FAQ
Here is a list of questions which we regularly get asked. Please click on a question to view the answer.
If you have any further questions which aren't answered here, feel free to Contact Us.
How much do you charge for lessons?
Our prices for lessons are as follows:
Assessment 1½ hour : £36
Standard 1 hour lesson : £24
Pass Plus (minimum 6 hours) : £164
Motorway Tuition (minimum 3 hours) : £75
Refresher 1 hour lesson : £28
All our current clients get free access to our Login Area which includes:
1) A Guide to the Driving Test
2) Example Theory Questions
3) Local Test Route Tips
Please be aware that The Driving School operates a strict cancellation policy requiring 48 hours notice to alter appointments without charge.
What do I need to start my driving lessons?
You need a valid UK provisional
driving licence which you can apply
for using form DL1 available from the
Post Office. You can apply for this at
age 16 but will not be able to drive a
car on the road till after your 17th
birthday.
Foreign nationals may drive
in the UK on a licence issued
anywhere in the EU as long as that
licence is valid for that vehicle and
until the age of 70. Restrictions apply
for people from countries outside of
the EU.
How long will it take me to pass my test?
If you have no experience of driving a
motor vehicle it could take a year or
more to achieve the required levels of
competency to pass the practical test.
The Driving Standards Agency
(examining body) recommends about
45 hours of professional tuition along
with around 22 hours of practice in a
private car.
If you are an experienced
driver, consider taking an assessment
lesson so that your instructor can give
you an estimate of how much work
you have left to come up to test
standard.
What happens in the test?
You may take the test in your own car so
long as it is road-worthy, displays 'L'
plates in the correct places front and
rear and you have a spare interior
mirror for the examiner to use.
However, if you want your instructor
to turn up with you there will be a
charge for his time. Most people hire
the instructor’s car, which tends to
make the examiner a little happier.
This is probably the most expensive
and difficult test you will ever take,
dress accordingly. If you turn up for your
test in a sweaty T-Shirt, tracky
bottoms and a cap are you giving off
the aura of a responsible driver or that
of a joy rider?
It is a good idea to take an hour's
lesson prior to arrival at the test
centre. This will enable you to ask
any last minute questions, work off
some nervousness and ensure that
you have plenty of time to park up
and get into the waiting area at the
test centre. You should have with
you, your theory test certificate, both
parts of your license (card and paper
counter part) and your appointment
confirmation.
When your examiner greets you
he/she will ask to see your paperwork
and also require you to sign the top of
the report form to say that the car you
are using is insured for you.
Before you get into the car, the
examiner will check your eyesight.
You must be able to read a number
plate from 20.5 metres or 20 metres in
the case of the new style plates. You
will then be asked 2 of a possible
18 SAFETY CHECK questions.
The examiner will explain how he will
conduct the test then ask you to
move away.
You will drive a route that takes about
35 minutes. You will perform two low
speed manoeuvres; turn in the road,
reverse to the left, reverse park at the
kerb or the reverse bay park back at
the test centre. In addition you may
also get several stop start exercises, a
hill start, angle start or an emergency
stop.
The examiners will make marks on the
report form as you drive along. This
should not put you off as he is not
necessarily failing you, just marking
the exercises that you have covered.
When you arrive back at the test
centre the examiner will tell you
immediately whether you have
passed, offer you a debrief and ask
you if you want your instructor to listen
to this. If you have passed, the
examiner will take your licence and
send it off for you, giving you a
certificate to state that you have
passed. You may drive whilst you wait
for your licence to come back so long
as you are insured for the vehicle.
THEORY TEST
You must pass this test before you
can apply for the practical test. The
test takes place at a centre run by a
sub-contractor to the DSA. On
arrival, you register by presenting you
documents and signing in. You are
then taken to a booth which contains
a computer screen and a mouse.
The theory test comprises two
sections:
1. You will be asked 50 questions
with multiple choice answers. To pass
you have to answer 43 or more
correctly. Prior to starting the test you
will get the opportunity to try some
practice questions to get the feel for
how the system works. Some
questions are worded in a way that
could be easily misunderstood and
some ask for more than one answer
so read the questions carefully. You
have plenty of time (57 mins) to
complete this section. You will be able
to flag any questions that you are
unsure of and go back to then later.
2. The Hazard perception test will
commence after a three minute break.
You will be shown 14 clips, each
containing a developing hazard. One
of the clips will show two developing
hazards. You should click to respond
to anything on the screen which you
consider to be a hazard. Your score is
taken on your response time and a
flag comes up on the bottom of the
screen to show your response has
been registered. Rhythmic or
repeated clicking may result in a zero
score. The pass score is 44 out of a
possible 75.
You must pass both parts of the
theory test at one sitting.
Can I do a crash course?
As an organisation The driving school
does not recognise the concept
behind a 'Crash Course'.
Your
instructor will be pleased to discuss
and help you plan for a course of
intensive training in order to achieve
your goals. However, we recommend
that you spread your learning over a
period of time that will offer training in
differing traffic and weather
conditions.
I'm a nervous person, what if I mess up?
You can't get it wrong. Driving
instructors are trained to quickly find
out how an individual responds to
various methods of tuition. Your
driving course will be tailored to
progress at a rate to suit your abilities.
Your instructor will anticipate mistakes
and be ready to help you learn from
them.
An experienced, professional
instructor will seldom raise his/her
voice. Instead he/she will give clear,
positive guidance to maintain a
relaxed, friendly and safe atmosphere
in the car.
What is the Theory Test?
You must pass the theory test before
you can take the practical test. It has
two parts, questions with multi choice
answers and a hazard perception
test.
Do I take my test with you?
No, at The Driving School we are DSA
registered instructors and as such
cannot also be examiners.
You will be
taken out on test by an examiner who
works as an agent of the DSA and
cannot also be an instructor. You will
however, probably hire your
instructor's car for the test.
What is the DSA?
The Driving Standards Agency is part
of the Department for Transport (DFT)
its mandate is the improvement of
road user safety through the
education of motorists.
How do I apply for my test?
Your instructor will give you an
indication of when you should be
ready to take both your theory and
practical tests. You can apply using a
form which can be obtained from a
DSA test centre or from your
instructor; this tends to take a long
time for a response to come back for
some reason.
Alternatively, you can
apply over the phone, which is
quicker but annoyingly expensive.
Tel 0300 200 1122. Or you can apply
on-line at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/index.htm
Check with your instructor how much
each test costs, prices have risen
several times over the last few years.
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