Taking the Driving Test - IN YOUR OWN CAR. (Advice on passing practical driving test)

Member Name: malibu_jenny

Product:	Advice on passing practical driving test
Date:	06/04/09 (675 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper, less pressure,

Disadvantages: There's a lot more to remember if you use your own car.

Ever found that you ask your driving instructor a question and they answer with "We can cover that on the day of the test"? I'm starting to think that's just to make sure you take your test with them. Your Driving Test is a lot of pressure, not least because of the cost of the test and two hour lesson slot. Here are my tips if you decide to go it alone.

For some reason I always thought that booking the test would be the easy bit, when in fact it turned out to be really hard. It was coming up to two years since my theory test when I suddenly panicked realising this would expire. As it had been a while, I rushed to book a couple of lessons with my very good instructor, built up my confidence over a fortnight and then tried to book a test. The website drew a blank, after feeding in all my information half a dozen times, it came up with a message saying that there were no tests at my local test centre. I phoned the helpline (which irritatingly is only open during working weekdays) to find the next available test was over three months away.

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Tip 1) Book as far in advance as you possibly can.

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Every morning for over a week I rang the helpline, each time having to wade my way through all this information; theory test pass number, driving licence number, instructor's ADI number, date of birth. All on a premium rate phone number calling from a mobile. I repeatedly drew a blank, until a Monday morning cancellation. But my instructor was away on a long weekend, so I had no car to take it in.....or did I? I asked if I could take it in The Boyfriend's Fiesta and she began checking the make and model to see if this was allowed.

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Tip 2) You can only take the driving test in certain cars - check the DSA website for a full list or call the helpline. The car will have to have been produced in a year where there were no known recalls or parts failures.

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Our Fiesta was from 1999. As pretty much every other year was disallowed, we decided this was fate and I paid up for the test on my debit card while The Boyfriend swung the car towards Halfords so we could spend yet more money.

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Tip 3) You need an additional rear view mirror to take the driving test in your own car. Make sure you check when you buy it that it's compatible. You also need to make sure that the dashboard is relatively clear and that the examiner can see your speedometer.

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Did I want to drive there? Mmm, maybe. Was there anything I wanted to practice? Ah. I'd never tried any manoeuvres in his car. Also, my driving instructor's car had marks on the back window with a little screen to help you reverse round corners and I'd got used to it. Now I had to do it in a car with nothing and we didn't really have time. I tried a swift three-point turn (not great as I wasn't used to the steering) and a reverse round the corner, which was fine. I decided that I didn't want to do too much in case I tired myself out and wasn't able to concentrate on the test.

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Tip 4) Practice in the car you plan on taking the test in. Before the day you take the test.

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We headed for the test centre. By now The Boyfriend was a bag of nerves about me taking the test, especially in his car. Somehow, the more anxious he got, the calmer I was and I didn't feel nervous until we got to the test centre. As we stuffed rubbish and hi-vis clothing out of sight into the boot, it really hit me.

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Tip 5) You need to have someone over 21, who has been driving for more than three years and is insured on the car. They need to accompany you to the test centre and take you home but they don't have to sit in the car while you do it.

Tip 6) Get your person over 21 to park in the test centre car park in such a way that you can get out easily.

Tip 7) Don't arrive more that 15 minutes prior to your test - they don't like it and there won't be room to park your car.

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While I peered at number plates, the examiner told me that we would be doing the emergency stop. When he saw our car, he changed his mind. Walking round, he anxiously kicked at the tyres and checked the tax disk. Having satisfied himself that it must be roadworthy, he got in and put the mirror up. You have to answer questions on your car such as where you refill the windscreen wash and how you demonstrate the power steering. I got the question on the power steering and only after I answered did I begin to ponder whether or not the car actually had it.

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Tip 8) Make sure there is reasonable tread on your tyres.

Tip 9) Look through the manual, find out all the features your car has before the test.

Tip 10) Know where things are under the bonnet and how to open it.

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I was a little paranoid that the Kwik-Fit van which The Boyfriend had antagonised on the way would see me and wreak revenge thinking I was him. However, I had more pressing concerns, halfway round the route, the petrol light came on.

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Tip 11) Fill the tank before the test.

Tip 12) If you make a mistake don't highlight it by pointing it out to the examiner. Keep very quiet.

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We made it back to the test centre in one piece, me thinking I'd failed and the examiner questioning me on whether or not the car would make it given the strange clunking noise and the wobbly steering. By some miracle I'd passed (perhaps he just thought I couldn't afford any more lessons and felt sorry for me). There's something nice about having passed in a car that rattles and smells of dog as opposed to a chemically pristine Corsa and I think I was far more relaxed taking the test in our car than I would have been otherwise.

There's absolutely nothing to stop you taking the test in your own car provided you follow the rules. I was worried that I'd look like a crazy girl racer who'd pre-emptively bought herself a car, or worse still someone who thought they were so good that they didn't need an instructor. While it is sensible to take it with your instructor if possible, it's cheaper and more relaxing to do it in your own car and for me it worked.

Summary: I thought I'd never get through - Don't give up on driving!!!