learning to drive

crazyhazy · 25 August 2005 at 4:21PM

ok, not sure if this is the right place to post but anyway! I first started learning to drive over 4 years ago and at that time sat and passed my theory (which has since expired) and failed my test 3 times before giving up. So, as you can imagine I've already spent a fortune getting nowhere! It's not bothered me not driving since then but am going back to uni next year to do a post grad in teaching and will be on placements. Now I'm a bit concerned that the schools may be difficult to get to using public transport and then not being able to drive would restrict me when it came to getting a job at the end aswell. So, am thinking of trying again, however I am quite shocked to see how much lessons have gone up, nevermind the test fees! So just wondered if anyone had any bright ideas of how to save a bit of money along the way, any special offers or anything!

newMS · 25 August 2005 at 5:31PM

hello,
Some driving schools in my area do special discounts for first 5 lessons or special rates for students, maybe you could ring round a few and get some idea of any offers they have on.
After a months lessons my sister insured her car for me to practice in, maybe a kind and trusting family member would do this for you, i found it helped loads and gave me lots of confidence, driving intstructor also noticed i was improving quicker than expected and i passed first time.
Hope you find some good deals and a good instructor and best of luck with the driving.

Katgoddess · 25 August 2005 at 7:34PM

Ask around for recommendations. It is worth paying a few extra £££ an hour to have a decent instructor who will help you pass first time.

Also ask around to see if someone will take you off road, like a supermarket car park for a spin before you start your lessons, you won't need to be insured, just make sure you don't have an accident! Sunday evenings when they are shut are normally best. It took me 3x2 hour lessons for me to get to grips with the biting point.

Buy the theory test book and the drivers handbook from Amazon Marketplace, or Ebay. Much cheaper. You won't need any other books.

bylromarha · 25 August 2005 at 8:33PM

My uni laid on buses which took us direct to placement schools, so check this out with the uni...may ease the pressure a bit.

If you're a Tesco shopper, you can use your clubcard vouchers toward BSM lessons, though I too think a decent instructor is more important than cheap, and my experience of BSM wasn't great.

Some instructors do discounts for students, so also worth looking into.

I failed twice, the thing that clinched my third test pass was going out all the time in a car and just driving around. Do you have access to someone who will insure you and just let you drive the car when you're sharing a journey?

All the best.

crazyhazy · 25 August 2005 at 8:54PM

Thanks, my h should be able to insure me for the car, that's what we did last time. I know i can drive ok, I just get really bad nerves which don't help with the test thing! Am thinking of seeing how much extra the insurance will be and going out with him for a few weeks first to try and remember what I learnt before booking lessons. Think now I have a goal for passing it might make it easier!

pavlovs_dog · 26 August 2005 at 9:57AM

if it is nerves that prevent you from passing the test, whynot pop to see your doctor and see if they can prescribe something to calm your nerves for the test day?

JanCee · 26 August 2005 at 10:29AM

crazyhazy wrote:

Thanks, my h should be able to insure me for the car, that's what we did last time. I know i can drive ok, I just get really bad nerves which don't help with the test thing! Am thinking of seeing how much extra the insurance will be and going out with him for a few weeks first to try and remember what I learnt before booking lessons. Think now I have a goal for passing it might make it easier!

My daughter is taking driving lessons and I have added her on to my insurance for a month. It cost £33 with Direct Line and I think that it is well worth it for the extra driving experience she will get.

flang · 27 August 2005 at 8:40AM

The problem with learning to drive with you parents is you pick up bad things like not looking in your mirror, sometimes its better to spend the extra money on more lessons.
I find the best attatude for the pratical test is to not care! if you fail you fail if you pass you pass, whats the point in getting all scared it just eats in to your confidance which is not good

good luck crazyhazy

scuzz · 28 August 2005 at 12:42PM

Hi crazyhazy

As the daughter of a driving instructor, I thought I would pass on some advice.

When looking for an instructor, ask them what grade they are. Not many people know that instructors are graded from 1-6, with 6 being the best. There's a very small percentage of Grade 6 instructors in the UK, so it shows how elite they are. I'm proud to say my late Dad was top grade for his entire career. Also check their ADI identification. It should be displayed in their windscreen, and be a green hexagon/octagon, this proves they are qualified.

Ask if they'll do a discount for a block booking of ten.

Don't be tempted by a quick intense course, remember you are learning to drive, not to pass a test.

Don't get sucked into the trap of being told that "most my pupils pass in X lessons". You are not most pupils. You are you and will take your own time.

Also if you ask if you're ready for your test, and you're told no, accept it. There's no point still putting in for it and failing - just a waste of money.

As for theory, wait a bit till you start to feel confident behind the wheel before sitting the exam. You have two years to pass the practical then. Ask your instructor for a CD-Rom on the theory test. They will probably have one sent out by the DVLA. There's also one available on the Hazard Perception Test.

Hope all this helps.

angelatgraceland · 13 October 2005 at 2:05AM

A mate of mine was learning to drive for 3 years and failed 5 times. I asked myself why? By pure bad luck her instructor had to give up his busness and she was devastated at losing him. I told her that if she looked at it differently, this could be the turning point. She got a new instructor who taught entirely differently, had a much better grade and gave hr the confidence she needed. She passed with no problems. If you have always had the same instructor I wonder if you are suited to him/her. When I was learning, I ended up requesting a different instructor on one occassion. Go by recommendations-biggest is NOT best. Check the deals and the prices as well as the model of car you aregoing to drive. I learnt with the biggest-wot a mistake! They kept changing both instructors and cars. I ended up with a new car a week before my test. My daughter didnt listen to me and did the same for 6 months(no, it hadnt changed in 20 odd years). Go for a small school with a well qualified instrucor.

learning to drive

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