1. Make sure you’ve had enough lessons
It might sound obvious, but don’t take your driving test until you’re ready. Lots of people fail the driving test just because they haven’t taken enough lessons to pass. There’s no point in taking the driving test until your driving instructor says you’re ready.
You’re likely to waste your time and money if you take it too soon. A UK driving test costs £62. Plus the use of your instructor’s car on the day will cost another £50 or so. Then there’s the cost of remedial lessons if you don’t pass. It adds up to a lot of money!
And don’t rush to take a driving test just because your mates passed in ten or twenty hours. Everyone learns at their own pace and you need to be driving safely and confidently without any instruction before you even think about taking a test.
P.S. On average it takes people 45 hours of driving lessons and 22 hours of practice with relatives or friends to learn to drive.
2. Take a look at the top reasons people fail – and how to avoid them
These are the top ten reasons why people fail their driving tests – and how NOT to make them.
If you’re regularly making these kinds of mistakes on your driving lessons, you definitely need more practice before you’re ready to take your test.
3. Keep your nerves under control
Almost everyone gets nervous about their driving test. Who wouldn’t? The driving examiner knows you’ll be nervous and will do their best to put you at your ease.
But to pass, you’ll need to keep your nerves under control. Try these things to help:
- don’t book your test at a time when you know other stressful things are happening, like your exams
- make sure you get a few good nights’ sleep before your test – you’ll feel more stressed if you’re tired
- avoid too much caffeine before your test – it might make you feel jittery and nervous
- talk to the examiner during the test if you want to – but remember that they might not say much because they don’t want to distract you from your driving
- ask your examiner if there’s anything you’re not sure about – remember, they just want to make sure you’re safe on the road – they’re not trying to catch you out.
How to beat driving test nerves
4. Make sure you know how the test works
You will feel more relaxed and have a better chance of passing first time if you know exactly how the test works.
Take a look at this video, or read the guide about what happens during the test.
5. Make sure you take the right things to your driving test
Imagine you’ve been preparing for months, the big day has finally arrived and you get to the driving test centre…. only to realise you’ve left your driving licence at home.
Over 4,500 driving tests didn’t go ahead between April 2015 and March 2016 because people either didn’t take the right documents with them or took an unsuitable car.
Not only will your dreams of being able to drive later that day be dashed, but you’ll also have to have again for another test.
Make sure you’ve checked the list of what to take with you and that you’ve got everything with you on the day.