Update feb 2010: Red driving school in administration.

May 2010 Red driving school on Dom Littlewood show

I've been having a few enquires following the Red Driving School TV Advert article trying to find out how much the current Red Driving school franchise costs.

Unfortunately I don't know how much the franchise fee costs, and the Go Red website doesn't give too much information out about costs or benefits/features of having a franchise with the Red Driving School or what one gets as a Red driving school instructor.



About 5 months ago, I was at the Mill Driving Test centre, and was speaking to one of the instructors as we normally do while our pupils were out with the examiners during the driving test, and this instructor was with the Red Driving School and mentioned the weekly franchise fee was around £300, this included the car as well as pupil introductions, and that the fee was payable irrespective of the number of pupils introduced to the instructor by the school or number of red driving lessons given, bearing in mind the fee you can charge for tuition depends on the area of the country you are operating from, while your franchise fees are fixed.

The instructor was a potential driving instructor (PDI) on a pink badge, and did mention that not enough work was being supplied (something not exclusive to the Red Driving School I must admit) and was thinking of changing franchises an option not very easy for someone who hasn't passed the part 3 adi examination.

If there are any Red driving instructors willing to share the benefits and cost of being with the driving school, please do feel free to add comments to this post, no registration is required, and you can leave anonymous posts if you like.

If you have successfully completed the steps to becoming a driving instructor and are looking to take on a Red Driving School franchise, then my advice would be make sure you read the fine print in the contract, and if possible speak to existing holders of the Red Driving School franchise.

Looking for cheap driving lessons.

More Reading
Driving Instructor Marketing Ideas.
Pay as you Go Cheap ADI Training.
Instructor training costs

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Update feb 2010: LVG ltd in administration!

Further to my becoming a driving instructor advice which I wrote because of the current Red driving school TV advert that keeps bombarding the minds of people with those words 'earn £30,000 a year' if you do your ADI training with us, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about the options a potential driving instructor (PDI) can obtain training to becoming a driving instructor.

ADI Training Options

I became a driving instructor through the Instructor college and paid around £2,500. Other similar large training organizations like BSM school of motoring, AA driving school, LDC, are probably charging around £3,000 for their ADI training program (ADI part1, part2 and part3) nowadays. Red driving school does their training through the instructor college, as they are part of the same parent group. These ADI training schools have large marketing budgets, and thus are able to advertise on TV or newspapers, and thus most people would only know about these high cost routes of becoming a driving instructor.

Independent ADI Trainers

There is however another way of training to become a driving instructor and this usually costs a lot less than using a large organization such as Red Driving School or BSM. You can use an independent ADI trainer. A quick search on Google should bring up a list of these individuals who can help you become a driving instructor without it costing an arm or leg. You might also ask an existing driving instructor if they know of any independent ADI trainers.

ADI part 1. This can usually be completed using home study only, and an independent ADI trainer will be able to advice on which books to buy thus reducing costs.

ADI part 2. As you will be required to pass an hour long driving test, that covers all the exercises a learner driver will be taught, covers motorways as well as a varied route, with only 6 driver errors, this is where the independent ADI trainer will start to earn his keep by assessing your driving skills, advice and help you to get to the part 2 test standard. Most independent ADI trainers will charge an hourly rate for training at this stage, and if you work hard practising what you've been told to do, then you can reduce your training costs.

ADI part 3. This is the most difficult part of becoming a driving instructor, and the failure rate on this part of the ADI qualifying is the highest, but an independent ADI trainer can help you to pass the ADI part 3 exam, and in the process save you a lot of money as well.



If you want more information on becoming a driving instructor, check out this new blog, your guide to Driving Instructor Training.

It doesn't have to cost £3,000 to become a driving instructor, use an independent ADI trainer, you can also use them to prepare for your check tests.


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Learner Driver without insurance

Provisional, full or foreign licence holder, you need driving insurance to legally drive any car here in the UK. This might seem obvious, but I was watching a learner driver programme on TV the other day, and the amount of people caught driving without insurance by the police was amazing.



Ignorance is no excuse, if you have a driving licence and own a car, then you must budget for car insurance, the minimum level of driving insurance required in the UK to legally drive is 3rd party cover, and is the cheapest car insurance available if you are tight on budget. This will cover any 3rd party in the case of an accident or a claim being made if your car damages someone's property. 3rd party car insurance will not cover your vehicle being stolen, fire or repairs to your motorcar if you are involved in an accident. I recommend you at least get this product to stop you being caught driving without motor insurance.

The next level of car driving insurance available is 3rd party, Fire and Theft. In addition to the cover provided above, you are covered against theft of your vehicle or fire damage to the car. This level of cover is a good idea if you car is of value to you (ie you can't afford to lose it due to theft or it being destroyed by fire). This level of motor insurance does not cover you for damages to your vehicle during an accident or any other repairs that might be need if caused by a fault of your own. This insurance product obviously costs more than 3rd party only.

