Also I have a learning permit which means that I know the rules. I also don’t want to damage a car or anybody in it, so I am going to drive slowly and causiously. And if the passengers don’t feel confident he/she can leave anytime.

If I had a license, I would gladly do this job for $10/h, while for instructors I have to pay about $50/h, and I expect that they will ask me to drive in some practice places and safe places most of the time.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Maybe you could call your local high school, and discuss this with them. Maybe they could suggest some licensed students. They’d have to get the parent’s permissions, of course, before you could get any particular information. But $10 would be a nice bit of pocket change for a 16 or 17 year old.
It’s just a thought. I, as a parent, would probably say “Not only no, but NO! That’s what I would say.
Or…maybe contact the insurance company who carries your car. Do they have a local office?

vkorchevoy's avatar

Yes, they have.

Ok, I conclude that the best option is to find friends in a neighborhood who will be willing to ride with me. I’ll try to do that, and if fail, will pay for several hours with instructor from driving school.

Thanks for help, guys.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Take an ad out in the local paper? Good luck.

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