Driving School Wembley – FAQs

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WEMBLEY DRIVING LESSONS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Driving lessons with friendly, patient, experienced and fully qualified male and female driving instructors.

What do I need to do before I can start driving?

You must have a Provisional Licence.

You must complete driving licence application form D1 and photo card application form D750 (Available to download or from most post offices).

The minimum age which you can legally drive a car on the public roads is 17.

If you are disabled and in receipt of higher rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the minimum age is 16.

Until the day you pass the practical part of the Driving Test you are not allowed to drive on your own.

It is also worthwhile having an eyesight test to check that you meet the minimumeyesight standard for driving.

I'm really nervous about starting my driving lessons, are there any special courses?

Our driving instructors very experienced and are aware of the anxieties you may have when you start your lessons we specialise in teaching new and nervous learners so they should be able to address and concerns you have and put you at ease.

Another driving school has a lower hourly rate than you, why should I spend more?

The headline hourly rate is not the true cost of learning to drive. The true cost also includes: the number of lessons you need, how many times you fail etc. all these factors are affected by the quality of tuition you receive. All our instructors are fully qualified, friendly, patient and very experienced.

How long do the lessons last?

You can arrange to have lessons lasting 1 or 2 hours. Either way, we will arrive in
enough time to ensure you receive the full hour / 2 hours of tuition time, most pupils
find it more beneficial to do a 2 hour lesson.

What If I learn in an automatic?

If you take and pass your test in an Automatic car, you can only drive an Automatic once qualified. (If you pass in a manual you can drive either type of vehicle).

Do Drive2Pass SOM do intensive courses?

Your course can be as intensive as you wish (subject to availability). We will arrange to carry out a driving assessment and talk through the various options available. Learning to drive is different for everyone so rather than sell you a set package we tailor one to suit you.

Will my instructor expect me to know the basics of learning to drive?

No. We will teach you everything you need to know at a pace that suits you.

What will I learn in the driving lessons?

We usually follow the syllabus as below but will personalise it according to your needs and we also provide exclusive recap sheets after each lesson to help you remember what you have learned.

1. Getting ready to drive
2. The controls
3. Clutch control
4. Moving off and stopping
5. Gear changing
6. Left turn (major to minor)
7. Right turn (major to minor)
8. Emerging left and right
9. Crossroads
10. Pedestrian Crossings
11. Emergency stop
12. Straight Reverse
13. Left reverse
14. Right reverse
15. Turn in the road
16. Reverse Park into bay
17. Parallel reverse park
18. Signals Mirrors and blind spots
19. Meeting approaching traffic
20. Crossing approaching traffic
21. Overtaking
22. Allowing adequate clearance
23. Roundabouts
24. Complex junctions
25. Dual carriageways
26. Motorways

Can I take lessons in my own car?

We would not advise taking complete newcomers in their own vehicle without dual controls, we consider it an unnecessary risk, if later on, you want to transfer to your own vehicle, and it is fully insured for instruction, then there is no reason why not.

Can I be picked up and dropped off in a different place?

Yes, within reason.

How will your instructors conduct themselves?

All our instructors strictly follow the ADI code of conduct, as agreed by the DSA and ADI representative organisations. In addition to this;

We will always:
– provide you with the same instructor and car for all your lessons
– make sure the car is clean and comfortable for your use
– endeavour to be friendly, patient, reliable and punctual.
We will never:
– smoke in the car during your lesson
– make you share the car with another learner (known as piggy backing)
– stop off to go to the shops during your lesson
– cut time off of your lessons by dropping you off early

Can a friend or relative teach me how to drive?

The Driving Standards Agency strongly recommends that you take lessons from an Approved Driving Instructor. If your friend or relative teaches you they must be over 21 years of age and have held a Full British Driving Licence for at least 3 years. It’s worthwhile remembering too that learning with a friend or relative means you could pick up their bad habits. It is illegal for anyone else other than a registered driving instructor to charge money for teaching you to drive.

How often should I have my lessons?

How often you have your lessons is entirely up to you. We would recommend at least 1 session of 2 hours per week but we are happy to do more if you wish.

How many driving lessons will I need to take?

Every Person is different however Driving Standards Agency research shows that the current average is 40 hours of tuition, with an additional 20 hours private practice to pass. Your instructor will give you an idea of how long you are likely to need after your first lesson. You can help keep this low by taking two-hour lessons and following our easy tips for practice with parents or relatives.

What do I bring for my first driving lesson?

You! Your provisional driving licence too, of course. You must have this in your possession before lessons can start. If you need glasses, wear them: you should be able to read a car number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres. Sunglasses are good, especially for winter evenings when the sun is low. Comfortable clothes are better, soft rather than hard shoes.