Comprehensive Car Driving Insurance

This is the motor insurance I as a driving instructor uses and is what a lot of drivers have that stops them being caught driving without insurance. This insurance product offers complete protection for the driver, including repairs to your car as well as that of the other party, it can have other options included in it like No claims bonus protection and legal expenses cover. Many companies with comprehensive insurance cover also offer you a new car if your brand new car is involved in an accident and is uneconomical to repair within the the first year.

What is your excuse for driving without car insurance? If you are worried about the premium costs, when not look for companies that specialise in car insurance for young drivers, but what ever you do, don't drive a car without insurance

More Reading
New car insurance rules 2011.

It is only irresponsible provisional licence holders that will be foolish enough to participate in drunk driving, especially when they not only disregard the terms of their driving licence by driving unsupervised, are not insured, but go out drinking with the full intention of driving a car afterwards!

Drunk Driving is the cause of many accidents on the roads all over the world, and as a provsional licence holder who hasn't passed their driving test, this shows that you really shouldn't be given a full licence, since you can't show responsibilty when still learning, how much more when you have passed the test, and are free to drive on the streets unsupervised.

If you as a provisional licence holder is caught drunk driving (you will be caught sooner than later), you can expect a hefty fine, points on your licence, and a resultant rise in your insurance costs. While these would probably not stop you from doing this again, think about if someone dear to you where injured or killed by a drunk driver, it doen't matter if they were fully qualified on not, they should be behind the wheel of a car, if they've been drinking.

So if you have as a provisional licence holder participated in drunk driving in the past, TODAY is a good day to say never again, if you know someone who has done so in the past, you should convince them not to do it again, don't wait till the effects are brought close to home!

You as a provisional licence holder can not drive a car if your supervising driver is drunk, even if you are fully insured on the vehicle, as whoever is sitting by you needs to be in a position to control the car.

Drunk Driving kills.

More Reading
Driving Licence points and Ban.
Be Cabwise while avoiding drink driving.

Saturday Driving Test after November 1st 2005?

If you've ever taken a Saturday or Sunday Driving Test since November 1st 2005, you could be due a refund of the extra fee you were charged by the Driving Standards Agency.

A press release by the DSA says:

"The Driving Standards Agency is writing to learner driver candidates who have booked practical driving tests on a Saturday since November 2005, to offer a refund for overpayment of fees caused by accidental overcharging and to apologise for the error.

We are taking this action because of an error in regulations made on 1 November 2005 which had the unintended consequence of removing the differential between normal weekday hours and Saturday charges for taking a driving test. The refund offered is the premium paid for a Saturday test, currently £10.50 for a car test.

An amending regulation has now been laid in Parliament to reinstate in law the intended differential in fees. The Agency is obliged to recover administrative costs through fees, including the extra costs of Saturday operation, for example in overtime. Tests booked from 7 July onwards will be charged at the intended Saturday rate of £67.00

The Driving Standards Agency apologises for the error and is contacting all those affected, but customers can speak direct to the Agency’s advisers by calling (0191) 201 4098 between 9am and 5pm if they want information in the meantime. DSA believes around 270,000 candidates will be affected."

DSA Press release June 21st 2008

So if you know of anyone who took a weekend driving test or has one booked before July 7th 2008, you should call the DSA if you haven't heard from them 3 weeks from the date of the press release.

Driving Test Fees 2009

My name is Shola, and I'm a fully qualified UK department of transport approved driving instructor based in Mill Hill NW7 London, and have been helping people learn to drive safely and pass the DSA driving test for almost 10 years. You can contact me by either calling or texting 07956233032 (please don't be offended if I don't answer your call or can't spend time answering your query, I'm very busy and get a lot of calls and the number is mainly for booking driving lessons).

UK Driving School is my blog for learner drivers preparing for the DSA category B practical car test, and contains various tips, advice and videos from my experience over the years.

Provisional licence holders will find here free online articles, to help pass the driving test, foreign licence holders thinking of coming to the UK or already here will find information to also get them ready for the standard of driving expected by the DSA who conducts the driving exam, and thus ensure they can get a full British licence instead of their international document. The aim of this instructor's website is not to replace the services provided by driving schools or the UK approved ADI, but to re-enforce information gained during lessons as well as provide reminders in between.



UK Driving School also provides training videos lessons either shot specifically, or taken from a real learner driver training sessions (with permission of the pupil) which further help the learner driver to grasp the fundamentals of learning to drive or understand how to perform a manoeuvre required on the driving test. This driving advice blog has been online since 2005, and over the years, more than 350 posts, tips and articles have been made providing a host of information for the learner driver. There is a search facility located at the top left of the page that can be used to easily find information from past articles, so if you are looking for any information about the UK DSA driving test, then using the search function will find it.

UK Driving School - About the Driving Instructor
I qualified and became a driving instructor in 2003, have held a franchise with the AA Driving School twice, and currently operate as an independent ADI providing driving lessons in the Mill Hill, Hendon, Colindale, Edgware, Burnt Oak, Kingsbury, Brent Cross, Golders Green, Cricklewood, Kiburn, and West Hampstead areas of North West London. I'm married with 4 children, and when not working in IT or giving driving lessons, I enjoy travelling, cycling, video editing, playing with home gadgets and flying a hang glider.

