Top Tips On Passing!

Here are our top tips to help you pass first time.

1. Don't assume the cheapest lessons are the best. Find out what else you get for your money. Is there a discount for pre-payment? Do they provide post-test tuition for motorway driving?

2. Check out how long a 'lesson' is. Some driving schools may offer lessons that are less than an hour long or make you pick up and drop off other pupils as part of the lesson.

3. Make sure your instructor has a green badge in the windscreen to prove they are a fully qualified Driving Standards Agency Instructor. A pink licence means the instructor hasn't yet passed the final stage of their qualification which tests their instructional ability.

4.Check that their car has dual controls and is in good condition and that there is a back-up in case of breakdown. 

5. Check that your driving school can help with the theory test and buy a good theory book/ cd Rom.

6. Make sure your instructor monitors your progress against the official Driver Standards Agency syllabus.

7. Apply for your theory test when you and your instructor are sufficiently confident in your knowledge of the highway code and your ability to spot potential hazards. CD-Roms and online mock tests are available to help you practice and test your skills.

8. Agree with your instructor when to apply for your Practical Test (remember you'll need to pass your theory test first).

9. Take at least an hour a week, preferably two, of regular lessons with a qualified instructor. They will advise you on how much tuition you should need.

10. Make sure your tuition car is available for a final lesson immediately before your test.

Private Practice

Advice for an individual who intends to supervise a learner outside their formal tuition.

1. You must be over the age of 21 and have held (and still hold) a full UK driving licence for 3 years.

2. Make sure the car you will be using is correctly insured for both you and the new driver and displays L plates at the front and rear of the vehicle.

3. Remind yourself that a learner is bound to make mistakes.That's how he/ she will learn. Don't shout. You'll only make your learner more nervous.

4. Fit an extra rear view mirror so you can see what's going on behind too.

5. Remember, your car may be different to the driving school instructor's car. Make allowances and give your learner time to adjust. Also, you will not have a seperate brake and clutch as an instructor would, so give instructions in plenty of time.

6. A learner driver can find driving very tiring. Practice little and often and avoid rush hours and bad weather until your learner has built up his/her confidence.

7. Liaise with the instructor if possible to confirm topics which require plenty of practice.