On the road

Your first official driving lessons may seem a bit scary, but there's honestly nothing to be worried about. If you've never been behind the wheel before, your instructor is not going to ask you to drive on the motorway! You'll probably be driven to a quiet road where the instructor can teach you about the various controls, and ask you to move the car off and then stop again. No big deal. Don't forget the instructor also has dual controls, which means the pedals are repeated on the passenger side. He/she can therefore take control of the vehicle if needed.

So when will you be ready for the Practical Test? Only when you can drive confidently without much help from your instructor. He/she will never push you to take the test until you are ready. If you fail, it's usually a black mark on his/her name rather than yours. Many driving organisations and the DSA keep records of how many fails or passes their instructors rake up.

We strongly recommend that as the Practical Test approaches, you should familiarise yourself with the layout and roads around the test centre. This will give you an advantage on the day, and help keep you calmer.

Where to next in learning to drive

• Learning to drive - home
• Theory FAQ
• The big day
• Beyond the test
• Your first car
• Links/resources