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For many, passing your driving test and getting the keys to your first car is a rite of passage. The newfound sense of freedom and independence is something we’ve craved for a long time.
But passing your driving test is the final step of a process that takes time and takes longer for some than others. It can be a stressful and daunting experience for many people, and that’s understandable. However, getting behind the wheel of a car should never be taken lightly.
However, taking some of our tips towards passing your driving test may help ease those nerves. So let’s have a look at some advice for passing your driving test.
Tips for your practical driving test
Be Prepared
Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it can certainly help. Listen to your instructor. Book regular lessons, aim for two hours a week behind the wheel and constantly review what you have learnt. Your instructor will have spent enough time with you to know your strengths and weaknesses.
And remember, it’s not in your instructor’s interest to put you in for your test too early. Going through your test when you are not fully ready could result in failure, which will not only negatively affect your confidence but also affect their pass rates.
Make sure you have checked your appointment details and that you arrive with all the relevant documentation.
Give your head space.
Make sure you arrive at the test centre in good time, 10-20 minutes before the test. Being too early can increase your anxiety, but if you are late, this will leave you flustered, or you could miss your test altogether, which will result in the loss of your test fee and create feelings of frustration.
Have a good night’s sleep beforehand and book your test for a time when you know that you don’t have to think about anything else, like having to be on time for the school run, for example. Arrive for your test feeling as rested as possible; that may be easier said than done, but try to remove as many potential stresses as possible.
Use your instructor’s car.
It is vital that the car you take your test in is fit for the test. It also makes sense to use the vehicle you have been practising in, and you will be more comfortable with how it works and feels. This is just something else that you don’t have to worry yourself about.
You may have been learning to drive in your own car, and using your own car is ok, but it is important to understand that, as previously mentioned, the car you are taking your test in is up to the correct standard. The car you take your test in must be roadworthy with a current MOT. It must be taxed and insured for a driving test. It is also imperative that your car meets all legal requirements regarding its performance, for example, tyre depth.
Having the inside of your car clean and tidy is helpful towards your mental state of mind during your test, but it is also polite to keep it clean when asking an examiner to sit in your car.
Did you know – you can also have your test cancelled if your car is too dirty?
If you use your instructor’s car, they will make sure that everything is in place for you, so this is something else you won’t have to think about.
Take your instructor with you.
You might find it reassuring to have someone else in the car with you while you take your test, although this is not compulsory. You are allowed to take someone with you providing they are over 16, and it might put your mind at ease if your instructor is with you.
It also helps to have another pair of eyes and ears in the car, so if you do fail your test, they will be able to remember points that you may have forgotten and provide you with some constructive criticism to help you pass your test when you are ready to retake it.
Take a mock test
Once you have chosen your test centre, get to know the area. Whilst it is impossible to know the exact route your examiner will take you on, your instructor will be aware of the typical test routes for that centre. Taking a mock test with your instructor will allow you to get used to the types of road layouts and markings in the area. Understanding what hazards you are likely to encounter during your test will help put your heart at rest when the time comes.
It is important to have practised on a variety of roads and to have practised driving in various conditions when it comes to taking your test; then, you shouldn’t be faced with anything that you cannot handle.
Exaggerate your mirror checks
Being aware of your surroundings is one of the most important things when driving a car, and your examiner will be making sure that you use your mirrors. Unfortunately, a lack of observation is one of the most common causes of minor faults in driving tests. You can receive a few minor faults and still pass your test; however, they can stack up and cause you to fail.
Make sure that your examiner can see that you are using your mirrors. Examiners are trained to spot this and will use extra mirrors to see that you are, but you may need to make their job easier for them. For example, try using exaggerated movements when checking your mirrors, or even say “mirrors” quietly while you are doing it to ensure that your examiner is aware.
It may seem like a small thing, but it can make all the difference.
Evaluate and learn
Whether you pass or fail your test, you’ll be given some great advice at the end of your test.
If you’ve failed, the examiner will explain why and how you can improve for next time. Even if you’ve passed, you will most likely have made minor errors that your examiner will advise you of.
Either way, taking on the thoughts and tips from your examiner and instructor will help you become a more careful and thoughtful driver.
And remember, this is only the beginning of your journey. Continue to be considerate about your time on the road, review updates in regulations and remember that there is always room for improvement, no matter how many years you have been driving.
Tips for passing your theory driving test
Before taking your practical test, you’ll obviously have to have already passed your theory driving test. So here are some quick tips to help you through.
Book your test
It seems obvious, but if you want to book your practical test early, get your theory test booked in advance. It helps if you have already started your practical lessons, as you will already have an understanding of the road. You also need to have your provisional licence before booking your theory test.
Study!
Plenty of textbooks are available to help, and the DVSA (Driving Standards Agency) has produced a theory test handbook full of tips and example questions.
During the test, you will be given 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need to get 43 correct to pass.
Practise your hazard spotting
After the multiple choice test, you will need to complete a hazard perception test. Try practising while you are out and about.
Take a mock test
When ready, try a mock test on the Safe Driving for Life website run by the government. This only includes the multiple-choice part of the exam, but it will help prepare you.
Use your time
Arrive in time for your exam to give yourself time to settle down. Also, take a moment to compose yourself after the multiple-choice test before starting the hazard perception test.
Now that you’ve passed your test and are ready to take to the roads, you’ll want your car to be your pride and joy. A personalised plate is just the thing to make your car stand out from the crowd. So have a look through our catalogue to find the perfect plate for you.
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