Looking forward to your first driving lesson can be an exciting prospect for some people,
and others are full of nerves and anxiety.
However you feel, knowing what to expect and
what might happen will help you prepare for the lesson and make things easier on the day
- so in this video we will show to get ready for your first driving lesson with a new driving instructor.
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Before booking your first driving lesson,
you must have a valid UK Provisional Driving Licence.
Normally you need to be at least 17 years old to drive a car,
but if you receive the higher rate of mobility payments
through either Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
you can drive once you are 16.
The licence costs £34 if you apply online,
and you will need to provide proof of your identity.
It normally arrives within 1 week,
but in case there is a delay its best to wait until you receive the licence
before booking your first lesson.
In the UK most people learn to drive in a car with a manual gearbox,
as it gives a larger choice of cars to use after passing.
However, learning in a manual car will always take longer than in an automatic car
as there are more skills to master - so expect it to cost more too.
An automatic car has no clutch pedal to master, and are impossible to stall
so you are free to concentrate on other aspects of your driving.
For more information to help you decide which is best for you,
please watch our other video called 'Manual or Automatic'.
Which ever way you decide to go, be sure to check that you look out
for a driving school that has the correct type of car.
You should take enough time to choose your driving instructor carefully,
as you could be spending a lot of time with them.
We would ask friends and family for recommendations, and have a good look online.
It is easy to be impressed by a shiny website,
but if the reviews are poor then it might be worth looking elsewhere.
As with most things in life,
you get what you pay for when choosing a Driving Instructor -
so taking the cheapest option might not give you the best level of tuition.
Approved Driving Instructors are regularly graded by the DVSA,
so ask whether they are an 'A grade' (which means a High overall standard of tuition)
or a 'B grade' (which means they have sufficient competence).
In either case an ADI is required to display their officIal licence in their car whenever giving tuition
- which is green in colour. If there is a pink licence instead this means that the instructor
is partially qualified and is yet to pass their final qualifying test.
Being a little nervous before your first lesson is perfectly normal - as you are going to
be meeting someone new, and learning how to do something you have never done before. Rest
assured that your driving instructor will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable
and hopefully alleviate any fears and nerves you may have. If you don’t have any driving
experience they will probably take you somewhere quiet for your first lesson, so that there
is less traffic around you. In addition, your instructor has dual controls to stop the car
if they need to, as their job is to keep you, them and other road users safe.
Learning to drive takes a lot of concentration so try to ensure you are well rested and have
plenty of energy. Consider what time of day would suit you best, as booking a lesson for
just after a full day of work or college without any time to recover will make it more difficult
to learn effectively.
First of all, you will need to bring your provisional driving licence along to show
the instructor, but why not also take a bottled drink in case you get thirsty. If you wear
glasses or contact lenses then make sure you have them with you, as your instructor will
need to check your eyesight. The minimum standard is that you must be able to read a standard
car registration plate at a distance of 20.5 metres.
Wear clothes that are comfortable and not too restrictive so that you can move freely
- as you will be looking left and right over both shoulders, moving your arms to control
the steering wheel, and pushing the foot pedals - sometimes all at once! We recommend wearing
comfortable trainers or shoes that allow you to feel the cars pedals, as this will help
with your car control. Wearing the same shoes for every driving lesson is a good idea as
you will get used to how the pedals feel in those shoes. If you get too hot or cold in
the car, tell your instructor as they wont mind adjusting the cars climate control.
Most importantly have fun on your first lesson. Try to enjoy the feeling of driving the car, as
if you are having fun you will learn faster. Driving is a life skill that can open many
doors - so ask questions, and make sure you understand what you are doing and why you
are doing it. You and instructor will work together to help you learn as quickly as possible,
and of course pass the driving test once you’re able to drive safely on your own.
Let's listen in as Dee drives this car for the first time!
After you lesson has been completed, take a moment to review what you have just achieved.
It is a good idea to note down anything you will need to remember for your next lesson
while it is fresh in your mind - such as routines like Mirror, Signal, Manouevre.
Don't worry about any mistakes you made,
as nobody is perfect and mistakes are something to learn from.
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