I would welcome any feedback you have regarding this blog, please feel free to use the comments section to let me know of anyway I can help improve the learner driver facilities provided here.

Welcome to London's online driving school
I operate an independent driving school in the Mill Hill area of North West London, and provide high quality tuition to learner drivers who need refresher lessons, motorway driving skills, or a second opinion on their car handling skills.



As s DSA registered driving school instructor who is passionate about passing my driving skills onto my pupils, which is evidenced by this driving school blog dedicated to providing as much free online information about the UK driving test and giving tips, advice and videos on what is needed to pass the DSA test on the first attempt, my service is the best value for money that you can get in this area of London.

My driving school is the only one in North West London that has the ability to record your learner driver lessons onto DVD for easy review in the comfort of your home, thus enabling you to remember the key skills you have learnt, making the learning process much easier and saving you money at the same time. The service is free of charge, all you need to do is provide me with a DVD-R disc.

All driving lessons offered by the school are provided by a fully qualified DSA registered instructor (not tranee) using a structured syllabus, take a full hour and are on a one to one basis, and don't charge you a different rate for a driving test.



The school all offers intensive driving courses for those who would like to learn to drive in a short period (5 days or 1 week) and then attempt the DSA test to obtain their full UK driver's licence.

Other services offered by my driving school are Pass Plus, post driving test tuition for nervous drivers, mock tests and car hire for the DSA driving examination (subject to a 2hr driving assessment to check you have reached the required standard).

If you are looking for a North West London driving school, then why not give me a call today on 07956233032, our lessons cost just £25 for every hour of manual driving tuition, we don't offer automatic driving lessons.

Did you know that as of May 2011, there were 47,071 fully qualified driving instructors in the UK on the DSA's register!

So if you are thinking of joining the profession, consider the amount of competition that already has a headstart on you, even if not all of them are currently practising, however that figure does not include trainees, some of who also can legally teach and get paid.

Taking driving lessons with Red
A regular question I get asked and a frequent term that drives people to my website is should I take driving lessons with Red Driving school, the AA or BSM?

I have answered this question in a previous article entitled AA driving lessons, so I won't repeat myself here as the brand doesn't matter, it is the individual tutor and his/her attitude and approach to clients that matters, all are running a franchise.

The other question has to do with training to become a driving instructor with Red, the options and avenues to achieve the goal.

Should I become a DSA ADI by training with Red instructor college?

Feb 2010 Red driving school in administration
Update May 2010: Red on BBC one Dom littlewood

I had someone approach me recently about becoming a driving instructor, and my honest advice to them was don't do it. If you watch some of the channels on Sky TV, then you would have seen the adverts by Red Driving School for becoming a driving instructor. The TV advert sings the praises of how you can earn £30,000 a year as a DSA ADI, the joys of being independent and choosing the hours you want to work, having a new car and how you will have a guaranteed job after you finish the expensive ADI training course, and many people every year see these type of adverts, hear of the price of driving lessons and automatically start thinking of changing their career and dream of the large amount of income/money that they will be making after going through the qualifying process of becoming an instructor and setting up their own learner school being their own boss.

First lets deal with the claims of the Red Driving School advert about becoming a driving instructor.

Can you earn £30,000 a year teaching learner drivers? What salary can you expect as a driving instructor? Yes you can, but not in your first year after becoming a driving instructor, and probably not in your second year either!

Can you choose the hours you work even if you are have a franchise with the AA Driving School, Red or BSM? Absolutely, but you might not have any pupils willing to take driving lessons when you would prefer them to, so if you want to make a lot of money, you would not be able to be as flexible as you would like, especially as a newly qualified driving instructor! There is an even more important reason why a newly qualified driving instructor will not be able to choose the hours that he or she works, and I'll get to that later, something they don't tell you about becoming an ADI.

The new driving school car you get as a driving instructor if you take out a franchise with Red Driving School like the new Vauxhall astra, Ford focus with the AA, fiat 500 with BSM, LDC or any other school that offers franchises, but the cars are not free of charge as a benefit, you pay a weekly fee for them, upto almost £400 in some cases! Think about how many lessons you would need to give just to pay for the car (franchise fees), before you start to make any profit (what about fuel costs, you pay that as well, which could be hefty if it is a large sized engine and work in the country where you might need to travel 5miles or more between lessons!).

A guaranted job after ADI training? Of course, but not a job, a franchise! All learner driving instructors in the UK are self-employed (there is probably one exception), so you are not employed by Red Driving School, AA, BSM, LDC, etc. So you basically are not guaranteed any weekly or monthly salary, and when it comes down to it, you are really on your own, so go over the terms of your driving school franchise with a fine comb, as you will even see that you are not guaranteed any number of pupils a week, and you still need to pay your weekly fee whether you have had enough driving lessons or not. This is the reason why a newly qualified driving instructor will not be able to choose hours they work, they need to pay the franchise fee as well as earn a living!

