  |
 |
| About | Recommendations | FAQs | Contact Us | Prices | Instructors | Tips | Links | Home |
FAQS |
|
How do I get a provisional license?Your local Post Office will have an application form or you can complete an on-line application at www.dvla.gov.uk. The issue of a provisional license currently costs £50.00.How long are your lessons?Usually 1 hour. This can be longer. 1½ or 2 hour lessons subject to instructor’s schedule and of course your own. 2 hour lessons are very demanding and not necessarily in your interest. Concentration can be difficult to maintain and unlike some driving schools, we do not insist on the longer lessons.What is your 1st time pass rate?You can ask the individual instructor, but let me answer your question with a question – A test candidate who booked a test without guidance is not quite ready and they are going away for some time. They want to “give it a go” before leaving. Does the instructor let them take the test with the probability they will fail or refuse to allow use of the car to protect their pass rate? An excessively high pass rate does not necessarily mean a good instructor. What is best for the pupil should be the priority.What Grade are you?You can ask the individual instructor. Instructors are tested on a regular basis. There are six grades. 1-3 are below acceptable standard and DSA will be taking action to retest an instructor who is 3 or below. Your instructor should be a 4,5 or 6 grade.Do you do weekends and evening lessons?Yes we do, but times for lessons are down to the individual instructor. Some work all or part weekends – others do not. Evenings are the same. Evenings and weekends are the times most in demand and an instructor may not always be available. This could lead to a delay in getting started.Do you have other pupils in the car?No. All lessons are without other pupils in the car as per our terms. If that were not the case, I would want to know about it to stop this practice by an individual instructor. It is called “Piggy-backing” and is to save non-earning travelling time between lessons. The lesson finishes at the next appointment and one of the pupils drives the other one home. It is not in the best interests of the pupil.What cars do you use?The cars used are down to the individual instructor’s choice. Mainly Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa. We have a Toyota Yaris and a Mini. It depends on your location and instructor availability.Do I have to pass the theory test before taking driving lessons?No. Ideally learning to drive and learning the rules of the road at the same time can help to develop both disciplines.Where is the nearest Theory Test Centre?Kingston-Upon-ThamesDrapers Court (4th Floor) Kingston Hall Road Kingston-Upon-Thames KT1 2BQ How many lessons would you recommend in one week?How much time do you have? If you are at work or college, perhaps still at school, there are other demands on your time. A one hour lesson per week can make learning to drive seem to go on forever, bear in mind you are looking at probably over forty hours in all. If you can manage two or three lessons per week, you will develop much more quickly keeping the momentum going and less likely to forget what you have learnt so far.What about intensive courses, do you recommend I take one of them?No! The pass rate for intensive courses is well below the national average, but may suit somebody who needs to learn quickly and is available for lessons every day for a specific period of say 1 or 2 weeks.The problem is you have to pass the theory test before you can book a practical test and it is a question of timing. After your training you may not have developed sufficiently to reach test standard and having spent so much time on learning it is a huge disappointment not to pass. Then it means more lessons until the next attempt. We can offer intensive or semi-intensive courses where necessary if we have an instructor available How many lessons will I need?That depends on you individually. DSA, AA and Churchill Insurance all recommend more than forty hours tuition. Some can learn much more quickly, others can take a long time and several attempts to pass the driving test.Which is the best Test Centre to use?Your nearest. The routes are all designed to be equally challenging. It can help to be familiar with the area. I am not necessarily saying learn the test routes, you need as much variation as possible to develop awareness and planning skills.Which Test Centres do you use?Ashford, Chertsey, Isleworth, Morden, Sutton, Tolworth and Wallington test centres are all within our range.How much is the driving test?You pay the Driving Standards Agency their booking fee (currently £56.00) and you pay your instructor for pre-test practise (usually an hour or so) plus use of car on test. We will then drop you off as arranged afterwards. See “Prices” for use of car on test. When the test centre is further away or the test is an extended test (following a ban), it will be priced individually.How long is the driving test?Usually 35-40 minutes depending on traffic and conditions on the day. The test must last at least 30 minutes to qualify as a driving test. If you are held up in a traffic jam you still complete the route however long it takes. In extreme cases the next test could be cancelled due to the late return of the examiner. An extended test where required following a ban is 60 minutes longCan I use my own car?Yes, you can. The car must be legal. You should provide an interior rear view mirror for the examiner. Seatbelts and head restraint should be correctly fitted for his/her safety. Where there have been recalls by the manufacturer for safety repair work, a certificate of proof (provided and stamped/dated by the garage repairer) must be produced or the driving test will not take place.Is the examiner only allowed to pass a certain number of people?Not true. If you drive to Highway Code standard and complete the various manoeuvres in a controlled and safe manner, you will be successful. Your examiner is not looking for a faultless drive. You are allowed 15 minor faults, but nothing serious or dangerous.If I make the same mistake three times will I fail?Not necessarily. It depends on whether making the same mistake several times could lead to problems for other roadusers. It also depends on your overall drive. I have seen as many as five same faults recorded after a successful driving test.Should I adjust my interior mirror so that the examiner can see me move my head when I am looking behind?No need, the examiner is trained to a high standard and will know that you are checking your mirrors regularly. They can see your eye movement and how you respond to the developing traffic situation around you.What is Passplus?Passplus is a post test course designed to develop your driving further with a professional instructor. There are 6 modules including motorway driving and must be at least 6 hours in total. DSA will issue a certificate as proof the course has been completed and this can be used to negotiate with participating insurance companies a cheaper insurance premium. |
|
 |
CALL NOW ON0800 804 6899 |
 |
