First driving lesson?

Question

I'm 16 and I want to book myself some driving lessons. I have driven a car before but not on a main road. Are there any tips or advice you can give when I get in the car with an instructor for my first time?

(I live in the UK, if that makes any difference?)

Thanks.

Answer 1

Your instructer will teach you so much anyhow.  I do advice you not to wear high heals though lol.

Good advice is that when I did mine (5yrs ago) I did have a grade 5 instructor.  Not many people know this.  You are paying the same for a less experienced/higher standard one.  If you can ask for a grade 5 one.  

Another tip - depends on how much money you have but I did mine in 2hr slots as 1 hr only gets you to be taught so much. If you can on the odd week maybe have a 2hr session.  By the time you have driven to thr destination to do reverse parking say you only have 20 min before you need to turn back again.  If you did 2 hr then you could do so much more.

Also I know it maybe funny lol but dont speed.  I know some instructions are different to others but I have known my friends to speed and they dont say anything. Even if it is by 5mph.  If you do this then you may get into the habit of it.  The test you may then fail on because of this.

Anyhow good l**k and i hope this advice helps.

Answer 2

If you're female, wear a short skirt and a tight lo cut sweater.

Answer 3

Yes Trevor is quite right. BSM and the AA are no better than any other national driving school - just higher prices! And the remark regarding their instructors having all the relevant certificates is slightly misguided. BSM also provides driving instructor training and actually uses trainee instructors to teach learner drivers! So you are paying £25+ per hour for someone to practice on you for THEIR test, when really they should be teaching YOU to pass YOUR test!

There are a lot of national driving schools that do this, as instructor training is BIG business these days (seen all the ads about £30,000??!!) so to be honest with you, you would be probably be more likely to get a good instructor by going with a small independant driving school, or a "one man band"

Regarding the instructor grading, in order to stay on the register as an ADI you need to be Grade 4, 5, or 6. As grade 6 is near impossible your instructor will either be grade 4 or 5. As to whether your instructor would be any better if they had a grade 4 or 5 I doubt it very much. All the grade does is prove that they are better at doing check tests and NOT necessarily any better at teaching someone to drive!

You could have a great instructor grade 4 and an average instructor grade 5!

Your best bet is to ask around, find out who other people have gone with, if they are good give them a try - but DON'T fall for any "first 5 lessons only £50" gimmicks - You get what you pay for in this business - trust me!

Answer 4

You will have to be 17, you can apply for your provisional 3 months before your birthday. When you decide who to go with ask if you will actually DRIVE on your first lesson, some companies offer first 2 lessons free etc but you only sit in the car park.

Answer 5

You have to be 17 to take driving lessons. My first lesson consisted of listening to the instructor tell me about the car and how the gears work etc. and doing hill starts and left turns. If you tell the instructor that you have driven a car before, he/she might let you do a bit more in your first lesson, but not straight away.

Answer 6

You need to be 17 to drive on the road in the UK.

If you mean you are going to start to learn when you are 17 then just make sure you get a good instructor.  Although they may cost a little more, it may be worth learning with either the AA or BSM.  They are carefully monitored and you are safe in the knowledge that they have all the relevant certificates or qualifications as well as a road worthy car and are fully insured to teach you.  Or use someone that has been recommeded by someone you know.

Make sure you read the Highway code and any information you can find about the theory test.  I would take the theory test as early as you can as the stuff you learn will help with your practical lessons.

Answer 7

Don't let them con you.  Good luck and enjoy them. xx

Answer 8

Forget the answer about the AA and BSM - they are no better than any other driving school - but they are much more expensive...fact!

ALL Driving Instructors are monitored by the DSA, regardless of whom they work for!