Driving Instructor (ADI) Training

So why do orgnisations like Red Driving School, the Instructor College take out such adverts to convince people to become driving instructors? The bottom line is money! All the big driving schools like the AA, BSM, LDC, Red, make their money from Driving Instructors, and not from pupils who are learning to drive. It costs about £3,000 give or take to become a driving instructor with one of these driving schools or the instructor college (by the way Red Driving School and the Instructor College are part of the same parent group), and after you qualify, you will take out a franchise with them (giving them even more money). Of the thouands of people that start out to become driving instructors each year, only about 30% pass the ADI part 3 exam that allows them to qualify. Even after qualifying, you are not home free! The market competition is very fierce and the learner driver basically can choose who and what they are willing to pay, many give up after qualifying either because of debt or not being able to make a decent living as an ADI.

As a new qualified driving instructor even if you have a franchise with the likes of Red Driving School, you will still have to do you own marketing to get yourself additional pupils to pay that hefty £300+ weekly fee as well as make yourself money to live on. Teaching people to become driving instructors is more lucrative than learners, because potential driving instructors (PDIs), are mature, serious people who are willing to pay a little higher than a learner, will have the money (even if it is borrowed) to pay for the course, and some might even try more than once because they don't have the whole picture and think that being a driving instructor is an easy way to make money.

So having given you the true facts, I would say you really MUST want to be a driving instructor, and money MUST NOT be the overiding factor. There are many instructors making decent earnings, but they didn't get there in a year, and it will take time, hard work and some stressful times to get there.

Why do you want to become an approved driving instructor? There are enough ADIs out there, there are no shortage of instructors and there is not enough work to go round all the instructors, so joining the industry at this time means you have even more work to do to get your business established. Your first step to becoming a driving instructor is actually passing the crb check which can take a few weeks during which time the only thing you can do is start reading your ADI part one books in preparation for the theory test.

Q: How old do you have to be in order to become a driving instructor?
A: The minimum age a driving instructor can be is 21, but you need to have held a driving licence for 4 years by the time you qualify as an ADI.

Q: How long does it take to become an ADI?
A: The time it takes to become a driving instructor depends on how well your training goes, DSA test waiting times and your ability to pass part 1, 2 and 3 of the ADI qualifying exams. I heard of one person qualifying in 6 months!

Q: How can I become a driving instructor for free of charge?
A: There is currently no way yo can become an ADI free, you need to pay for the training. There are some government and commercial loans available, but before you commit yourself to debt, read this artcle fully, including the comments to make sure this is really what you want to do.



More reading on becoming a driving instructor

Independent driving instructor training

How I became a driving instructor

Driving Instructor Earnings

Driving lessons with red

Cheap driving lessons

Marketing your driving school business.

ITV Tonight produced a programme featuring Red Driving School, but it is no longer available on their website.

Subscribe to Driving Test Tips so you don't miss any future articles or get updates direct to your inbox by Email.

Learning to drive

Why do you want to learn to drive? The answer to this question will have a direct effect on your learning progress and attitude towards overcoming problems while preparing for the UK driving test.

When I was learning to drive, my main motivation was that I needed the driving license to get a better (higher paying) job with the added bonus of a fully expenced car tax free.
Because of this, I made sure that I put aside money for my driving lessons (even though I could only afford a lesson once in 2 weeks due to un-employment). It also meant I did some studying prior to the lesson so that I made maximum use of the time I had with the driving instructor in the car.

I have come across a lot of people who have no real purpose for when it comes learning to drive, and this shows in their attitude towards driving, but more importantly means that they don't have the drive to overcome particular problems during the learning process.

I have mentioned in a previous post, that anyone can learn to drive, but the pace at which everyone learns will be different, but more importantly people will have difficulties with different apects of driving, this is where the initial question comes in. I have seen a lot of people give up when they find things difficult, or they reach a learning plateau. If your motivation for learning to drive was nothing more than peer pressure or the thought that having a driving license was a good idea, then you can't use that motivation to get you through the difficult times when they come.

Think about those cold winter days you spend waiting for a bus, that new job that could be yours, the independence you gain and not having to rely on parents, sibblings or friends to drive you around. What ever it might be don't just give up because you are struggling with a particular skill or you have failled the driving test yet another time!

Finally, don't waste all the effort you have put into learning to drive because of a change in circumstance. You have now moved to a new area, and don't know a local instructor. Find one! You have changed jobs, so time is now at a premium, make time! No matter what the excuse you come up with, there is always a solution, it might not be convinient for you, but there will be a solution. I feel saddened when a pupil of mine moves away, and gives up learning just because they can't find another 'good' driving instructor or there is no one to push them to go the extra mile.

Jimmy Cliff sang a song 'You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try, and try and then you'll suceed at last'
Don't give up on the dream, success is just round the corner, but you've got to keep going to get there!




So again I ask why do you want to learn to drive?

ADI causes Pupil to fail the Driving test?

