Learning to drive #2

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noseybirdxo

VIP Member
Prefrontalmedialcortex said:
I went out yesterday with my partner for a drive around our town. I think I would have struggled if I had been on my own and I also stalled trying to do an uphill start, I just could not do it so my partner had to. 😂 I’ll do a few more drives with him and then go out on my own.

That’s a really good tip to have a podcast playing as a way to keep calm and I’m definitely on the look out for a good satnav too.
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Well done for getting out there!!! 😄 does the fiat (i’m sure that’s what you said you have) not have a hill start assist? I hate trying to get going on a hill, I stalled loads doing it in lessons to begin with 😂
 
Clover123

Clover123

VIP Member
loobyscoobydoo said:
Agree with others, just start fresh in your instructors car, I went in my boyfriends car the night before my first lesson when I picked up driving again and it just made me feel so much more nervous as I couldn't coordinate myself to move off properly! My first lesson was fine and the instructor will ask you about any driving experience you have, they teach all sorts of people with all levels of experience, so nothing to worry about!

Also I have a positive update! I had my test this morning and I passed - 4 minors 😁 I'm so happy!!My feedback was about my pulling up on the left hand side (they were all so bad I was convinced I was gonna fail on that lol) and then I was a bit silly with gears a couple of times. I still can't believe I've passed but just so happy to have that weight off my shoulders.

Now to navigate getting insured on my boyfriends car 🤪
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Well done!!! That's amazing! You must be so thrilled, does it feel surreal?!
 
jawidjanqndn

jawidjanqndn

VIP Member
Sallyspal said:
This is so similar to my experience

- 4 attempts (passed on 4th go)
- sooo much money spent on lessons
- sooo much time spent in lessons
- sooo much effort / stress
- awful awful examiners sighing and not communicating directions/instructions correctly (I honestly don’t know how they get away with this it’s awful 😡)
- tears after every fail
- wanting to give up
- countless months trying to find a new test

what I will say is don’t give up!!! You will get it eventually

by the end I was on every cancellation app available- I found testi the best but you need to check it constantly
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Congrats on passing though 💗 I really don’t know how they get away with it either, I was so confident and feeling quite positive (had about 6 drops of rescue remedy maybe that’s to blame 😂) but as an already anxious person I was really hoping for someone nice, or atleast just sit there and don’t speak unless you are telling me where to go.
 
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jawidjanqndn

jawidjanqndn

VIP Member
ldngirlxoxo said:
I feel like I could have written this myself! I failed my first practical test at the end of October and I was so upset I had tears in my eyes on the way back to the test centre on my test as I knew I had failed and I started full on crying as soon as he said I had failed 🥲 I got home and said to my partner I didn’t want to do it anymore as I couldn’t be bothered spending any more money and time but a month later I feel a lot better about it. I even looked at selling my car 😂 I think you just have to take it as a learning experience and you know what to expect for next time now. I re booked for April too but I found a cancellation and have one for next week so they do come up - I recommend ‘testi’. Also I do think you have to be lucky with the examiner some are definitely more harsh than others!
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It’s awful isn’t it! I have also spent a ridiculous amount of money on it as I was practicing every night and driving home from work ect so the petrol costs hit me hard 😂 trust me the Thursday night I was on we buy any car 🤣🤣 but thank you this has made me feel better, it really is so disheartening especially looking back wishing you could do it again.

I will have a look at testi, do you just check it as much as you can and hope a date comes up or does it give you a notification?
 
cryptix

cryptix

VIP Member
I've had my automatic uk license not for almost 4 years next week,I now fancy trying again with manual any advice should I bother? Anyone find it any easier when changing?
 
BettyCrockerr

BettyCrockerr

VIP Member
candyland_ said:
I failed… Again.
He made me drive miles out of my test area and it completely threw me off 🤷🏼‍♀️ Apparently my fail was turning right on a junction.. I had 2 minors.

I don’t think I want to keep trying.. My friend failed for the third time recently too and it feels impossible to pass. The roads are manic, there’s roadworks everywhere. Blahhhh.

The people that passed years ago had it easier because they didn’t have to drive independently so I don’t feel like they understand.
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Don’t give up. You ARE test ready. You had 2 minors today and were just unlucky with the major. The absolute worst thing to do now would be to Jack it in. Don’t!!!!! Have a few more lessons and get another test booked in - you WILL get there, I promise.
 
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Irishgirl14

VIP Member
BettyCrockerr said:
How many hours of lessons have you had so
Far?? You sound very new to driving.

again, can you explain why exactly roundabouts scare you? Do you understand how they work/where you go/what you do and what other road users are doing?
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That's the thing I'm not new started my lessons but with covid my lessons were all spread out over nearly 2 years I got a car nearly two months but only getting 1 lessons for a hour each week as I don't have anyone to go and practice with and think that's half the problem I'm not getting enough practice I have my full 12 lessons done so can book my test but ovbs not ready
 
BettyCrockerr

BettyCrockerr

VIP Member
TheGlossy said:
I'm in need of advice because I'm really desperate at this point.

