Advice on driving lessons for DD please

Amanda65

Hi all

DD1 turns 17 this month and we are currently looking into driving lessons together and I am shocked at not only the price, but how many I am being advised she will need :eek: .

Having called several local schools, they are all quoting 40 - 50 hours, which at £25 per hour on average here in Surrey is £1k plus!!!!!

Well I know I took my test some time ago, and, I am assured, the test is harder now, I am sure I only ahd about 15 lessons plus pratice with my dad and I passed first time and 25 years later am yet to have an accident (touching lots of wood here as feel I'm tempting fate ).

So for those who have been through this recently, either themselves or with sons or daughters, I am just interested to know

1. How many lessons do they really need? I appreciate that this will depend on how well DD takes to it but 40-50 seems excessive?
2. Did you go with a local school or national (BSM etc.) and any recommendations / horror stories?
3. How soon can I go out in the car with her with 'L' plates?
4. How soon before the actual test did you do the theory test?
5. What's the best theory test book / CD etc. to help her learn?

Thanks in advance. Sorry it's such a long post but I am stil reeling from schock :eek:

wallbash

Yes its a shock !
Youngest started at end of April, just put in for theory.
Started 'practice' with us after a few lessons, found some very quiet streets.
Driving instructor suggested when.
Elder daughter took about 30+ lessons, but some of them could be double lessons.

Look on the bright side, insurance is cheaper for girls.

hewhoisnotintheknow

i had 8 and passed, this was 9 years ago.

The theory test is easy, no real practice other than looking at the highway code is needed

Ask her friends for reccomendations, anyone who quoted me 40-50 hours to pass would be promptly removed from my list as that is an insult!

hm71_2

ds1 started in october had roughly 20 lessons @ £20 each, special offer for the first 10 was £180. It may be worth asking if they have any special introductry offers or offer student discounts if she is at college- also look for an independant instructor rather than a school. schools in this area always charge more than the independents. we got the pc disc for the theory test from wilkos at £4.99 son passed 1st time.

benjus

Legally you can go out with her with L plates as soon as she is 17 and has the provisional licence & insurance sorted out. Obviously in practice she can't just drive on public roads with no idea of how to operate a car, so if you can find a suitable area off the public roads to go through the basics that would be ideal. Alternatively wait until her instructor thinks she is ready to go on the roads without dual controls.

If you are getting her on your insurance anyway, she will really benefit by having a LOT of practice on the road once she is ready. Having a lot of practice can significantly reduce the amount spent on lessons with the instructor. I learnt to drive in my twenties, and was lucky enough to have my own old banger and several colleagues at work who were happy to supervise me driving it. I had about 10 hours of lessons, including the test itself - although I had already taken some driving lessons when I was 17 and could vaguely remember how to drive!

The theory test is not really that hard, so she shouldn't waste time with the instructor talking about the theory test. I would advise doing the theory test asap - you have two years to pass the practical once you have passed the theory, which will hopefully be plenty of time.

Independent vs national school - doesn't really matter. What does matter is the instructor. There are good instructors working for big schools and bad instructors working for independents, and vice versa. Independents tend to be cheaper but not by that much. Don't be afraid to try an instructor and change to a different one if it doesn't work out. I used a local independent school, my wife used the AA - both were good instructors. No horror stories, but the other day I saw an instructor (without a pupil) in a "Red Driving School" car getting quite impatient and beeping at another car because the driver was giving way to pedestrians (as per the highway code). That sort of thing really annoys me.

nullogik

I had about 20 lessons before I sat the test (and passed).

It depends on how well your daughter takes to driving a car. Some people can do it with a handful of lessons whilst the horror stories you see on TV sometimes mention lessons by the hundreds.

The important thing is to find an instructor that your daughter feels comfortable with. You won't learn anything if you dread every lesson because you hate the instructor - and its a waste of money. I'd advise going through the Yellow Pages and phoning a whole load up and speaking to them - just to gauge what kind of person they are over the phone, then narrow down the list to maybe three or so. You then might want your daughter to take a "demo" lesson with each one and then settle on the person she feels most comfortable with. Some instructors offer cut price demo lessons so its not going to cost a fortune. I was lucky to find a good instructor the first time round.

Good Luck!

Mojisola

There's a good deal for brand new learners from Tescos with BSM if you have enough vouchers.

Both my sons have learned with BSM and I have been very impressed with the quality of their instructors. It's also worth going for the PassPlus once your DD has passed her test. Some insurers reduce their prices when you've done PassPlus and it's good experience for a young driver.

Hintza

When I sat my test a long time ago I think I had 6 lessons but was lucky in that we had a long drive and fields to get all the basics sorted when we were a year or so younger.

My daughter passed last year and although she didn't have the same space I made her spend a lot time practising gear changes and reversing etc when she was 16.

She was on a mission to pass and basically took her test ages before the instructor would have advised. Take your daughter out as much as possible as lots of practice will hopefully reduce the number of lessons required.

Be aware though it can be quite traumatic!!

wallbash

six lessons or eight maybe twentey :rolleyes: 30 or 40 :eek:
I think saying the number we had when we passed ( me in 1969 !) is not too
helpfull, Its the number required today. Kids are not any worse ( better) learners than us BUT the roads are a lot busier.
Get the daughter to ask her peers!

Living in the south east I would hate to be near a learner who had only six lessons !:eek:

Surfbabe

DD has just started lessons two weeks ago on her 17th Birthday. We've gone to a local independent Driving School - the same instructor who taught her brother. Lessons are £20ph. She has had two lessons of 1 1/2 hrs each and she has also done over 150 miles driving my car. (in two weeks!!!!) She is the youngest of her crowd by at least 4 months and we live in the country so she is on a mission to drive !!!. Theory test now days needs lots of practice in the way it is delivered - CD rom is best (not sure which one) and be prepared for massive hike in insurance on your ca - though not so bad for adding a girl as a boy. Be prepared for another massive hike when they pass as they are considered a greater risk then than when they are learning. :eek:

HC_2

My 17-year-old DD has just passed her test.

Sounds as though she's pretty average, because she had around 45 hours of lessons, plus 20-ish hours' practice with me.

She went with a local instructor who behaved extremely inappropriately towards her :eek: She quickly found another, who turned out to be lovely. Personal recommendation is definitely best!

I didn't take her out on practice drives until her instructor told me that she was ready for that. I think it was after about 15 hours of lessons.

My DD booked her theory test as soon as she started lessons. All your DD will need to do is read the book from back to front. Most of the questions are common sense; with the others it's a case of learning and remembering.

She used these books/CDs:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0115528865
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FS9OOK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000UTSSE6

Best of luck to your DD!