how long would it take to pass my driving test and start driving?

fitnessguy1

this is a really vague question, i understand this. however, i am looking to get back into driving and wanted a guesstimate of length of time to pass my test.

i am 29 and after some unsuccessful attempts at driving (mainly due to finances) from age 18 - 20 then 3 years ago i failed my test. since then i never got back into driving. i want to get back driving again as i feel it is important and a life skill i want to master once and for all.

i have been looking into taking weekly lessons or intensive courses. the intensive course i was looking at is highly regarded, and has a good pass rate. problem is, it would cost anywhere from £300 - £500 for a week of driving. the test fee is included in this.

i have been thinking about it and an intensive course would suit me (i think) because it means i am focusing on driving every day, instead of couple of hours every week.

with the nights getting lighter, i feel it's the best time to get started with driving again. i just wanted some opinions on time it would take to get back into driving. i have a good grasp of the road, but maneuvers are what i need most improvement on.

what do you say?

Tyler119

I would say in manoeuvres are your issue, then you need to practice, practice and practice some more.

Have you found out the pass rate in your area?

I know people that have used the intensive courses and passed straight after. The issue with some instructors is that they are teaching people to drive, and not pass a test. I was taught by someone who was upfront and told me they would teach me to pass the test and then I would learn to drive. They were right and only through experience on my own did I become a good driver. 13 years later and I'm accident free and a pretty courtesy driver too.

Good luck and just get out there and practice.

Hintza

I imagine some folk will find this a suitable way of passing their test, but are you one of these people? What did you fail on in the past? How do you cope under stress etc?

Ask people that know you what they think.

Herzlos

You would likely be better getting an hour with a local instructor to get an idea of where you are at, and then focusing on the stuff you need to work on. Most local instructors will be happy to give you way more than 2 hours a week if they can fit it, too.

kmb500

If it's just manoeuvres that you're struggling with, I would go to a local instructor and explain what you need help with, and focus on that over the course of a few lessons (while obviously getting used to driving again). No need for a high intensive full course if you only need help with certain things.

fitnessguy1

kmb500 wrote: »

If it's just manoeuvres that you're struggling with, I would go to a local instructor and explain what you need help with, and focus on that over the course of a few lessons (while obviously getting used to driving again). No need for a high intensive full course if you only need help with certain things.

yeah, it's definitely manoeuvers i struggle with most, e.g. reversing around corner and parallel parking. saying this, in the past my instructors never really focused too much on manoeveurs for whatever reason.

maybe i should have spoke up and asked to concentrate on them more, but as they were my instructor i just thought they were happy with my progress.

it's just i personally do not feel confident in my manoeveur ability. on the road i seem to be okay, but i haven't been in a car for over 2 years so i am going to be quite rusty and will need some practice to get back in the groove.

there is a intensive course which is i think about 15 hours over 3 days and it's about £300. it's targeted at people who have taken a test, but feel they need some brushing up on their skills.

i think this sounds like me. they do provide a 2 hour assessment lesson though, which is £40 and they can tell me where they believe i am at and which course would suit me.

fitnessguy1

Hintza wrote: »

I imagine some folk will find this a suitable way of passing their test, but are you one of these people? What did you fail on in the past? How do you cope under stress etc?

Ask people that know you what they think.

i got 16 minor faults on my test. i think it was 1 over the max limit of minors. i never got major faults. i just need some refining. i wouldn't say i am perfect on the road, don't think you can be as a learner, but i am quite competent.

i am usually okay under stress, unless you get nutters on the road wanting to get in front of me or just generally act like fools.

i have ADD, so for me learning constantly (such as intensive course) would probably appeal to me more than learning week in, week out, where there's a higher chance of me forgetting things.

fitnessguy1

Tyler119 wrote: »

I would say in manoeuvres are your issue, then you need to practice, practice and practice some more.

Have you found out the pass rate in your area?

I know people that have used the intensive courses and passed straight after. The issue with some instructors is that they are teaching people to drive, and not pass a test. I was taught by someone who was upfront and told me they would teach me to pass the test and then I would learn to drive. They were right and only through experience on my own did I become a good driver. 13 years later and I'm accident free and a pretty courtesy driver too.

Good luck and just get out there and practice.

interesting what you say about learning to pass the test. could you elaborate? how do you pass the test compared to learning to drive?

Madbags

I was in a similar situation.


I started driving at around 18 and I am now also 29 myself. I passed my test in April last year.


I never failed any tests back then I just got to the point I was going to take it and then lost my job so I could not afford it and never really got back into it after that.


I was fortunate enough now I'm nearly 30 that me and my partner decided to buy a car together with me on the insurance as a provisional driver. She basically got me back into it, some things you never quite forget. Just had to learn the car more than the theory if anything as most of it should be common sense.


It took me about 2 months of learning with her before I did my theory and passed and a further 2 months before I decided to take my test. It may seem like a short time but with infinite access to a car and basically driving everywhere, every day when compared with paying for lessons it all adds up.


I failed on my first 2 tests mainly due to nerves and making silly mistakes. I never got any minors just a major on each test, just really simple but stupid things I'd never normally do. Passed on my third attempt with one minor.


In terms of the comments about learning to pass the test. I would count my first 2 fails as paid lessons in a sense. So you do learn a few things.

Herzlos

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

interesting what you say about learning to pass the test. could you elaborate? how do you pass the test compared to learning to drive?

There are only so many elements to the driving test, so "learning to pass the test" is essentially a case of practicing those parts, to the exclusion of all else. You only parallel park to the left, so no need to try parking to the right, for instance. Your route only has one roundabout, so you only practice on that one.

If you spend enough time rehearsing for the test, you can more or less pass it without actually being able to drive.

Learning to drive is more comprehensive, and can only really start once you have the freedom to deviate a bit from the test material; going on unexpected routes, encountering different situations, driving in the dark, etc.

Mercdriver

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

yeah, it's definitely manoeuvers i struggle with most, e.g. reversing around corner and parallel parking. saying this, in the past my instructors never really focused too much on manoeveurs for whatever reason.

maybe i should have spoke up and asked to concentrate on them more, but as they were my instructor i just thought they were happy with my progress.

it's just i personally do not feel confident in my manoeveur ability. on the road i seem to be okay, but i haven't been in a car for over 2 years so i am going to be quite rusty and will need some practice to get back in the groove.

there is a intensive course which is i think about 15 hours over 3 days and it's about £300. it's targeted at people who have taken a test, but feel they need some brushing up on their skills.

i think this sounds like me. they do provide a 2 hour assessment lesson though, which is £40 and they can tell me where they believe i am at and which course would suit me.

There is a newer manoeuvre now - bay parking.

Intensive isn't for everyone, Having said that, I passed in 8 days of intensive, but I didn't leave it to that, and took 6 2 hour lessons before that. I passed at the grand old age of 42.

You will need to hold attention for longer on an intensive, and be wary of companies that promise guaranteed pass. Also some have you in a classroom all week and promise a test but as you can't guarantee that test at the end of the week, in some areas you might have to wait weeks for a test or be prepared to drop everything for a cancellation. Such intensive course providers will not be slow in coming forward to suggest extra lessons between the end of the intensive course and the actual test.

My intensive course was up front about telling me that they couldn't guarantee a test at the end of the week if I was booking at short notice.

Also, get your theory test done before you apply for your intensive. There are some schools that do the theory test the same week, but then you'd have to hope there were vacancies on the Friday and since there are several other students in the classrooms on some of these courses, you 'll likely have to wait some time for your test.

Taking the theory and hazard perception test in advance is by far the best way.