Learning to Drive Here

[johnerebus]

Some questions re learning to drive here.

I live in Esentepe , where can I buy L plates?

Is it mandatory to display L plates?

Will my current vehicle insurance cover a driver who's learning.

Any other advice welcome please.

Thanks

[come_on_aylin]

I don't know about first two but you need to speak to your insurance company re cover for a learner. I was told that our insurance would NOT cover our son whilst he was learning but would as soon as he passed his test.

[fatouche]

The learner must take 10 lessons with a driving school at the cost of around 1800TL (2015 prices), which includes the test. The test is a joke, and the lessons only cover making the car go rather than learning to use the roads safely. My husband's test lasted less than 2 minutes; he drove out of the car park, did a 3 point turn and returned to the car park. The examiner was on his phone for the duration.

[Johnny Lee]

Surprised the test lasted as long as two minutes. I thought most of the locals just got their selves and old car from the scrap yard and took it on the road and if they are not too good at steering jut sit your 2 year old child on your lap and let her steer so that your hands are free to text.

So the driving test is about as much use as the MOT from the sound of it.

[thornaby]

Why bother, judging by the dreadful and dangerous driving standards here, I am sure that most of the locals don't have a licence, or maybe as the previous post mentioned, the standards are just that low.

[fatouche]

Because if you don't, you can't get a licence or insurance.

[tomsteel]

Perish the thought, but if you hit and injured/killed somebody whilst driving with no licence or insurance you would not be the most popular expat here. I am told the 'pokey' in Lefkoşa is not a place of comfort and luxury for inmates there. Much better to play the game and get legal.

[thornaby]

My comment was said tongue in cheek. But my opinion of driving standards by locals stand. I did read a few month back that the amount of uninsured drivers (local) was that bad an amnesty was given to encourage them to be legal. What always amazes me is why the police don't enforce the laws.Things I see on a daily basis horrify me. Until effective enforcement happens the roads of North Cyprus will always be dangerous!

[waddo]

thornaby, don't for one moment think that bad driving is the prerogative of the "locals", there are many Europeans here who drive drunk (or well over the limit) most of the time and consider it to be acceptable due to the poor driving of the "locals". That is not even mentioning the amount of Europeans who spend their lives on the mobile when driving or just fail to be able to negotiate a supermarket car park. Spend a little time at the side of the road during any rush hour and see which of the drivers are the worst, in my experience of driving here the "locals" have more give and take in them than anyone else. But you are dead right - the roads of North Cyprus - like the roads of South Cyprus - will always be dangerous.

[johnerebus]

Thanks to both come_on_aylin and fatouche for helping to answer my questions before the topic became a discussion of good / bad driving. Why do people feel it necessary to hijack topics? I'm going to have a Tee shirt printed that says, "I'm Not Interested In Your Opinion Unless I Ask For It." Having got my response to hijacking out of the way it seems that driving lessons whether needed or not are mandatory and very very expensive at 1,800 TL for 10. Hmmmnnn!

A question that I would still like answering is, are L plates necessary for a learner driver?

[Keithcaley]

A more fundamental question would be "Is there such a thing as a provisional license, and is a learner driver allowed to drive at all, other than in a driving school car, accompanied by an official driving instructor?" This might well answer your other question! I mention this because I have never seen an ordinary private car bearing L Plates...

[snd1966]

A more fundamental question would be "Is there such a thing as a provisional license, ...

I know you can tick the box on the application form for one, but whether it exists I don't know

[tomsteel]

In support of Keithcaley's view, I too have never seen a L-plated private car in my 9 years here. johnrebus, I would suggest you ask from an official, knowledgeable, source rather than an open forum where you will likely only get personal opinions or have your post hijacked. 1800 YTL equates to £400 or £40 per lesson (cheap as chips compared to UK or Germany where my son learned to drive). Any insurance broker here will tell you what TRNC-based companies will cover for cars and driver's qualifications. Good luck with the lessons.

[Dave G]

The 1,800 fee is for getting your provisional and 1 year full license, 10 lessons, theory and driving tests, extra lessons cost 50 tl, my wife had 5 lessons in her own car and the driving school provided L plates but I don't know if these are required by law.
If you want a quick chat you can call me 0533 842 9542

[icklepix]

If you are looking for a driving school I went to Ozbek by the market, I had Mr Ozbek who is a lovely guy and will even get your licence sorted for you when you pass.

[trooper]

Icklepix; what do you mean ''when you pass'' are you suggesting that people actually fail? From what I have seen over the years I suspect no-one is allowed to fail.......the standard is so poor it's beyond words.

[icklepix]

Who knows, maybe you fail if you have an accident!