DD - learning to drive

[BlackBean2023]

DD is 17 and about to start driving lessons. The closest test date at our local test centre is February.

I know we can book any test and wait for a cancellation but the whole system is weird and stressful to me so I'd rather just get one booked and keep it.

Would we be mad to book it now (her theory is next week) and assume that in 5 months DD can learn to drive!? She'll be having 3 hours tuition a week - one 1 hour lesson and one 2 hour lesson - with an instructor so will have had around 60 hours with an instructor plus regular practice in her own car with us.

A couple of instructors seem put off by the idea of her a) completing her theory before she's had a lesson and b) working to a test deadline albeit one 5 months away!

I'd get one booked, you can always change it in a couple of months if it looks like she won't be ready by then.

I did one of those week long courses started on a Monday and the test Friday lunchtime. (This was many moons ago) so I would think 5 months is plenty of time.

Is it normally this long to get a test date?

Booking a driving test now is like a drug deal - seriously, people selling short notice tests at inflated prices on Snapchat is an actual thing!

That’s an awful lot of pressure to put on your daughter. She hasn’t taken one lesson yet, she doesn’t know how quickly she’ll take to it. Is she driving manual for example, a few people find after many lessons that they can’t take to it and prefer automatic. Knowing she already has a test booked for February means she’s heading in with a certain timeframe expected to be test ready. The theory is less so, if she passes that then obviously it’s a two year timeframe. I’d hold off for at least a month before even looking at a test date, and even then take her lead. She’s old enough to make these bookings herself.

I’m not sure you can even book a practical test until you’ve passed the theory as you used to need the theory certificate number to book a practical test

Ok 😂 wasn’t like that back in my day you could get one for the next day.

It's normal now, since COVID. Massive backlog still and DVLA doesn't seem to care. Hugely unfair on our young people.

Edited because in my skim reading I completely missed most of the OP. Apologies.

She has a theory test booked next week and I would be very surprised if she doesn't pass as she's been revising for months!

She'll definitely learn manual. dMiL lives on private land so she already knows the basics of moving off/changing gear but will need proper tuition on the right way to drive!

A couple of instructors seem put off by the idea of her a) completing her theory before she's had a lesson and b) working to a test deadline albeit one 5 months away!

That's odd, we're looking at this now and DD'S friend who has already started lessons said her instructor asked that she has passed the theory test before her lessons started. So we've already booked DD into a theory test, I've yet to book lessons. But will do as soon as she passes the test then book her practical as like you it could be months before one is available. DH is hoping to teacher her some as well, but we are also going to so lessons.

Our experience recently was that you had to book your theory test before an instructor would take you on, and you can’t book the driving test until you’ve passed your theory.

Typical wait was around 5-7 months for a driving test from date of booking. Good driving instructors tended to have waiting lists of several months.

DS turned 17 in July and passed his test in October. He had about 8 hours of lessons.
The best thing we did was to get him to drive everywhere we went. Loads of practice so he was a confident driver.

Massively unfair. You think they would want to offer more tests as it’s money into government coffers.

But maybe it is difficult to qualify as a driving examiner (I have no idea) ?

Yes practice is the key.

I’d definitely book it, you could always reschedule if needed. Covid caused a huge backlog when both of mine were ready to sit tests and when dd decided she was ready and booked her test she had to wait 6 months until test, so once theory is passed book it then.

@Poppins21 I think examining is also not very well paid so recruitment is not high.

They've even closed an exam centre near us, which is simply wrong when there is so much unmet demand for tests.

That’s madness to close the test centre.

🤣🤣🤣 I wonder why it has gotten so bad?! I remember 8 years ago it was bad but obviously gotten a lot worse!!

Ok did some googling a 4 week course and salary of around £30k if anyone fancies becoming a driving test examiner 😂 obviously a full driving licence needed.

I am learning to drive, my test is December (I booked it in may and it was the only date available) If I fail, which is obviously fairly normal for a first test, then I’m dreading waiting another 6/7 months. No cancellations pop up because tests are like gold dust in the first place so people aren’t going to just reschedule.

OP, once they have passed their theory I would definitely book a practical.

DS is having his lessons intensive style and the school books the test for him. They booked one for a friday and he had the lessons for the week before (he had been having some practice with us before) but its possible for a complete beginner to do that in a week.

They tend to get lessons quicker then we can as they are constantly looking for cancellations etc so it takes the hassle out for us.

Absolutely book it as soon as she's passed her theory.

I was advised to do this by my instructor when I was learning and the waiting times have gone up since then.

Whatever you do though, don't make the same mistake as me and book it in an area she's not familiar with. I failed three times doing that. Passed the first time I took it in my local area.

No pressure if don't tell the daughter that the test booked.

I was about to comment this. Don’t tell DD until end of the year. See if she feels comfortable with a test in a couple months. Can change it if needed.

My DS had practical lessons before passing theory test. Did take him 5 attempts though.

Fortunately he passed practical first time. He was 17 during lockdown so later starting lessons. I think he got a cancellation about 6 weeks in advance ( he sorted himself)

True, but she’s already sitting the theory before starting lessons as well. And the op sorting/booking everything for asap. I know the freedom of driving is an exciting prospect but I’m wondering if it’s being pushed so quickly from the daughter or the op’s side. At just turned 17 it’s best to at least establish confidence behind the wheel before thinking of either test. I know plenty on MN will say how their teen (usually male) learned to drive perfectly after a week and how they took them out 20 hours a day to practice, but the reality is driving is something that takes time. Rushing every aspect of it isn’t a good idea. And I do appreciate the shitty inability to book a test, I had my first booked at the end of March in 2020. I don’t need to explain the nightmare of actually rebooking and sitting that followed.