Here is drivinglesson.com’s ‘all you need to know’ about learning to drive in Burton on Trent. 

About us

You can count on drivinglesson.com for our reputation of friendly and encouraging instructors that cover the Burton on Trent area. Get excellent value driving lessons at a reasonable price and pass your test with flying colours!

Our instructors don’t only teach you all you need to know to pass your test, but they give YOU the life skill of driving on the road as a safe and comfortable driver. Our instructors are known to go just that extra mile! So, what’s stopping you? Get started today by putting a booking through our website or call us on 08001075724.

How to get on the road!

Follow our step by step guide to getting you that all desired experience and life skill of driving!

Step 1 – Provisional licence

Before being able to get into a car and start learning to drive, you will need to acquire a provisional licence. If you don’t already have one you will need to either go online to https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence or collect a form from the DVLA form ordering service or your local post office.

Step 2 - Lessons

The second step to take is to book in your driving lessons. Get yourself booked in and learn all the needed knowledge for a skilled driver. Your lessons can take from a couple of months or up to 2 years depending on your own learning ability. We have made a list of the main things you will learn on your lessons;

·       The cockpit drill

·       Road signs

·       Left and right turns

·       Emergency stop

·       Speed limits

·       Reverse right

·       Reverse left

·       Reverse park

·       Bay park

·       Dual carriageways

·       Show me/ tell me.

·       Dealing with different weather conditions

 

Step 3 – Theory

So, your theory is the first test you need to take. Although most people will do this once they already have their lessons booked, you can get this done before-hand. To book this you can go to https://www.gov.uk/book-theory-test, and the certificate lasts 2 years. An example of a multiple-choice theory question would be;

You've just passed your practical test. You don't hold a full licence in another category. Within two years you get six penalty points on your licence. What will you have to do?

1.   Retake only your theory test

2.   Retake your theory and practical tests

3.   Retake only your practical test

4.   Reapply for your full licence immediately

As well as 50 multiple-choice questions like this one, you will have to participate in a couple of hazard perception clips where you have click to click as early as possible when there is a hazard arising.

 

Step 4 – practical test

The final test is the practical part, on this test you and your instructor will drive to the test centre you have booked with and an examiner will take you out on a 40-minute drive. To book your practical test go to https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test. Within the 40 minute drive, your test will include;

An eyesight check

The examiner will ask you to read a number plate from a distance of about 20 metres, make sure you bring any eye wear that you need to be able to read as if you fail the eyesight check they will end the driving test and mark it as a fail.

‘Show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions

Within the test you will be asked 2 vehicle safety questions, one ‘show me’ and one ‘tell me’. Examples of these would be; 

·       ‘Show me’ how you would check that the horn is working.

·       ‘Tell me’ how you would check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

 

General driving ability

The examiner is assessing your own driving ability. They will be judging you on your skill of observation, use of your mirrors, steering control, how you approach and deal with junctions, positioning on the road, response to signals and road markings, these are common errors when done incorrectly. 

Independent driving

An independent drive will take place within your drive, this where it is down to you follow signs rather than instruction for where the examiner has asked you to go. The independent drive lasts for around 20 minutes and could include following a SatNav too. Don’t worry about going the wrong way as you do not fail for this, as long as you went the wrong way safely.

Step 5 – After practical test outcome

Failing – Don’t worry if you have failed on your first attempt, see it as a positive that you now have experience of what the real-life test is like and use the examiners feedback as constructive criticism.   

When you’ve passed –

You’ve passed! But your journey doesn’t stop there, it is said that you really learn to drive once you’ve passed.