Driving Test Fees Increase From 30th March 2009

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have announced an increase in driving test fees from 30th March 2009 as follows;

Theory Test;
£31.00

Practical test;
£62.00 (daytime Monday to Friday)
£75.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

Extended driving test (following disqualification);
£124.00 (daytime Monday to Friday)
£150.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

The fee increases will apply to theory and practical driving tests booked on or after 30 March 2009.

DETAILS OF ALL TEST FEE INCREASES CAN BE SEEN AT DSA - Driving Standards Agency announces changes to test fees

The fee for the tests are currently;

Theory test £30.00

Practical test
£56.50 (daytime Monday to Friday)
£67.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

Extended driving tests
£113.00 (daytime Monday to Friday)
£134.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

How To Find A Good Driving Instructor - Questions To Ask

What questions should you ask to help you choose a driving instructor?

Don't be afraid to ask relevant questions...but you need to know what you're asking and more importantly what the answers you get actually mean....

You may have seen long lists of suggested "things to ask about", including,

"What are your pass rates?" and,
"What grade will my instructor be?"

A word of advice about those particular two questions though!

The "driving instructor pass rates" question is meaningless for all practical purposes, as statistics can mean anything you want them to mean! I've heard driving instructors quote a "100% Pass Rate", justified on the basis that "everyone passes eventually". Is it true? Of course not...some people give up learning and never pass...some people pass first time and some pass after several attempts, so how do you measure a "pass rate"??????

A "pass rate" is only relevant if everyone is interpreting statistics in the same way...but they don't, so using a test pass rate as a basis for choosing an instructor is pretty pointless!

Much the same can be said of the "driving instructor grade" question. You wouldn't ask a doctor or a solicitor or a plumber or any other qualified professional person what their "grade" is would you?... so why ask a qualified driving instructor that question? The qualification process to become a driving instructor is VERY challenging and involves not only the ability to drive to a very high standard, but also to teach to a very high standard. Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's) have passed all three of the qualification exams required and they are also regularly re-assessed by the Driving Standards Agency to ensure that the standards of their instruction remain consistently high. Newly qualified instructors aren't even graded at all...

Examples of better "relevant questions" to help you choose a driving instructor include;

* do tuition vehicles have dual controls (and if you'll be learning to drive in the summer, air conditioning :) )?

* if you have any specific needs such as wanting a female instructor or an automatic vehicle etc, ask whether the driving school or instructor can supply your needs

* can you be picked up from one place and dropped off somewhere different (e.g picked up from work/college and dropped off at home etc)?

* are there any discounts available?

* can you have a reduced price introductory lesson to see how
you get on with the instructor?

* how long are lessons?

* what is the lesson cancellation policy? (you may well be charged if you do not give adequate notice if you need to cancel a driving lesson, so this question is well worth asking)

* will you be the only pupil in the car? (some instructors still "piggy-back" i.e pick up or drop off their next pupil during your lesson time...this is rare now thankfully but there are still some driving instructors out there who continue the practice...see "Piggybacking?" for more details)

* (this isn't a question as such, but having spoken to the instructor, you'll be in a position to know the answer) - can you understand what the instructor is saying? It's vital that you can understand what you're being asked to do
and be understood in return...

Further guidance on "relevant" questions you might like to ask can be found at - A Few More Things To Think About When Choosing A Driving Instructor!.

Driving Test Fees Rising From 30th March 2009

The Driving Standards Agency propose to introduce new fees for theory and practical tests booked on or after 30 March 2009.


Theory tests for learner car drivers and motorcycle riders;

£31.00 (currently £30.00 - an increase of £1.00)


Practical tests for learner car drivers;

£63.50 - daytime Monday to Friday (currently £56.50 - an increase of £7.00)

£75.00 - weekday evenings and weekends (currently £67.00 - an increase of £8.00)


Extended practical tests for learner car drivers (following disqualification);

£127.00 - daytime Monday to Friday (currently £113.00 - an increase of £14.00)

£150.00 - weekday evenings and weekends (currently £134.00 - an increase of £16.00)


Please see A CONSULTATION PAPER - DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY FEES 2009 for more details.

Driving Test Nerves!

Driving test nerves...getting nervous and stressed out is the reason that many learner drivers fail their driving tests!

"How can I overcome driving test nerves?"

As someone who works in the UK driver training industry, I come across this question on a regular basis!

No matter how well prepared they are, nearly everyone gets nervous about taking their driving test!

Even people who are normally "cool as a cucumber" no matter what life throws at them, can find themselves reduced to a nerve-wracked, quivering, nail biting, stressed-out jelly as the day of their driving test gets closer and closer...

Why do people get so nervous about taking a driving test and what can be done to help those who suffer from nerves as the day of their driving test approaches?

I've written a webpage that looks at the subject of how to cope with driving test nerves. It examines the reasons why people get so nervous about taking their driving test and outlines ways to reduce and maybe even eliminate driving test nerves, anxiety and stress. You'll find lots of hints and tips, self-help, videos and a selection of commercially available products designed to help you try to cope with driving test nerves!

So if you're suffering from nerves, stress or anxiety in the run-up to your driving test and want to know how to deal with how you feel and try to find effective ways to stop your nerves adversely affecting the way you drive on the day of your test, please have a look at How To Overcome Driving Test Nerves

How too!

How too, Reverse Park into a parking space, Reverse Park beside the road (parellel park), Left and right reverse around a corner and finally how too carry out the Turn in the Road (3 point turn). To find the answers to these and many other questions visit www.your-online-driving-school.co.uk

Driving Practise E-Book

Please find an extract from www.your-online-driving-school.co.uk website on an extremely useful e-book, that could well save you money on your driving lessons!
Private practice e-book
When I started my training to become an ADI I remember being surprised at just how much you had to think about, both in the planning of lessons and what needed to be said and watched for during the lessons. As an experienced driver who also had experience of training people in a previous career, I thought that I already knew what to say and do to teach someone to drive. However I soon realised this was not the case and discovered just how easy it was to miss out important information or miss errors in the learner's drive and much much more! But with the right information and advice I was soon providing good quality tuition, enabling my pupils to become good competent drivers and of course pass their driving tests.
This E-Book has 11 sections, each of which will assist you to provide good private driving practice. After downloading to your computer you can either print out the complete book or just particular sections, or simply read directly from your computer
Introduction - explains why the book has been produced
Legal Requirements - can you accompany the learner?
Your Aims - how you should approach driving instruction
The Theory & Hazard Perception Tests - detailing what is involved
Lesson Plans - giving 'Lesson Briefings' and important advice on how to practise
Under Instruction or Test Standard - how to tell if the learner is ready for their test
Mock Tests - a very useful tool in preparing a learner for their test
Vehicle Safety Check Questions - all the official questions and answers
Driving Test - useful information and advice gained from many years experience
You've Passed! - what's next?
Links - useful websites
All this for just £3.95 please visit www.your-online-driving-school.co.uk for more information.

Learning to drive age limit!

As a driving instructor I am reguarly asked when is the minimum age for learning to drive going to change?The answer is the same as it was over 20 years ago when I was learning to drive, and that is there is no change, the minimum age (in most cases) is still 17 years old. The Driving Stanards Agency (DSA) are currently conducting a consultation paper on various aspects relating to learning to drive. One of the areas being considered is the minimum age limit. My own feelings are that there will be no change, however when the final decisions on the consultation paper are published we will advise you here of any changes. All information correct at October 2008 We hope that you find the following pages helpful and informative