I was on my way home after a driving lesson, coming up the A41 dual carriageway (watford way) towards the aerodrome road junction when I noticed an AA Driving School car on the slip road to my left about to merge onto the dual carriageway. I was in the leftmost lane, and there was a lot of fast moving traffic in the 2 lanes to my right.

As I got closer to the junction of the slip road, the AA driving school car was also getting close to the end of the slip road, I was expecting the car to stop, since it was not safe to emerge, but It continued, and I had to use my horn to alert the driver to my presence, which is when the learner driver of the AA car then stopped. As I drove past the junction, I glanced over to try and see what the instructor was doing not to have stopped the car earlier, which was when I noticed the high visibilty jacket of the DSA driving examiner.

Ooops I taught, that learner in the AA school car is most likely to have failed the test there, but there was nothing I could have done, except stop for the car which would not have been safe on a 50mph dual carriageway. It just goes to show how easy it is to fail the driving test if you don't concentrate fully, plan properly. I've had to dual control many test standard pupils at that particular junction because they fail to approach properly or don't even notice the dual carriageway.

That learner was less than 5 minutes from the Hendon Test Centre, and that could have been the only serious driving error commited by the driver of the AA school car.

More Reading
Driving test tips to pass at your next attempt.
Test in 1hour panic.

Take Consistent Driving Lessons

You need to be consistent with your driving lessons, not only to make good progress, but to save you money in the long run. As a driving instructor, I see many people start learning to drive, they take lessons for a couple of weeks or months, and then stop! Now I know circumstances can change, finances can be tight, but doing this is actually wasting money!

No matter how good you are at learning to drive, if you take a long break from driving lessons while still learning the basic skills, you will forget things and when you return, you will have to spend a couple of lessons refreshing your knowledge. Also if your break is around 6 months, it is most likely that the cost of driving lessons will have gone up.

As human beings, we give priority in our life to things that are important to us, if we started having driving lessons because friends are doing so, then when things get tough, we are not going to have a good enough reason to continue, if on the other hand we need to be able to drive to pursue the ideal career we want, then we are most likely to find means of continuing our driving lessons.

As I mentioned in the beginning, consistency is the key, if you can only take a driving lessons once every 1 week, then it is better than taking a 2 hour lesson once a month.

Before you start taking driving lessons you need to think about how much it will cost you. You will need about 20 lessons (average if you are aged between 17 - 23) to cover all the basic skills contained in the DSA driver's record, the rest of the time you are gaining experience and becoming independent in the skills you have been taught, so find out how much it will cost to get these 20 hours of tuition, and either save for it, or allow for it in your weekly or monthly budget.

If you can then keep up with your driving lessons till you pass the driving test, then great, if not, at least you are more likely to take less time to get back to where you where than if you stop learnng to drive after only having 8 driving lessons.

How many driving lessons will I need to be ready to pass the driving test first time?
Bad driving lessons.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Driving Test, Driving Licence and Learning to drive in the UK

Driving Licence FAQ

Q: How do I apply for a Provisional Licence in the UK
A: Details of applying for provisional licence.



Can I have 2 driving licences in the UK?
A: No, the DVLA only allows you to have one, if you lose it, apply for a replacement. Obtaining an additional licence using false details because you got points or banned on the original one is a criminal offence, and carries a hefty penalty which could include imprisionment.

Q: Can I drive in the UK with a Foreign licence or International driving permit?
A: You can use your Foreign licence or International driving permit to drive a car in the UK for up to 12 months from the date of your first entry in the UK, after that you will need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the UK driving test. Leaving the country and returning a few months later, does not add another 12 months to the period you are allowed to drive in the UK with a foreign licence. Foreign Licence and Driving test advice.

Q: Can I obtain a full UK driving licence without passing a test?
A: No. You can not obtain a full UK driving licence without passing the driving test. Anyone offering to take the driving test on your behalf or claiming to be able to get you a full UK licence without you taking a driving test is involved in illegal activities.

Q: Do you have to always carry your driving licence when driving a car in the UK?
A: No. As long as you have a valid provisional or full driving licence, you don't need to always carry it. If you are stopped by the police, then you will be given 7 days to produce your licence. It is a good idea though to always have a means of Identity proof on you.

Q: How many passengers can I carry with my provisional licence?
A: As many passengers as the car can legally carry, and there no clauses in your insurance stopping you from doing so. You can also carry passengers during your driving lessons, as long as your driving instructor is happy to allow them. There is no provisional licence law prevent learner drivers from carrying passengers.

How many points can I have on my licence?

A: If you get more than 12 points on your driving licence including a provisional icence, you will get a driving ban!

Q: Can I get a driving licence without passing the driving test?
A: Here in the UK it is not possible to get a full driving licence without passing a driving test unless you have a full EU licence or a licence from one of the countries that the DVLA will exchange a full licence for.

