To consider flying to Scotland from London just for a driving test!!

[Wouldbedriver]

I’ve had 40 hours of driving lessons so far and passed the theory.

I don’t want to pay for any more lessons without a practical test in sight.

There are no tests available for any date here in the SE.

My instructor says booking one in a distant location, then swapping it for one that’s cancelled at an SE centre, doesn’t work any more. Because nobody’s cancelling a test around here as they’re so hard to get hold of. And bots are instantly hoovering up any new tests that may be released on a Monday morning.

So AIBU to think I should instead just fly up to Scotland and take a test up there? Obviously I wouldn’t know the roads but driving is driving, right? And there are plenty of tests available up there. Maybe make a holiday of it.

Or does my instructor need to be in the back of the car during the test?

How would you source a car when you were up there? Your instructor doesn’t need to be there but you do need use of a car of your own (or an instructors)

Have you tried Newport on the Isle of Wight?

Sounds good but you should get a driving instructor local to the test and pay them for 2 hours of lesson to familiarise yourself with the local roads and for use of they car.

Check out the pass rates at wherever it is you plan on doing your test. There are some places with much higher pass rates than others.

One of my kids friends has taken a 4 hour train ride this weekend just to take a driving test. I don't think it's unusual.

Book a test in Scotland and then pay for one of the bots to find you a cancellation. Same situation where I live but I moved my test 5 months forward using one of those automatic cancellation companies.

ETA: driving is driving but for an unexperienced driver, unfamiliar roads are just too much for a test. Your instructor doesn't need to be with you unless you want him but it is highly unlikely that a local instructor will let you take a test in their car without at least a couple of sessions to get to know you.

Heysham has a decent pass rate. Finding an instructor would be hard though.

What about one of the those 3-4 day pass in a week courses where you sit your test at the end?

How will you get to the centre is something to think about, you don’t need an instructor in the back but you do need a qualified driver to be in the car to get there and back. So you either need to take someone with you and hire a dual control car, borrows someone’s car or book in with an instructor for a couple of lessons and use there car for it.

Do it

Yes, this is what we did. Took my small car up to Inverness in case but also booked time with a local instructor beforehand who was happy for us to use his car. DSD passed but she said it was a much scarier drive than where she was planning to take it. I guess because you can’t avoid the A9 there whereas over here you don’t need to go onto an A road as there are lots of dual carriageways.

You'd need to consider what car you'll use, and how you'd get there and back.

I'd also have a think about which centre you would use. Driving (and getting tested) in Ullapool is entirely differently to somewhere like Anniesland. Booking with a private instructor for an hour or two once you pick the location is a good idea for getting used to local roads.

Agree with others, what car will you use? Getting an instructor for possibly 3 hours will not be easy as where I live they are all fully booked with waiting lists.

Also getting a test ain't easy here either!

Is there somewhere you can book some intensive driving lessons before taking the test?

Knowing the roads is a big advantage.

I would say not all test centres are equal. Aberfeldy only has two test routes as a small market town. I always think it’s worth considering it’s easier to practice somewhere small.

Thanks, everyone! Yes it was Inverness I was thinking of.

To be honest I hadn’t even thought about what car I’d drive during the test. I actually thought the examiner provided the car! Ooops.

I wont pay any money to one of those skimming apps, They should be banned!

Screenshot to show you can book for next week if you can get to Inverness!

Why should they be banned? They are not actually booking newly released slots, they are only monitoring cancellations. If it wasn't for them, I'd have to be online all day every day as the test centre doesn't exactly let you know when the test cancellation slot becomes available. Just pay the £20 and stop being a hero. Your boycott is entirely meaningless and only inconveniences you.

Get up Monday 5.55 and log on and book your preferred test centre then. Just did this last Monday plenty of slots available for March ( which is a long way away)
but will try and move it forward

If you're going to travel to Scotland for your rest pick on of the easy ones like the borders, so you don't have to do it a 2nd time and if making a holiday of it find a local instructor to give you a lesson or 2 in the area and the use of their car.

Also if you’re planning somewhere like Inverness look at the weather! It does affect driving.

Make a holiday of it, book a couple of lessons with a local instructor to familiarise yourself with the roads, and so you have a car to use for the test.

car isn’t provided! You can hire dual control ones in Inverness (dual isn’t required but for a hire one the only one you would get insurance on) and you’d need a qualified driver with you, but I’d recommend some lessons locally, Inverness can be a tough drive.

I can't imagine you being able to just book a handful of lessons locally so you have the car for a test. Instructors have waiting lists where I am still (not Inverness) so I would research this all before booking a test.

Yes

Okay so it sounds like this would be more complicated than I thought. And could easily end up costing £1000+ for flights from London, driving lessons in advanced of the test, the test itself, accommodation, etc.

That must be why more people don’t do it, and there are plenty of tests available in Inverness :)

Book a test at Worksop, it's an excellent test centre with excellent examiners. The pass rate is high too.
I live in the SE and our son had to take his test there (his gran lives nearby). He passed first time.