AIBU driving test

[TheLastLotus]

Started driving lessons a month before Covid - now resuming.
Currently I’m doing one lesson a week - but instructor recommends more than once so I can get more used to the car. He is very much in demand and so fits students into slots as early as possible.
My problem is that the earliest test date I can find is August. I’ve signed up for a rebooking service that lets me know if available slots.

Is it U to continue with one lesson a week until I have a test date - then take two weeks off work and do an intensive course with a different instructor?

I really need to pass as quickly as possible- now WFH but work’s in the middle of nowhere with shitty transport. Returning in July. Also I’m paying for all these lessons myself and have been scrimping/saving - I have a bit of money to throw at the problem but ofc If it runs out due to delayed tests etc then I’m in trouble. I don’t have a parent or anyone else’s car to borrow for practice so lessons are my only option.

Please please help me out wise ladies of mumsnet!

You can afford it so do 2 lessons a week. If the soonest test is August then so be it. There is every point in keeping lessons and little point in hoping for an intensive nearer the time. How about the theory, can you get that booked?

There’s an app you can download on your phone that sends you a notification when there’s a cancellation and you can book that slot straight away.

If you use that you’ll get a test before August no problem.

I voted YABU just because of instructor car availability on the day of your test. My husband tried switching instructors a few years ago and really struggled to get someone to agree to take him so close to a booked test (2 months). We looked into private car use for the test but that looked like an even bigger headache to sort out.

I'd stick with 1 lesson a week for now then up it to 2 when you're closer to your test. That way you're getting regular practice, you have an instructors car booked for the test and you can up your practice as the test nears. Make sure your instructor has booked out the time of and around for your test for you too.

@rainbowthoughts I did my theory in January last year. At that time I didn’t know you could learn without it 😂

I generally wouldn’t feel confident taking the test without several hours of practice the week before at least. My original plan was to get several hours a week with this instructor in the month leading up to the test.

The issue is that with the unknown test date I can’t get my current instructor for several hours a week - so would have to go to someone else. I don’t have enough money to do twice a week and intensive in August. I could do it if test was earlier, say in June.

@19lottie82 do you know anyone who used this during Covid?
I have an app like you mentioned but it’s guaranteed - and the two peoples I spoke to who used it didn’t get a test and had their money refunded

@RunHobbitRun what you’ve outlined is my worry 🤣
What you mentioned was my original plan but the issue is the uncertain test date. If the booking service gives me one but only a week before test - my instructor definitely won’t be available and I don’t want to go into test having had no practice apart from my usual biweekly slot

Intensive is hard enough to get in the weeks before a test without the covid demand being added in. You would be better just learning slow and steady until august. No instructor will suddenly be able to accommodate you for lots of extra hours for an odd week or so before your test. If they can I would be questioning their ability and reputation as the demand is huge and most instructors have waiting lists to fill, not empty places. Great if you can get this nearer the time, but I would not bank on it being a certainty- do as much as you can weekly.

How long have you been having lessons already?

Agree with PP that if your instructor is quite booked up, if you get a short notice test, what car are you going to use to take a test in?

If you've had a few lessons already, is there a partner/relative/friend who can let you drive with them to practice?

August is 15-16 weeks away - I have no idea how much a lesson costs these days, but could work out expensive. Are you certain your DI's motivation isn't based more on boosting his income?

I'd stick with the August test dates, and maybe book some additional lessons in the weeks closer to the test.

I would do the 2 lessons a week and cancel the intensive course.

DH has had loads of people phone him trying to get a test car after booking intensive courses like this. He has a full diary himself so can never fit them in. If you're not test ready or confident by August with your usual instructor an intensive course might not be of much be either.

*benefit

I managed to pass my test on one lesson a week. I wouldn't recommend trying tk switch instructor before your test. Driving a different car can take a bit of getting used to so could throw you off.

Sorry but if you only started a month before lockdown and now started again, has the instructor actually said you are ready to take the test, at all, in August or earlier? I get there is a backlog so good idea to get it booked but you've only just started really

I also agree, 2 lessons a week and book the August test. My husband is a driving instructor, I can’t make assumptions about others but there’s no way he’d encourage someone to do more lessons to boost his income as someone suggested, he’s overrun with people wanting lessons, has a full waiting list and is turning people away for his list now. He’d like nothing more than for his pupils to pass their test so that he can get actually fit people in!

Why not do an intensive course now then use your weekly lessons to keep yourself prepared so you're ready as soon as a test becomes available? If you feel you'll need practice in the week before your test, would a relative or friend be able to take you out in their car (or your own) for practice? Covered On Demand provide insurance for a few days or a week.

You’re not unreasonable to do that but I’d say just do two lessons a week. I did two lessons a week from jan-may abs passed first time.

I started off with weekly lessons with no family car to practice in and they are a bit pointless by the time you've recapped the previous week, been introduced to a new skill and practised it a couple of times the lesson is over.
Try two lessons a week, a Sunday am slot is good as less people on the road so you get more driving time instead of being stuck in traffic.

How competent are you? Are you still learning new skills or are you just driving around with little active tuition gaining experience?

Book the August test, chances are you won't pass first time, not many people do, look at it as a mock so you know what to expect next time.

@PurpleMustang My instructor’s assessment is that with lessons more than once a week I can be test ready in about 2 months. Given that on my first lesson back after a year i retained good steering control of the car - v smooth around bends etc. That’s where we left off. He also took me on a busier road with other cars around for the first time - while not perfect I certainly wasn’t terrible.

However I’m anxious about the test because a lot of people fail on technicalities. Even if I’m a very good driver I can’t guarantee that nerves won’t make me do something silly. That’s another why I want an early test - if I fail first time I can have another go.
Based on what everyone has said regarding intensive courses and cars it looks like a second instructor won’t be a good idea.
I think I’ll take my chances with getting a cancelled test slot and be ready by June. If it doesn’t work out I’ll drop back to once a week until August for another round of lots of lessons....
This might cost more but I don’t have any choice. I don’t have any friends/family to practice with.

However I’m anxious about the test because a lot of people fail on technicalities.

I've asked DH & the most common reasons for failures - bearing in mind you can have up to 15 minor faults (but maybe not more than 3-4 of the same fault) are:

Not checking mirrors enough
Not checking blind spots
Getting too close to parked vehicles more than once

More serious faults would be ones that make other drivers slow down, stop or have to change direction, speeding, driving wrong way down one way street, not stopping at lights, trying to go the wrong way round a roundabout (one of his friend's pupils did this) etc. They're the 'automatic' fails.

@iklboo thanks!

Is your test local? On the lead up to my test, my instructor took me round all the different routes they use for the tests and then went over the places where I had issues (there was a turn which I redid for an entire 20 minutes as I had trouble with it).

Also, are your lessons one or two hours? I found one 2 hour lesson to be much better than two 1 hour lessons.

I had mine booked for August and checked and checked every day and managed to get one in May.Its worth persevering.

@slashlover the one I've managed to book isn't really local... half an hour drive away. Lessons are 2 hours

I only did 1.5 hrs a week and passed first time. I think I did an extra lesson the week before. You've got loads of time to practice. I wouldn't bother with the intensive or extra lessons