Driving Test FAQ

Q: I forgot my theory test pass certificate, can I still take the practical car test?
A: Yes, the DSA examiner should not normally require to see the theory test pass report, as you would not have been able to get a driving test slot on the DSA system if you had not passed. The most important document you need for your practical appointment is both parts of your Photo ID provisional licence, without this you will not be able to continue, and will lose your driving test fee. Do arrive early though as being late could cost you the test if the examiner decides he needs to make a call to confirm you have passed the theory hazard perception test.

Q: Can I book a driving test without my driving instructor?
A: Yes, you don't need a driving instructor to book a driving test, if you do have one, do ask him/her before you book the test to make sure they are available for the dates you are looking to book. If asked for your instructors ADI number while booking a test, and you don't know it, just skip that option, you will still be able to book the practical driving test.

How many people pass the driving test first time?
A: As many as prepare properly for the test, know what is expected, and don't rely on luck during the test.

Q: How much does the driving test cost?
A: £62.00 during the week and £75.00 for weekends or weekday evenings (summer).

Q: Can I book the practical driving test without a theory pass certificate?
A: Yes, If you've lost or misplaced your theory test pass certificate, you can still book the practical driving test, but you will have to call the DSA up, as you won't be able to book the test online via the DSA website.

Q: How long is the practical driving test ?
A: Approximately 40 minutes including the show me/tell me part.

Which driving test centre has a higher pass rate, Hendon or Mill Hill?
A: Hendon Test Centre has a higher pass rate, and also a longer waiting time than Mill Hill driving test centre.
Note: Both test centres have driving test routes that overlap, so there is no guarantee that you wouldn't fail on the same thing eg Apex roundabout or 70mph dual carriageway.

Q: How soon can I drive my own car after passing the driving test?
A: You don't need to wait the 2-3 weeks it takes for your full driving licence to arrive, you can start driving immediately. Your driving test pass certificate is not a licence, but the DVLA will be informed of your pass, so feel free to enjoy your new found freedom, but do drive safely.

Q: Can I use my own private car (7 seater) for the test?
A: Yes, you use your private car on the driving test, but if you are unsure if your car is on the banned list, call the DSA. The BMW mini-convertible for example can't be used on a driving test.

Q: Can I pay the driving examiner to pass me during the driving test?
A: No you can't, and don't try it, as you could end up in jail!

Q: When is the best time to book/take/pass the driving test?
A: While you might have less traffic to deal with if you book your test during the quieter parts of the day, the best time to pass the test is when you are completely confident you have fully prepared for it. Many people fail their driving examination for things like observations, wrong use of speed or failure to obey road signs or markings, so traffic is not just a factor to consider.



Q: Can I choose which bay to park in (left or right) during the driving test?
A: Yes you can if practicable. Note: You will have to do right bay parking at the Barnet test centre, due to it being a shared car park and most instructors park outside the car park (there is a barrier).

Q: I failed my driving test, how long do I have to wait to book another driving test.
A: You will not be able to retake the test for another 10days, but you can rebook another attempt immediately as long as the date chosen is after he 10 day limit.

Q: Can you guarantee I will pass the driving test if I take driving lessons with you?
A: No, as I can predit what you will do in the car while out with the DSA examiner, but I can guarantee that if you take my advice, prepare and gain enough experience, then there is no reason why you shouldn't pass your next attempt in gaining a full British driving licence.

Q: What happens if I pass the driving test, and the DSA examiner takes both parts of my provisional licence including counterpart to send off to the DVLA, can I drive a car with just the pass certificate?
A: Yes you can drive your own car until your new full British licence arrives in the post about 3 weeks after the test, if you haven't got the new licence after 3 weeks, give the DVLA a call, the contact number is on the reverse of the pass cerificate.
You have 2 years to apply for your full driving licence if you don't allow the dsa examiner to do it for you. Failure to apply for a full British licence within this time will result in you having to take the practical test again.

Q: Can I take the theory test if I have 6 points or more on my provisional licence?
A: As long as you have not been banned or your licence revoked, you will still be allowed to take either the theory or practical driving test. This is why you need both parts as the paper counterpart shows and restrictions placed on the learner.

Learning to Drive FAQ

Q: How many hours or lessons will I need to pass the driving test?
A: It varies with every individual. See Driving Lesson Hours.

Q: Is the driving age changing to 18 in 2008?
A: There is no truth in rumors that the driving licence or test age is changing in April, September or October 2008. The current driving age is 17, not 18 or 21.

Q: Can I learn to drive in my own car with a friend or family member?
A: Yes you can, however if you want to have a good chance of passing the driving test, I would advice to learn all of the skills with a driving instructor (ADI, PDI), and then practice in your own car. If you do it the other way round, you will learn some bad habits which an instructor will then have to train you out of.

Does the DSA have driving test quotas?
A: Ehmmm ......... Contact them directly, they might tell you if their examiners have test quotas or not.

If you have a question not answered here or elsewhere in the blog (use the search box above), then please leave a comment, due to the large amount of emails I now get, I can't guarantee I will be able to reply to all queries especially since I get a lot of the same driving test questions.

Have you recently passed the driving test, then here are 10 things that you should do next.



