How is the auto market doing?
Containment was a particularly difficult period for the automotive sector. With a drop in sales of around 89% in April, it is one of the sectors hardest hit. However, there was a recovery in May, timid, but very real, since the sector posted -50.34% of sales compared to May 2019. These figures are rather comforting, especially since the deconfinement is not intervened only on May 11, leaving only 2/3 of the month to relaunch the activity.
To help this recovery, the Government announced at the end of May an improvement of the ecological bonus scheme. This press release had a real impact on the French, many of whom came to the dealership to inquire about a new car.
Since June 1 and until the end of the year, purchasing aid has been significantly revisited:
- For individuals, concerning the purchase of a 100% electric car for less than 45,000 euros, the ecological bonus increases by 1,000 euros from 6,000 to 7,000 euros.
- For professionals, it is 5,000 euros compared to 3,000 euros previously.
- For individuals and businesses alike, a bonus of 2,000 euros is introduced for the purchase of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, with a range greater than 50 km and an amount less than or equal to 50,000 euros.
- A bonus of 3,000 euros is provided for the purchase of a new or used LPG vehicle, replacing a polluting model. This applies to households whose tax revenue does not exceed € 18,000 and for the first 200,000 purchases. When this level is reached, the old scale will be active again.
Green Bonuses and Government Bonuses to Help Economic Recovery in the Shutterstock Auto Sector
Attractive offers for the purchase of a car
To deal with the current crisis, most car brands are preparing to make aggressive offers. Thus, to boost their sales, they will certainly present very attractive reductions and attractive credits, in addition to the aid offered by the State.
What about the driver's license test?
If the exams of the motorbike licenses (A and A1) and heavy goods vehicles (C and D) have been able to resume since May 25, those of category B remained in abeyance. Since Monday June 8, the candidates have finally been able to hit the road, but the accumulated delay remains very significant. These are, in fact, about 330,000 candidates who were canceled their invitation. By adding the new registrants, nearly 400,000 applicants are waiting to take their driving test.
However, in order to respect the barrier gestures during the examinations, a strict health protocol was adopted:
- Cars must be ventilated and the air conditioning turned off.
- The candidate must wear a mask, while the examiner must wear a protective visor.
- The monitor, seated in the back of the car during the examination, must also have a visor if there is no separation between the occupants at the front and at the rear of the vehicle.
- On the other hand, the cars must necessarily be completely disinfected between each candidate (steering wheel, gear lever, door handle, etc.). In the vehicle, there will also be hydroalcoholic gel.
Taking into consideration all these precautions, the National Union of Independent Drivers (UNIC) estimates that each examiner will receive 2 fewer candidates each day, or approximately 1,400 fewer driver's license passes daily throughout the territory French. It will therefore take a long time to catch up, especially as the summer holidays approach, the number of examiners is about to decrease.
After the financing of the driver's license, the car remains the most important item of expenditure for a young driver. His choice will therefore depend largely on his budget, but also on other elements such as recurring costs and the maintenance of his future vehicle: fuel, overhaul, and above all insurance. It is essential that he takes all these criteria into consideration in order to choose the car that best suits his needs.
New health rules for Shutterstock driver's license exams
How to choose your first car when you are a young driver?
You have just obtained your driving license and wish to buy your first car soon. But where to start ? Here are our tips for choosing a car when you are a young driver.
Establish your needs
Depending on whether you book your car for long journeys on the motorway or for driving in the city or in the countryside, you will not have the same expectations. You may need a large trunk if you plan to carpool, or conversely a very compact model for driving and parking in the city. All of these parameters are very important to take into account when determining the type of vehicle you should buy.
Calculate your car budget
Establishing the budget means not only knowing how much you can afford to invest in the vehicle, but also in its registration card. You will also need to estimate the fuel and maintenance expenses that you will be able to assume. Some brands are more expensive to maintain, some models are more fuel efficient… All these criteria should not be left aside when buying a vehicle for a young driver.
Select the model of your first car
After determining your car budget and your needs, it's time to choose the model or models that match. Compact city car, family station wagon, convertible, sporty? Petrol, diesel, electric? What power under the hood? Almost all brands offer ranges of vehicles that cover all needs, so you will have to make a choice.
New or used car?
Buying a new car is of little interest to a young driver. The insurance premium, already very often high, is significantly increased when it comes to a new vehicle. Better to turn to an opportunity, even with few kilometers and fairly recent. It is possible to apply to an individual as well as to a professional, but you will have more guarantees in the second case.
Anticipate insurance costs
When choosing a vehicle, you should also think about insurance. These are additional and lasting costs that should not be overlooked. Depending on the car model you select, the insurance premium may be significantly different. Of course, you also have to choose your insurer, because not all hold the same position towards young drivers: some apply a premium on the contract.
How to pay less for young driver insurance?
It is well known, young drivers often suffer a premium on their insurance contract. However, there are different tips for lowering the price of your first insurance premium other than selecting your vehicle based on that.
For example, if you have driven driving, you automatically benefit from a discount on your subscription. The same applies if you have already been insured on a vehicle. It can therefore be interesting to register on your parents' or spouse's car as a secondary driver, even if you hardly ever drive it.
The formula you choose will obviously have a significant impact on the amount of your insurance premium. Between third-party insurance and all-risk insurance, the price difference is obvious. On the other hand, between two insurances of the same level, offered by two companies, the contributions can vary enormously due to different deductibles and services. Comparing contracts is therefore one of the safest methods of saving money.
Finally, be aware that some insurers offer "tailor-made" formulas, which adapt to your needs and your conduct. This is the case with YouDrive from Direct Assurance, which allows a responsible driver to benefit from monthly reimbursement based on his insurance premium.
With YouDrive, pay for your car insurance just like your driving!
If you trust your driving and feel responsible, the YouDrive offer is probably for you. Launched in 2015 by Direct Assurance, YouDrive is the first offer of young driver auto insurance marketed in France on the model of "Pay How You Drive ". The purpose of this tailor-made insurance is to encourage more responsible driving by supporting you in your first years on the road. It is designed to encourage young drivers to be attentive and to drive carefully to limit the risk of accident.
Like a "driving coach", YouDrive analyzes your behavior and promulgates personalized advice based on your weaknesses. You can then correct yourself on a daily basis and progress to improve your safety on the road. Each month, your premium is reassessed based on your driving score from the previous month, which can decrease it by up to 50% for the most careful young drivers.
A winning bet
5 years after its launch, studies conducted by Direct Assurance demonstrate the effectiveness of this auto insurance process. In fact, over the 2015/2018 period, the accident rate for YouDrive policyholders is 20% lower than that of young drivers.
As this is a tailor-made offer, Direct Assurance systematically offers a 10% reduction to beneficiaries who have driven less than 500 km in the month, and 50% to those who have not driven at all. This “If you don't drive, you don't pay” policy invites you to limit car trips to those that are necessary, thus favoring alternative means of transport when possible.
In these special times, driving licenses and the purchase of a first car are a concern for many young drivers, but the situation is improving. So anticipate it by starting to look for your car and your insurance. And why not get started with YouDrive ?