Before Your test
Legal Requirements To Learn To Drive - Before you can learn to drive a car, moped or motorcycle you must apply for a provisional driving licence. Provisional driving licences are available from the DVLA, and may not be applied for online, as you are required to physically confirm your identity. If you already hold a valid full driving licence and want to learn to drive larger vehicles, minibuses or buses you will need to apply for provisional entitlement for these vehicles.
What Type of Course is Best For Me? - There are several methods of driving tutoring available. You should consider which method suits your needs and abilities before embarking on a course, as you do not want to waste both your time and your money.
Teaching Family & Friends - Lend a helping hand to a learner driver in the family with some practice behind the wheel. Give them your expertise on the road, but not your bad habits.
Theory Test
www.theory-test.co.uk
What Is The Theory Test About? - Everyone is required to pass the theory part of the driving test before they may take the practical part of the driving test. The theory part of the driving test is designed to test both situational awareness and hazard perception and knowledge of the roads, Highway Code as well as key driving facts.
Booking Your Theory Test - In order to book your theory driving test you will need your UK driving licence number from your provisional licence. The cheapest andeasiest way to book your theory test is likely to be via the DSA’s online signup.
Practical Test
What Is The Practical Test About? - The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) driving test for car drivers is about 40 minutes long. During this time the examiner will try to ensure that you cover a wide variety of different road conditions, from quiet low speed roads to busy high-speed roads and town or city centre driving.
Manouevres - There are three standard and one optional reverse manoeuvres that you will be required to know how to perform. You will be asked to perform one of them as part of your driving test, with the option of the additional one.
Under The Bonnet - At the start of the driving test candidates are asked two questions, one ‘show me’ and one ‘tell me’. One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault (i.e. minor fault) being recorded.
Top 10 Reasons for Failure - As with anything that isn’t driving in a straight line, remember your mirrors. Also remember to check any blind spots that you know to be on the vehicle before you move. Wheel-.spinning, stalling or bouncing when moving away will show the examiner.
Booking Your Practical Test - You can obtain a driving test application form (DL26) from your driving instructor, any driving or theory test centre or by telephoning the driving test enquiry line.
What to Expect - The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) practical driving test is designed to test your ability to control the vehicle and to ensure what you have learnt over your lessons has stuck with you.
The DH5 Explained - The DH25 document is the document on which your driving test is logged. It is A4 sized, and is filled in by the examiner during the test.
After the test
P Plates - P plates (usually a white ‘P’ on a green background) are purely optional. They are intended to indicate to drivers that the driver has passed their driving test in the last couple of years. The idea of the ‘P’ plates was introduction.
Buying A New Car - When buying a new car there are a number of factors which merit careful consideration. The sheer volume of choice available to the UK buyer means it’s worth making sure that you go for the car that suits you best and still fits your budget.
Buying A Used Car - Buying a second hand car is a potential minefield. Recent surveys show that up to one in four second hand cars bought has a major problem within its first month. These problems can range from major mechanical failure to discovery of illegal sale.
Insurance - It is a legal requirement that all drivers must possess valid insurance for the vehicle they are driving that at least covers third party. Please ensure that you have adequate cover before driving.
Motorway Driving - Motorway driving may seem daunting at first but motorways are actually some of the safest roads in the UK. As motorway driving is not part of the driving test you may feel uncomfortable with driving on the motorway, if this is the case you might consider taking further lessons with an instructor on motorway driving.
Road Rage - Road rage is the term used to describe extreme anger and in some cases violence that arises when driving as a result of another’s perceived dangerous or erratic road use.
Nervous Drivers - Everyone feels nervous to some degree, but if you are concerned that your nerves will impede your performance, there are different measures to take to try and help you relax, have confidence, and pass your driving test smoothly.
Bad Weather Conditions - The diverse weather of the British seasons makes for an unpredictable driving experience. Even on the calmest, clearest day, bad weather can strike and force you to reconsider your travel plans.
Drink Driving - Drink driving is an accident waiting to happen and don’t think it wont happen to you! If you value your life and the lives of others, stay off alcohol or stay off the road.
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