1. Go out for a drive. If you have a car, you don't need to wait for your new driving licence to arrive after the test, you can now legally drive without supervision.

2. Inform your insurance company. You need to inform your insurance company that your provisional licence has changed to a full one having passed the driving test, or you might not be covered in the case of an accident.

3. Take a Pass Plus course. Taking a pass plus driving course could not only get you cheaper insurance, but you will gain valuable experience from the course to make you a safer and more confident driver. You will get to drive on the motorway with an instructor to guide you, as well as learn how to deal with severe weather driving, and other skills. Drivers in London can also get a rebate from Transport for London. There is no driving test to take after the pass plus course.

4. Get acquainted with your local parking restrictions if you have a car and are going to be driving around. Ignorance is no excuse, you learnt about yellow lines and parking restrictions for your theory test, and you need to make use of that information otherwise you will get lots of parking tickets or even have your car towed away.

5. Learn about basic car maintenance. You need to know how regularly you should check your car's engine oil, car coolant, tyres and lights, when the next service or MOT is due and the insurance/Tax needs to renewed.

6. Know how to fill up at a petrol station. If you didn't ask your driving instructor to show you this, then once you get your car you better find out how to do this, and make sure you can know how to read your car's petrol gauge.

7. Get road assistance cover for your car. It wouldn't be a pleasant experience to have your car breakdown on you as a new driver in an unfamiliar area.

8. Go on an advanced driving course or take an advanced driving test (IAM, RoSPA, DIAmond).

9. Buy a car! Well what did you pass the test for?

10. Send your driving instructor a thank you card. Tell your friends you have passed, and recommend your driving instructor if he was instrumental to your passing the driving test.

Important: DON'T drive someone's car if you are not insured, the risks are not worth the joyride, especially if you are involved in an accident.

Driving Lessons - Roundabouts with Video

This driving lesson video deals with multi-lane roundabouts.

In my previous dealing with roundabouts posts, I gave some general advice for learner drivers having problems with mini and normal roundabouts. I'm going to use this post to cover a few things regarding multi-lane (3 or 4 lane) roundabouts, I have also included a video with footage shot using Apex corner, Stirling Corner and Mill Hill circus roundabouts which you might encounter on the Mill Hill driving test centre or Hendon test routes.



3 or 4 Lane Roundabouts
The most important thing to bear in mind with multi-lane roundabouts is that you approach in the correct lane, and use the same lane throughout the roundabout until you are ready to exit, and give the appropriate signal to come off the roundabout.

Turning left at multi-lane roundabout
To turn left you will always approach in the left hand lane, and indicate left. If there are 2 lanes available to turn left, use the leftmost lane.

Following the road ahead at multi-lane roundabout
This is where things can be a little tricky. As you approach, you need to be looking out for signs either on the side or road markings to give you an indication of which lane to use. Usually you should be approaching in the left lane, and as you get closer you are scanning the road ahead not only for signs, but also for traffic to know if you would have to stop or not. You DO NOT need a signal on the approach if following the road ahead, but you do need to signal left as you go past the exit before the one you want, to let other users of the roundabout know what you are doing.

Turning right at multi-lane roundabout
If turning right you will need to use the right hand lane, and will be indicating right on approach to the roundabout. If the multi-lane roundabout has 4 lanes, there might be 2 lanes for turning right, in which case you should use the leftmost of the 2 (an example is shown in the accompanying multi-lane roundabout video, using Apex Corner). You should use the same lane on the roundabout until you are ready to exit, when you indicate left, and move across to the left lane (the video demonstrates this).

It takes practice to confidently deal with multi-lane roundabouts, so make sure you get plenty of practice at various times to build up enough experience to be able to deal with any situation you might encounter during the driving test.

If you are taking a test in Mill Hill or Hendon, please watch the video below many times to get familiar with the big roundabouts you might encounter.



Mill Hill Driving Test Help
If you are taking your driving test at Mill Hill test centre, you might be interested in the video below, especially if you are not local to the area, as it covers the hardest route in use by the DSA examiners where you have to deal with the dreaded Apex Corner multi-lane roundabout during independent driving as well as the 70mph A1, turning right at sterling corner as well as some other tricky locations. The video has full commentary to point out the failing areas.


Download Video for £3.99

If you live or work in NW London and need manual driving lessons in the Mill Hill, Hendon or Borehamwood driving test Centre areas and routes, or would like some tuition to cover these multi-lane roundabouts, then call me on 07956233032

More Reading
Theory test changes 2012.
Apex corner roundabout turning right Video lesson.
Becoming instructor with red driving school don't do it.
Driving test changes 2012
Roundabout basic rules.

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It is important as a provisional license holder that you are fully aware of the law governing how you learn to drive in the UK, and the terms of your provisional driving license.

