Learning to drive.

[LaurieLaurie]

Thank you good luck to you too! How are you feeling about it?


My plan is, to practice in it if I don't pass. Although I'm trying to think positively and tell myself I will pass haha

Just want it to be here now, I feel ready for it but I think it’s all down to luck on the day

 

[under the ivy]

Did maneuveres today, I'm very relieved to find out I don't need to do reverse round a corner or 3 point turns anymore, they were not my strong point.

Is this the case for every test? I did reverse out of parking bay the other day and it went well but I didn’t like doing it

 

[TheGlossy]

Controversial- but why not ask someone you know who has their license etc to hire an automatic for a few days? Then get them to drive you to somewhere empty or very quiet or private land etc and then you have a go in the automatic??? it will at least give you a chance to drive around in one a bit so you can feel how it’s different to a manual etc and then at least you can make an informed choice?

Well, this could have been an option, but I don't have any friends or family around. So no option but to rely on the lessons.

The joys of being alone in this world

 

[WilmaHun]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on buying your first car? Like should I try to buy it outright, or is finance okay? I've been looking around on autotrader, gumtree Arnold Cark etc and really like the look of a mini countryman. I have no idea what to look for, no one I know drives and can offer any advice.

I had a £500 corsa for my first car, then financed a newer model. My advice would be if you're going to finance, DON'T feel pressured to use the finance the dealership is offering you - shop around for your own finance. I got mine on a "car loan" through my bank and my finance was around £70/£80 per month when it would have been £120 if I'd have used the finance the dealership offered.
My partner works with cars and he says Mini's are notorious for going wrong unfortunately.

 

[MaryX82]

The right instructor definitely makes a difference

My first instructor was so rude and obnoxious

Second one completely got my nerves and was very patient and friendly

Yes I will deffo find a good new instructor.The last woman told me to book my test manually after one lesson with her.Then 2 days before the test I reminded her my test was booked she told me I wasn’t ready.So I cancelled.London is full of horrible driving instructors my next will be my fifth

 

[Belulah]

Well done everyone! Sending positive vibes for your respective tests @judsmum and @YorkshireFox ! My test is also booked and I feel so sick with nerves. I dreamt last night it was a Mario Karts style race with my Yr10 class and they all beat me! To be fair they’ll probably all have their licenses before me!

 

[Thank(space)you]

Do any of you have advice for the theory side of it all?

I keep being pushed to start learning and tbf it would be very useful, but having looked at some theory books I have no clue where to start or what to do

The official theory app was a god send

 

[nightfeedz]

Glad I found this thread, and the comments have been very useful!

I’m 28 and have never had the desire to drive (quite frankly cars terrify me)

but unfortunately I’m currently in a position where basically I need to learn, my son requires a lot of appointments for health issues.

My mum took me to a car park to have a go - it was my first time behind the wheel and I was so anxious. I slammed the breaks every time the car moved about 10cm

has anyone ever been absolutely terrified yet managed to get there in the end???

I just hate the thought of being in control of a car, and even though I’ve only tried this one time I’m convinced I will never be able to do it

I totally get that level of fear, I was the same for years. Not a total success story here either as I don’t yet have my licence but I have my test in a few days. I still get nervous but I CAN drive, I can go above 40mph and I now believe I can pass my test and belong on the road as much as anyone else does.

For me it has not been easy but I firmly believe if I can get to this stage you can too! Good luck x

 

[under the ivy]

3 weeks until my test! I’ve got 5 hours worth of lessons before then - what should I be concentrating on?

 

[Belulah]

You arrive at the desk and they check your license.
Then you have to put all belongings in a locker (I think you have to turn your phone off in front of an invigilator)
Then you wait to be called through.
Then a second person explains how the tests work and which starvation to sit at.
You can take a practice question first. It’s multiple choice, case study then hazards.
Once you have finished you go back to the first desk and are given you’re results.

 

[LadyB65]

Does anyone have any experience with automatic cars? How is it compared to manual?

I got my theory test in April 2018, then started lessons right away. Fast forward, two years later, I still don't have a license. Sat the test in manual twice in 2019. Failed it both times . Spent over €6K on lessons which all turned out to be a complete rip off. I haven't been able to get lessons since March 2020 due to COVID. I just took one lesson in manual in October 2020 to see if I still wanted to drive a manual, it was a complete disaster and the instructor suggested I go for automatic. I know an automatic license is restrictive, but at least, I'll have a license.

All women in my family are license-less and it would be a huge accomplishment for me to beat this generational curse! I need my transportation freedom. I'm 30 and this is way overdue!

Absolutely go for it in automatic if the gears are causing you issues, it took me ages to master the gears and clutch, so kind of wish I had done automatic, I would have saved so much money! A lot of my friends now drive automatics even though they have manual licenses - and in a few years time when we move more to electric, I believe they will mostly all be automatic?
If your issue isn’t gear work then at least not having to worry about gears will give you the opportunity to concentrate on other areas of driving! Good Luck in whatever you decide to do!

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

learnt in & now drive a manual.

