To pass your driving test you'll probably need some help. You want to have driving lessons with a good driving instructor in a suitable car. If you're in the position to get additional driving experience between lessons it will help you take your test with confidence.
Some people are luckier than others and can get driving instruction from a member of their family but the more the driving test changes and the more complex it becomes the more likely you are to need professional instruction.
Remember only a qualified driving instructor can charge money for teaching you to drive. A qualified instructor must display a certificate in the windscreen of his or her car.
Finding a good instructor
Most driving instructors operate in a reasonably small area - nobody will travel 100 miles to give you a 1 hour lesson.
Use the search tool provided by Instrol to help you find a suitable driving instructor in your area. The site also helps you manage your lessons online. Or use your local contacts to find a good instructor - ask friends if they would recommend their instructor and if not find out why.
You are not stuck with the same instructor - if you find you just don't get on, you can always change to another if it doesn't work out between you.
The costs
1 hour driving lessons are usually in the region of £20-25, more in London. and on average you should expect to have to take between 23 and 40 lessons before going for your test.
The car
This should be suitable for learning to drive in, be in good condition and be reasonably clean, both inside and out. Your driving instructor is responsible for his or her car but if you are using any other car you must make sure that it's roadworthy and that you don't have your vision impaired by dirty windows or 25 cuddly toys on the parcel shelf.
The majority of cars have a manual gearbox and a clutch pedal but you can learn to drive and take your test in a car with an automatic gearbox if you find it easier. If you do, you're restricted to only driving automatic cars. Recently there have been many different types of gearboxes launched, CVTs, automated manuals etc, if in doubt whether it's a manual or an automatic, just count the pedals - no clutch pedal and it's an auto.
Getting more driving experience
This can be very important to help you prepare for your driving test but you need to think of several things before you do it:
- Are they allowed to take you out? Unless the person is over 21 and has held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years then they can't legally accompany you. That rules out your mate who passed his test last month then.
- Is the car suitable? It almost certainly won't have dual-controls, as most driving school cars do, and if it's a tank-like estate car or a Ferrari, then it won't drive like the driving school car that you're used to.
- Is the car insured for you to drive it? Make sure it is, otherwise you could be in deep trouble if you end up having an accident. If you're thinking of using a family car to get more experience then it could well be cheaper to take out separate insurance via Provisional Marmalade than add you to the existing insurance policy. This will be more likely the higher the insurance group of the family car.
- Can you and this person 'get on' in stressful situations? There's no point in shouting back "why?" if they shout "STOP!" at you. Perhaps they've seen something you haven't....
- Don't forget to put the 'L' plates on the car before you go,but don't forget to take them off again when the lesson's over - magnetic 'L' plates make this really easy.
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