As a provisional license holder, you can not drive a car unsupervised. The terms of your license state that you must be accompanied by a full license holder who is over 21 and has held their license for 3 years or more. Everyday provisional license holders in the UK are caught driving unsupervised, resulting in fines, points on license. One exception is foreign license holders with international driving permit, who are driving within the first 12 months of their first arrival in the UK.
Note: A foreign driving icence holder can not supervise a UK provisional licence not matter how long they have held a licence, you have to hold a full British licence to do that.
A supervising driver can not be banned from driving or it would be illegal for you as a provisional licence holder to have them sitting next to you.

Video

If you only have a provisional driving license, you must display 'L' plates when driving a car in the UK. It is a condition of you being a learner driver that you MUST display regulation sized 'L' plates when driving a car, the 'L' plates must be clearly visible from both the front and rear of the car you are driving.

You must be insured to drive the car you are learning in. This is not usually a problem if you are learning to drive with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or (PDI), but make sure that your instructor's registration has not expired, and if in doubt you should ask for proof. It is YOUR responsibility as the driver to know that the car is insured, as in the case of an accident, the 3rd party will pursue you in the first instance as the driver in charge of the car, though your supervisor or instructor could be seen as an accomplice. There is a new car insurance law for 2011.

As a provisional license holder, you need to make sure the car you are driving is road worthy, this is not limited to having a current MOT, but includes the tyres being legal, all lights in working order, and the exhaust system working properly, the police will stop any car they suspect is not roadworthy.

Driving on International foreign licence in the UK. You can use your locally issued driving licence here in the UK for the first 12 months after your initial entry in the UK, provided the car you are driving is insured and you will not need to display "L" plates. You can not however get insured with an international licence, apply for a UK provisional licence, and then expect to be covered to drive displaying "L" plates. You have to decide if you are a UK learner, or a visitor needing to drive in the UK temporarily. You can't used your international licence 12 months after your initial arrival, even if you have left and revisited.



Ignorance is no excuse in the sight of the law, so make sure you are fully aware of the conditions of your provisional license.

Q: My supervising driver has lost or misplaced their licence, can I still drive on a provisional licence with them sitting next to me if insured on the car?
A: As long as your are sure that the supervising driver next to you has held a full UK licence for over 3 years in the category of vehicle you are driving. Then you are legally OK. If stopped by the police, then can easily check the DVLA database once your supervisor confirms their identity and address, so this shouldn't be a problem. If involved in an accident, then things could get a little complicated as you might need a driver number or even a copy of the licence to claim on the insurance policy, so it is always a good idea to ask them to get a replacement as soon as possible to avoid problems.

Contact me on 07956233032 for quality driving lessons in London.

More Reading
Want some Cheap driving lessons?
Points on Provisional Licence and the driving test.
Driving without Insurance

Learning to Drive

You should be following a structured step by step syllabus when learning to drive in the UK. You should have received a driver's record with your provisional licence, or your driving instructor should provide you with one on your first lesson.



The Driver's Record in detail.
The driver's record is a very useful document for the learner driver when learning to drive, as it helps you keep track of your acquired driving skills as you learn, as well as it being a good indicator for you to know when you are ready for the driving test. The driver's record consists of a list of skills that you will be tested on during the driving test, and numbers 1-5 against each skill. The meaning of the numbers are listed below.

1 - The skill is introduced

2 - Skill completed under full instruction

3 - Skill can be done if prompted

4 - Skill can be done and you are seldom prompted

5 - You are completely independent, and carry out the skill with no help

Using the driver's record, you therefore have a step by step guide on where your skills are, and what you need to do to be ready for the driving test, while learning to drive.
On your first driving lesson if you've never had any driving tuition before, the first skill you will be taught is the cockpit drill, and by the end of the lesson you should be able to tick the number 4 box for this skill and number 5 box by the end of the second lesson.
Note:There is no reason why you should be wasting valuable time of your first lesson while learning to drive on the cockpit drill, get a family member or friend who drives to teach you this, there are even videos on the internet about the cockpit drill (I posted a link to one not too long ago, use the search button above to find it).

A common question driving instructors get is when will I be ready for my driving test? With the driver's record you can answer that question yourself, as you need to be able to honestly say I've reached level 5 on all the skills listed. If you can do that, then you are ready for the driving test. Many people have problems graduating from level 4 to 5 on a skill, and this is where private practice comes in. Unfortunately not every one learning to drive has access to a car for private practice, and thus they have to continue to use their driving instructor (this is the point where people start thinking that their instructor is milking them) in order to reach that level 5 satge.

Currently there is no requirement by the DSA for a learner driver to present a signed driver's record in order to take the UK driving test while learning to drive, so this document is merely for your guidance , so you might find some instructors not using one.

Learning to drive a car video.


If you are currently learning to drive in the UK with an instructor or privately, I strongly recommend you get a copy of the driver's record and use it as your step by step guide to know when you are ready for the driving test. If you only put in for the test when you get to level 5 for all skills, then you are more likely to be one of the 42% of the people that pass their driving test.

Driver's Record Link
Download Driver's Record step by step guide on the DSA website for learning to drive.

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More Reading
Cheap driving lessons for learners.
Learning to drive in the UK advice and tips.
Driving Lessons in Kilburn.