Can I ask - you said it’s an easier option to learn in an automatic,but it doesn’t sound like you’ve ever had any experience in driving yet, you might be surprised that actually a manual
Car really isn’t hard to learn in. I think a lot of people put a huge emphasis on changing gears as being some sort of barrier to learning to drive but actually once you’ve learnt how to do it, you can do it. I think the more difficult aspect of learning to drive is getting everything else right - trusting your judgment, being aware of what’s going on, speed, manoeuvres etc

I’m not saying you are wrong or whatever I’m just interested as to why lots of people see a manual car as hard to learn in.

Totally agree with this. I’ve only ever driven a manual, I was terrified of driving at first and I wanted to learn in an automatic, but I’m so glad I was pushed to learn in a manual because I don’t regret a thing.

I also agree that the gears and gear changes aren’t the hard part, once you’ve learnt those, which doesn’t take long, the bit you really have to learn that is trickier is managing the steering, position in the road, being aware of speed and other road users ect.

My friend learnt to drive in an automatic, I had 45 hours lessons, she had 40, we both passed second time. She hates driving, always has and when I’m in her car sometimes, she flies around corners so fast that she ends up on the wrong side of the road. I think it’s because she doesn’t have gears to slow her down and because she’s never learnt to manage her speed. She even says now, it doesn’t matter whether it’s auto or manual, she isn’t suited to driving at all.

 

[nightfeedz]

I’m still waiting on my first automatic lesson but have had a quick go in our new auto car. Haven’t quite got the hang of it but pleased to have made some steps forward.

Getting a little anxious about meeting new instructor etc but nothing I can’t handle.

Just hope I can get enough practice in and get confident on the road before my test date/ theory runs out

 

[Belulah]

Ooh exciting. Good luck!!

Before lockdown I really liked my instructor but since we’ve came back he’s got comfortable around me and a bit cocky. I like the general chit chat but he’s trying to laugh and carry on like my friend and takes away my attention too much. Next week I think I’m going to say I need to focus and crack on because I want to pass and not joyride for the fun of it.

My previous instructor was like that- felt like I was paying to give him a tour of local country roads while he went on about how amazing he was!

 

[Pixipoppy]

Jesus… you didn’t have my old instructor did you?
Mine used to make a big deal out of the fact that I lived in a terrace house, he’d regularly tell me that they’re full of problems, but cheap and affordable… and then he’d drive me past his detached four bed (not joking) .

He also said to me “Dubai is nice, if you can ever afford it”. I slipped it in convo once that I go to Florida each year and he asked “do you go in a group? It’s very expensive going there…” as if I couldn’t afford to go? and once when I said I was taking my mum to Gran Canaria, he said he went and it was cheap and nasty…

i mean the funniest thing was when he used to say “you could do with two hours a week, but you wouldn’t be able to afford that”. Baring in mind, we had NEVER discussed my finances and I’d never said that I couldn’t afford two hours! Yes I worked in a call centre, but I was on 19k and my partner was an IT engineer… i laugh about it now, but my god he was a knob!

Sounds similar to a driving instructor I had (but opposite) - she had a weird chip on her shoulder because she seemed to think I came from money or something and she would make these odd comments. I was living at home at the time and was about 22 working part time so definitely not rich but as I was living at home she seemed to assume I was a sponger living off my “rich” parents. We had a nice house but nothing extravagant. I stupidly kept her for ages as she made me feel like I was the one with the issue - it’s hard to explain. My self esteem was really low at the time so I just accepted it.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Got my test next month eeek, excited and scared. Any tips for my last few lessons? Doing 2 lessons a week at the moment

Get your instructor to do your lessons now in the set up of a mock test - so you get into the routine now of the test.

 

[HoGi]

I will say the one thing my brother always drilled into me an honestly I felt like a clown was really go a bit over the top with head movements with looking in the mirrors, most instructors will say that but just incase, you have to check mirrors for EVERYTHING it's annoying an I felt like I was moving my head literally ever 3 seconds but the examiners can't tell if your just glancing your eyes like a normal person does lol so somtimes don't know if your checking or not, I belive it goes down as a minor anyway so long as it's not somthing where you do definitely need to check like changing lanes etc an it used to be no more than 12 minors to still pass but it does help to do a little head movement every time you need to check somthing in the mirror just so you make it obvs to the examiner that you are checking lol

More than 4 of a particular minor becomes a major. So definitely over exaggerate the observations!

 

[BettyCrocker]

Hey @Minipizza
How did your test go???

 

[Tor88]

I have my theory test tomorrow and even though I pass them when studying I’m super nervous and feel like I’m not prepared! Driving is not a problem surprisingly. I had leased 4 years ago but the instructor made me nervous and was money grabbing so I stopped. Started learning again in august and my instructor wants me to put in for my test ASAP. It’s just this theory that’s throwing me off

 

[LaurieLaurie]

If he’s saying that you don’t need to work on anything and therefore are “test ready” then just tell him that you will drop down to 1 lesson a month or whatever for now instead of wasting money on lessons that you don’t need and then get your test booked for as soon as you can and then have a few additional lessons in the run up to it? Remember you are paying him for a service- you decide when you have lessons, not him! If he’s saying you have nothing to work on then he shouldn’t have an issue with you doing the above.

Thank you. I feel it’s pointless just joy riding around while he tells me boring old stories but I know he won’t want to lose the money either.