Driving Lessons

[SamHolmes]

A quick question for those who drive

How many lessons did you have and did you have any help aside from proper instructor lessons

[Lee Cable]

I had about 20 hours, and no, Because i done an intensive, i was told it would mess my test up, and passed first time,

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

I want to start learning to drive. Explain what I should do cos I have no idea. (other then the obvious phone a driving school)

[SamHolmes]

I want to start learning to drive. Explain what I should do cos I have no idea. (other then the obvious phone a driving school)

Send off for a Provisional lisence if you havn't already, once you have that just ring up and book some lessons

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

What about pass plus etc?

[BeNNy]

I've had 22 lessons and my test is on the 4th of April..

Let's hope i pass Sam eh?

[Haz]

What about pass plus etc?

Irrelevant untill you have passed your test.

[SamHolmes]

What about pass plus etc?

You dont have to take Pass Plus, it's only to get more experince once you pass the test

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

Is there any different ways in which to learn, like a accelerated course etc?

[Haz]

Not really worth it in my opinion. 7/10 I know who have had them, have crashed a short while after, because a lot of people just can't pick up everything they need to know in a week, maybe you can, look into it, but I would say, pobably not worth the time, if you can find an instructor who will do it, you could do more than 1 lesson a week, or do 2 hour lessons, if speed is really an issue.

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

Price is the main issue to be honest.

[trials rules]

There are a few options, firstly, if you aren't confident enough, you can go on this special mock up course, obviously you'll have to get on to proper roads at some point, there's your standard lessons, which usualy come as half an hour (a bit of a waste of time really), hour, 90 minutes and two hour. I always had an hour and a half, which i thought was about right, you don't get bored/ stressed but it's enough time to get into it and learn. There are intensive courses you can take, where you start monday and take your test friday or something, but i believe they are expensive. After a bit of learning, and learning your theory and hazard perception, book that test which is about £20, then get your practical test booked (about £50ish) and hope you pass.

After that there's the option of taking you pass plus, which costs around £100, depending on who you do it with, which basicaly gives you a qualification that says you can drive in different conditions and on the motorway (as opposed to the dual carriageway on lessons). As far as im aware thats all you do on the pass plus. The idea is that it gives you insurance discount, but it's only valid with some insurers. It would be wise go get an idea of the car you will be buying and get a few quotes form insurers to get an idea of the cheapest and if that company accepts pass plus.

Once you're all sorted, the world is your oyster, as long as your bank acount permits

Have fun!

To answer the original question, i had 23 hours, the average is between 30 and 40 i think. I only went out twice with my dad on a bit of quiet road where he works to get an idea of the basic controls, i.e understanding the clutch and gears etc. I think its a good idea to go and do that because it realy does give you a head start.

Edited March 26, 2007 by trials rules

[Haz]

You'll pay around the same for both, but mostly, with a driving instructor, if they are pay as you go, you can usually pay per lsson. With an intensive course, it will be nothing but a lump sum, and I have no idea how much it would be I'm afraid.

I had about 15 hour and a half lessons, cost about £23 a lesson, so that's £350 ish. Which seems about right for driving lessons, and more than likely more for an intensive course.

I did around 10 hours in my own car, which I don't feel helped me. I was ready for the test after the 15 hours, it's just i was not used to my car at all, and such I wasn't really ready to be out on the road alone.

[Punkrider]

I made a poll about this before here

I had 17 hours of driving alltogether, passed first time with 5 minors

[plainlazy84]

everybody seems to be bloody quick learners Hopefuly someone will cheer me up by saying it took them 80 hours and 6 goes to pass . Just joshing. I was told that the average these days is 40 - 50! Probably bull shit so I have to take more lessons though. My test is on 16th May by which time I will have had around 40 hours on the road (not practiced in a mates or parents car).

[Lee Cable]

Is there any different ways in which to learn, like a accelerated course etc?

I had a intensive, and i can honestly say it was the best thing ever. I passed within a week. I done my theory on my birthday, had a broken leg, as soon as i got out of cast on november 6th i started my intensive and passed on november 11th. I have friends that have spent hours upon hours every week, and still havent passed.

Mine cost me all in all, about 550quid, but im willing to be alot of people have spent alot more than that on lessons. Thats including my theory and test.

I didnt do pass plus, didnt reduce my insurance at all, so i didnt do it. Didnt see much point, im paying 360 quid a year, for a 1.4i corsa Mummy's insurance.

[Matthew62]

I did what BSM call an intensive course, and that was 6 hours a week, so 2 hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday, any more than that i think it would have been too much. Judging by how long everyone says their taking it seems rediculously short...17 hours? That seems very quick.

They say the average hours needed now is two and a half times your age...that can seem like quite a lot, but failing a test because your not ready is a waste of £50/£60 and then another 6 weeks waiting for another available test.

Just take as many lessons as you feel comfortable with and go for your test when you think that you are ready, no point rushing it as you'll have the rest of your life to drive.

I've recently passed in the last few months and already lessons seem a life time ago so dont get bogged down with them as they're not much fun as you feel so much more pressured in a lesson then once your driving when you've passed.

Everyone learns at different rates, the one thing is try to find a good instructor that works well with you, i was very lucky with mine.

I passed first time with the 6 hours a week thing, my girlfriend had a dodgy instructor in my opinion and did 1 or 2 hours once a week and took three attempts (all silly things failing for) and both of our tests were in Nottingham (if that makes any differance).