On losing those 'L' plates

Being able to drive opens up a whole new world of opportunities. Firstly, you are free to go where you want, when you want and don't have to rely on intermittent public transport systems or the good graces of your parents, who forever guilt trip you about being a free taxi service.

Seeing the world from four wheels is also a great way to travel and the good old-fashioned road trip will never grow old and tired. Finally, you aren't confined to working where you live; if the job is a 20-mile drive away, that's not a problem.

However, driving isn't exactly cheap. First you have to pay to have lessons and to the test, then you have to get a car, pay for fuel, services, MOTs, road tax and insurance and to be honest everything is getting more expensive. So what can you do to save as much money as possible without scrimping of quality and enjoyment?

Start off by making sure you have as few driving lessons as you can. A lesson costs around £20 per hour in London so too many of them really will hurt your bank balance, so read up as much as you can to help the process go as smoothly and quickly as possible.

When buying a car, think small, economical and green. Not only will an environmentally friendly car give you more mileage for your pound it will also keep your road tax rate to a minimum. The cleaner the car, the lower the tax. But also, drive sensibly. Harsh acceleration and breaking means more fuel so therefore more money as well as increasing the general level of wear and tear on the car.

Insurance however will probably be your biggest expense other than the actual purchase of the car, although in some cases, particularly for males under the age of 25, the insurance can be more than the car. So take note: don't splash out on a large engine and high-spec car if you can't afford the insurance. Figures state that one in five young drivers have an accident in their first year of driving, so insurance companies respond with high premiums.

This makes choosing the right insurance imperative. Look for companies with a good record for young drivers and lots of worthwhile extras included in the policy. One such example is Kwik Fit Insurance, it offers a 20% discount for buying car insurance online, a free MOT and a discount card giving you 10% off at all of its Kwik Fit repair centres including exhausts, tyres as well as services. This should make life a little easier.