I passed my theory test in 2018 and started doing 2/4 hour lessons every week (with two different driving schools) until January 2020. I sat my test twice in manual in 2019 and failed both times. Due to COVID, I was not able to take any lessons between January 2020 and now. I took a one-off lesson in October 2020, but the instructor suggested I go for automatic instead as I have real issues with the gears.

Fast forward, I've been looking for an automatic driving instructor since the restrictions lifted in July 2021 and I was only able to find one this month. I wanted a one-off lessons to see what it would be like to drive an automatic. I attended the lesson and although I enjoyed driving in automatic, I'm really getting an off vibe from the instructor:
a) I can't understand a single thing he says - he's Dutch and has the worst accent I've ever heard in my entire life, which makes it difficult for me to understand instructions etc.
b) He said it was a "bad look" that I didn't study my theory before the lesson (again, I've passed my theory test, done my mandatory hours, this lessons was merely a test run to see if I like automatic driving)
c) this really pissed me off: when the lesson finished, he asked me how much I wanted to pay, so I said I'd pay for the lesson we just had per the pricing grid on his website and he said: "No, you need to pay for the upcoming lesson as well or buy a 12 hour package for E500". I told him this lesson was a test run to see how I feel about going automatic and then commit, but he said I needed to pay for any upcoming lesson at the same time as the lesson that just finished. I managed to talk myself out of paying for any upcoming lesson - I'm not going to give him cash and if I choose to cancel, then I can say goodbye to any refund. Previous driving schools operated their payments electronically, so much easier to trace, but cash- no.
d) He wants me to fill in a form on what has improved and not improved after each lesson and hand it over to him. While I appreciate the effort, I'm here to pass my test, no write a performance report on myself.

While he was a really good driving instructor and I learned more in those 2 hours with him than I did in 6 months with my previous instructor, I'm a bit weirded out. It's really difficult to find automatic instructors at a reasonable rate in my area (a lot don't cover my area though central) and I really want to get my license. I've already spent so much money, I can't just give up now. Then again, I don't want to go down the rabbit whole of being rinsed out of my money with no results in sight. I've no one to drive with, so lessons are my only option.

If anyone can provide some advice / suggestions, I'd really appreciate it!
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Why not just find someone else now to take manual lessons with - get up to speed with all other aspects of driving and then nearer the point when you are getting more ready for your test then look for someone to do some automatic lessons? Driving an automatic is easy and if you can get comfortable with all the other aspects of driving you won’t need to worry too much, it will be an easy transition.
 
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intheindustry

VIP Member
Quotes vary from about 2k to 5k. I’ve adjusted the excess to £1000. Using the link above I’ve managed to get a quote for 1700 with a black box.
 
Sharkfan

Sharkfan

Well-known member
Hi all, I have a slight dilemma regarding my current driving situation. I failed my second test in July and basically haven’t driven since then. In the lead up to that test I was only able to get a few lessons in, which didn’t help and then afterwards I went on holiday and spent the summer preparing for my first teaching job so out driving on the back burner. Autumn term was chaos and despite my parents nagging and a few tears being shed if buses not turning up for hours on some of the coldest days, I just couldn’t bring myself to do any more lessons.

I do have a test booked for February which I know is fast approaching now and have told my instructor but he’s not replied yet (understandable as it’s a holiday). However I have a feeling he’ll be off until schools go back which will also be when I’m back to work and swamped. Obviously I have weekends and could even fit in some evenings but am worried that won’t be enough as I’m sure he’s probably got other lessons already booked in for the following few weeks.

I have just been looking into some intensive courses where they have tests already booked so I might be able to change my day if I’m not ready and can get in lessons that will hopefully fit my schedule a bit better. It’s quite pricey but so are individual lessons so it’s not too bad but I’m just worried that I’ll fail again as both times it’s been over small things I now how to do but stressed out over on the day. Part of me just wants to give up on the idea all together but I know once term starts again and I’m waiting for buses that don’t show up I’ll regret it, especially as my theory runs out in May so if I don’t pass soon I’ll have to wait to redo that again.
 
SoulDestroyer

SoulDestroyer

VIP Member
I’m on a waiting list for an automatic driving instructor (8months wait!) so I’ve bought a little car and my dads taking me out. I feel a bit unsafe as the car obvs doesn’t have dual controls. I practised in an empty car park tonight and at one point hit the accelerator instead of the brake 😳 thank goodness I was in an empty place!
If anyone’s learnt mostly with family (or at least to begin with) what sort of things did you try? There’s not many quiet roads around me. Did you just go for it on roads with traffic or stick to quiet places?