You’ve finally turned 17, and you’re eager to get behind the wheel and learn how to drive. Fantastic!
But the whole process of learning can cost you hundreds, maybe even thousands of pounds. A horrible dose of reality, I know. But don’t let that put you off. There are ways to become an independent driver that won’t feel like it’s taking forever, and more importantly, won’t break the bank.
Firstly, it’s an enormous help if you’ve already got a car, or insured on your parents’ motor. Driving with a responsible adult outside of being taught by a certified tutor will see your skills come on leaps and bounds. As they say: practice, most definitely, makes perfect.
image credit: nutmeg66
But the one thing to remember here is: only the instructor can submit you for a test. So do the basics with an adult and learn the driving tricks for the test off your instructor.
Shop Around
The internet is a useful tool, so use it to do some extensive research into the driving schools and instructors around your area. It’s more beneficial to use a tutor that operates in quite a wide area, so you can really test your skills to the limit. But also keep in mind that a tutor operating a wide area will most likely have quite a lot of students to take care of. Always get to know them first, that doesn’t mean you need to invite them for out for a drink, just ask to have a practice lesson. Usually, tutors offer this anyway, for free! It’s all about feeling comfortable with the car and the person who will hopefully lead you to be a certified driver.
Theory Test
Passing your theory test can be a doddle if you put in the effort. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) recommends about 20 hours of revision will be enough to give you the knowledge and confidence to succeed.
It’s all about taking it seriously. Many people just see it as a test of their common sense, when the reality is: only 46% of test candidates pass the theory test on their first attempt. The questions set on the test aren’t meant to trip you up. But a lot of candidates find themselves scratching their head when they come up to a question such as: ‘Name three situations where you may overtake another vehicle on the left?’ Overtaking is something an experienced driver may not even think about. They see the opportunity to overtake, check to see if the oncoming is clear and ‘vroom,’ off they go. But theoretically, there are actually rules to it.
Buy the books and CDs, and put in the hours advised to make sure you don’t need to keep re-sitting – it’s £31 each time! Also, when it comes to booking your test, make sure you find a centre near you. If you need any assistance with this, check out www.booktheorytesttoday.com for a quick and simple way to find your local test centre.
The best way to save money when it comes to learning to drive is to be prepared. The phrase: ‘Practice makes perfect’ is perhaps the best way to sum it up. If you have a car to practice in outside of your tutor hours, you’ll get to where you want to be faster. If not, don’t worry about it. Listen to the advice given in your lessons and try your best!