Manual Driving Lessons Locations

When it comes to learn to control the car an automatic gearbox vehicle is likely easier than a manual. You will probably need less hours since you don’t have to deal with the clutch, gear changes and the gear lever. However you’ll be then restricted to drive an automatic gearbox vehicle only so the only way to drive a manual car if you attempt and pass another driving test in a manual car.

In a nutshell the answer is YES. It is still a good idea to learn to drive a manual car. Our government has announced  that all NEW conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans are set to be banned from sale in the UK in 2030. It means from 2030 we can no longer purchase any NEW vehicle fitted with internal combustion engine. Since all hybrid and electric vehicles are fitted with an automatic gearbox it might make sense to think we no longer can drive petrol or diesel cars. So can we still drive a petrol or Diesel engine after 2030? Yes! As this ban will only affect new cars, you will still be able to drive a used petrol or diesel car after 2030. There will not be a requirement for you to scrap or sell your car straight away and move to hybrid or electric cars. Instead, you will only need to change to an alternative fuel car when you’re ready.

If you’re just visiting the UK for a short period of time you should be fine to use your foreign driving licence to drive. However, if you intend to stay for over a year or more, you might want to think about exchanging your licence for a UK one.

EU Driving Licence in UK

If you hold a full licence issued in a country within the European Union you can drive in Great Britain using your original licence until it expires. What’s more, there’s no need to exchange it or retake your driving test. The same applies to those with a European Economic Community (EEC) licence.

Your licence will expire when you turn 70, but if you’re 67 or over when you become a UK resident you can drive for three years. After this time, you must exchange your licence.

‘Designated’ countries licence types

You can drive in the UK for up to 12 months on a licence issued in a ‘designated country’ (Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe).

After this period, you must exchange your licence to keep on driving. You can exchange it up to five years after becoming a UK resident (if it hasn’t expired) without having to retake your driving test.

The same rule applies for holders of driving licences issued in Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.

Other countries

If your licence was not issued in the EU or a designated country, the DVLA states you can drive any category of small vehicle (motorcycles, cars, vehicles up to 3,500kg such as vans, or with up to eight passenger seats) in the UK on your original full, valid licence for 12 months.

If you want to carry on driving in the UK after this point, you’ll need to apply for a UK provisional licence and pass the UK practical test. You’re not required to take any driving lessons in the UK before taking the test, but you might find it helpful to get familiar with The Highway Code and brush up on your driving skills.

You will need to bring along
– your Provisional Driving Licence in order for your instructor to check
– your glasses, should you wear them for driving. Your instructor will check your eye sight on the first lesson so they can advise you if your eye sight should be checked by an optic
– appropriate footwear, make sure to wear comfy shoes, no slippers

The first lesson always starts with an eye sight check. In order to be able to officially drive in the UK you must be able to read a car registration plate from 20.5 metres. Your instructor will also check your driving licence.

After that what happens on the first lesson depends solely on the individual.

For someone with zero experience we’re driving to a quiet, nursery location where you can take over the steering wheel and learn the basics of driving also, we’ll cover the controls of the vehicle(pedals, gears, handbrake), we’ll talk about the dashboard and switches and buttons..

For someone with some experience we’ll assess your current level and set up a plan on how to continue.

That’s not a problem at all, don’t you worry! Your instructor will teach you everything you need to know about pedals, gears, dashboard and all those little buttons and switches in the car.

There is no easy answer to this question because we are not alike. Each person has different learning abilities therefore some need less, some need more hours. Generally the younger the person the faster they learn so for a young individual in their 20’s with average learning skills will need 45hours of driving with an instructor and 20 hours of practice. These figures based on statistics by DVSA.

Once you have mastered all the skills required to drive your instructor will offer the option of a MOCK driving test. 

A MOCK Driving Test is a test, conducted by your instructor in order to assess your current level and highlight any weaknesses you may need to work on. Your instructor will role play the Driving Test Examiner and will conduct the test the same way as if it was the ‘real thing’. By doing so you’ll get an insight on what to expect on the real test, also you’ll be aware of the skills you may need to work on. 

You’ll be ready for the test when you
– no longer rely on Prompts from your instructor
– you can deal with any kind of traffic situation on your own with confidence
– you do not make any Serious or Dangerous mistakes when you are driving
– you can pass MOCK tests
– your instructor agrees you are ready

At the start of the test you have to pass the Eye Sight Check – reading a car registration plate from a distance of 20.5 metres.

On your Driving Test you’ll have to drive for 38-40 minutes to showcase your driving skills. A Driving Test Examiner will sit in on the test to assess your driving. You’ll be driving on a variety of roads, deal with different types of junctions, you’ll be asked to carry out one reversing exercise and maybe the Emergency Stop. You have to answer one Show Me and one Tell Me question about your car. 

At the end of the test the Examiner will tell you whether you’ve Passed or Failed and will also make you aware of the faults you may have made throughout the drive. 

At the event of a successful driving test the Examiner will present you with a Pass Certificate and – as long as your address is the same on your licence as your current address – will take your Provisional Licence. Your new Full UK Driving Licence will be sent to you over the post in two weeks. You can start to drive right away with your Pass Certificate. 

You will be using your driving instructor’s car for your driving test, the car you’ve used on your lessons.

Yes, you can use your own car for the driving test as long as it meets the requirements.

The car must
– generally be in good condition
– have no warning lights on the dashboard, – have no tyre damage and meet the legal thread-depth on each tyre(1.6mm)
– be fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
– be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer
– be fitted with L-plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) on the front and rear
– have 4 wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg
– be taxed
– have a current MOT (if it’s over 3 years old)
– be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)

Yes, they will, if you want them to do so. It is your sole discretion to decide whether you want your instructor to sit in on your test.

No, there isn’t. You’re going to pay the official driving test fee for DVSA and you’ll have to pay for the time you’ll be using your instructor’s car. Usually 2 or 2.5 hours charged for a driving test.