The Practical Test

 

Before you start learning to drive you will need to apply for your "Provisional" driving licence. You should do this in good time to avoid any disappointment in having to delay the start of your lessons. At least four weeks in advance of your starting to drive would be advisable.
You are strongly advised to use a qualified ADI (approved driving instructor) to teach you to drive. This is because you are in danger of learning bad habits that a "normal" driver may not recognise. Once you have picked up any bad habits it is very much more difficult to un-learn them!. The best thing is maybe to spend some time getting used to the clutch and how to use it, but no more than that before you have your first lesson. This is best done on private ground or where it is very quiet so that you don't have to worry about others too much. Make sure you are covered for insurance and your supervising person is over 21 years old and has been driving for at least 3 years. Talk to your ADI about practising and take his or her advice as to what to practice on for your abilities.

Choosing a school

More detailed advice on how to choose a driving instructor is given elsewhere in this site. Click Here to see it. If you are not happy with the way your ADI is treating you, or the progress that you are making in your lessons, then firstly talk to your ADI about the problem. If you are still not happy, then don't feel bad about trying another school. The problems with changing schools mid-way are that:
firstly you will need to get used to a new car, and a new instructor. It may take two or three lessons to really know if you have made the right move.
Also if you have booked and pre-paid for a number of lessons, then it is not easy to break that commitment.

So when initially agreeing to buy lessons in bulk, find out what your position will be if you cancel. A reasonable response would be if the instructor agreed to charge you for the number of lessons you have had at the hourly rate, and paid you back the balance. But this will be an individual response, so take care. Obviously then it is best if you can pick a good driving school from the outset.
Documentation you will need for your test
On the day of your test you will need to take with you your driving licence, theory test pass certificate, photographic ID and if possible the invitation card for the test. If you have a new style of driving licence (with your picture on a card), then you will not need any further photographic ID. But you must take both parts of the licence, the paper part and the card, to the test. If you have the old style of licence you will need further photographic ID. A passport is ideal for the job. Please make sure your documents are signed before going for the test. You will not be allowed to sign passports or driving licences in front of the examiner, and you will loose the test.

The test car

The car that is used for your practical driving test must fulfil certain criteria. The car must:
be insured for the purpose (you will be asked to sign a declaration at the beginning of the test to say that your car is insured)
have an internal rear-view mirror that can be used by the examiner
have seat belts and head restraint for the use of the examiner
display a current tax disk
be in a road worthy condition

If the car you are using does not meet these requirements then you will find that you will loose that test. You will normally find that you will be able to use your driving instructors car for the test which will save you having to worry about the car. Also you should then be familiar with the car, and so you should feel at ease with the car itself.

On the day of the test you will normally have an hours lesson leading up to the test, and then the test itself directly afterwards. Generally driving schools will charge you for two hours worth of lessons (one hour for the test and one hour for the previous hour, as we do at kingsdriving), but there are some that will charge double for the hour of the test itself.

Driving Test - Car

The driving test is straight forward. It is designed to see if you can:

drive safely
know the Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving

Test routes are designed to:

be as uniform as possible
include a range of typical road and traffic conditions

You will be:

given directions in good time
asked to carry out set exercises (see below for more details)

The driving test lasts approximately 38 / 40 minutes (Extended tests will last about 70 minutes)

Driving Test - Extended

Re-testing for disqualified drivers and riders was introduced on 06 January 1992 Courts can impose an extended driving test on anyone
convicted of dangerous driving offences convicted of other offences involving obligatory disqualification

Loss of your driving licence for dangerous driving or related offences involving obligatory disqualification means that you return to 'learner' status. Normal rules for provisional licence-holders will apply.

You must take and pass a theory test for the category of vehicle for which you intend to take an extended practical driving test.

The extended driving test is longer and therefore more demanding. It lasts for about 70 minutes and covers a wide variety of roads, usually including dual carriageways. You are advised to prepare by taking suitable instruction from an ADI.

The higher fee reflects the length of the test.
The purpose of re-testing is not punitive; it is a road safety measure, to check the driver's competence.

Car Practical Test

Car Practical Test 
Weekday Test £48.00 
Saturday and Weekday Evening Test £56.00 
Car Extended Test – after disqualification 
Weekday Test £86.00 
Saturday Test £104.00 
To book a test phone 0870 01 01 372 (8am to 6pm weekdays)

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