What happens if we get caught on a speed camera while on a lesson?

Any good instructor would never let this happen and it has certainly never happened with us, but you’re the one driving so you get the points and fine. This is why you have your provisional licence, being a learner does not make you exempt from any laws.

What is the Driving Test?

There are two parts to the driving test, part 1is a hazard perception and theory, and part 2 a practical driving test. The Theory test (Part 1) is made up of two parts; the multiple-choice part and the hazard perception part. Both tests are taken on a computer at your local theory test centre using the mouse and a touch screen monitor to answer. You will need to correctly answer 30 out of 35 questions to pass the multiple choice test and score at least 44 out of a possible 75 in the hazard perception test. You need to pass both tests at the same time to successfully pass.

Where do I take my Theory Test?

There are Theory Test centres located all over the UK run by the DSA.

Can you help me with the theory test?

Yes, we can help you understand any difficult questions and recommend the most useful books, DVDs and online help.

Do I need to pass the Theory Test before I can start my driving lessons?

No. In fact it is a good idea to learn the theory whilst you are learning the practical as it can bring the subject alive making it easier to understand and remember.

How do I know when I am ready for my driving test?

If you can drive and control your car safely and competently, with due care and anticipation of other road users, weather and traffic conditions and can competently complete all of the manoeuvres then, and only then are you ready to pass your driving test.

Learners who pass first time do so because they are well instructed and get plenty of practice. They pass because they wait until they are ready. All of our instructors have the knowledge and experience to advise you when this is. It is their responsibility to ensure that you are capable and safe to drive alone, without supervision. You must take advice from your instructor as to when you are ready, going for a test before you are ready can be a costly and confidence shattering experience.

Do I have to take my test at the nearest test centre?

No. If you live in London it makes sense to take your test somewhere familiar to you, but you could take it in Leeds or in Manchester if you wished.

What car will I have to drive on my test?

Usually, the car you learned in. You can elect to use your own car, if you prefer.

What car do i take my test in and what happens on the day of the test?

You take it in the same car you have lessons in. On the day of the test you have a 2 hour lesson, the first hour is a warm up and drive to the test centre. The second hour is when you take your test.

How long does the driving test last?

Usually about 40 minutes.

Where will i go on my test?

Anywhere within 5 miles of the test centre. There’s no point trying to learn all the roads, you should be able to handle any road whether or not you’ve seen it before. There is not just 1 fixed test route.

I just failed a test, should I take more lessons or just go for another test straight away?

It depends on what you failed on but generally it is recommended you have 2-5 lessons between tests. You are required to wait at least ten working days between tests, you can rebook within that time but the earliest you can re-sit the test is the eleventh day. The fact is that if we advise you to go for a test and you fail it was probably just nerves that caused it, so we wouldn’t normally delay taking you for another test.

After I have passed my test, do I have to wait for my full licence to come through before I can drive?

No, you can drive yourself out of the test centre, if your car is insured properly. The pass certificate is your qualification.

Keep a note of your driver number (that’s the number on your provisional licence which begins with the first five letters of your surname) and the number on your pass certificate when you send your pass certificate away to get a full licence. They may be needed for documentation purposes and make a record in case your application gets lost.

What is Pass Plus?

Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years of passing their test than at any other time in their driving career. In the first year of driving, one driver in five is involved in an accident. This is mainly down to a lack of driving experience, and this is where Pass Plus comes in.

Pass Plus is a training course specifically aimed at new drivers, designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) with the help of insurers and the driving instruction industry. Pass Plus will build upon your existing skills and knowledge, it will teach you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, and can help you to become more confident on the roads.

A Pass Plus certificate may also qualify you for cheaper car insurance. Pass Plus is made up of six practical modules which include; driving in town, driving in all weathers, driving on rural roads, driving at night, driving on dual carriageways, driving on motorways. Anyone who holds a full UK licence is eligible to take part in the scheme. You will not have to take a test at the end of the course but you will be continually assessed. You must successfully complete all the modules in the course.

I have a question not answered here.

Call us for a chat on 07904 01 62 01 or send us an e-mail at info@drivingschool-wembley.co.uk we would be happy to offer advice and answer any further questions you have, without obligation and free of charge!

MANUAL LESSONS

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AUTOMATIC LESSONS

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PASS PLUS

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LONDON DRIVING INSTRUCTOR: RUISLIP, HARROW, HILLINGDON, UXBRIDGE, WEMBLEY, PINNER, NORTHWOOD AND NORTHOLT