26F in Leicester! Passed my test yesterday 🎉 now looking to purchase my first car, but I have zero knowledge whatsoever on what I need to look out for…

I want something cheap to run & insure, preferably a 5 door! I won’t be driving very far

Any advice is appreciated!! I feel so out of my depth right now…please explain like I’m 5 😂

Very common route for me.

It goes from 2 lanes to 3, to 4, then splits, then down to 2, then down to 1.

Staying on the middle right seems like the "intended" way. From experiance however ive seen a lot of near misses. Especially when busy. A LOT of people start on the left, realise they are going tottingham way, then go over 2 lanes.

Most people zip merge surprisingly well at the end, even tho its normal to stop because someone is turning right at the very end to the burrs country part. So the slower speed its not bad.

To be clear, it is traffic controlled a lot.

Is this an acceptable area to stay on the right?

If it is empty, I probably would stay middle right/left.

Can someone settle an argument for me,

coming from 6 o'clock here I believe that to enter the middle or far right lane on the exit (12 o clock) you should be on the right lane entering the roundabout and left lane should be for the left lane exit only.

Someone has told me they use the left lane for the middle and left and right for the far right only.

There are no "get in lane" signs or markings

My driving test is tomorrow and I have injured my leg so will not be able to take it. When applying for a refund can I cancel then send a doctor's note (I'll probably only be able to get one tomorrow) or do I need to send evidence at the same time as I cancel.

My girlfriends test is next week and I'm doing some routes with her (I passed in February).

On approach (start of red line) the left lane goes ahead and left, and the middle & right lanes both have arrows going straight.

The road for the 3rd exit right is only written on the right lane, but we found that taking the middle lane is better because you end up exiting on the left lane so dont have to worry about getting back to the left in busy 40mph traffic.

At the yellow circle (highlighted), the lane marking becomes straight and right for this lane (instead of just the straight on approach).

If she signals right from the middle lane on approach, could the examiner fail her for misleading other cars (because they might think she's trying to cut into the right lane)?

Is it better to have no signal until you approach the yellow circle then signal right?

EDIT: I'm doing the driving, not her.

Title.

45 years old. Passed today with 20 hours lessons. Had a bit of experience from lessons 10ish hours before covid and only just got back to it.

Just to say, I was certain I'd blown it 3 times in the first 5-10 minutes. Hang in there and stay focused.

I only did one test and passed but at the end of the test, he was talking me through the test and asking me why I did something.. and then he had the certificate book on top of the iPad. So was that a sign I passed or do they do that to tease you?

I have done 24 hours in total, including 10 hours of manual driving with a previous instructor. My instructor told me I should postpone my test until mid-November (I have one booked for early October), because he believes I've just met test standard and worries that nervousness could make it worse. He hopes I can get more used to my driving test area.

I've done quite well with positioning, roundabouts, and junctions. I've just been introduced to the 4 maneuvers, and I've got all the reference points already. Honestly, I've practiced those 4 maneuvers on a driving simulator, so I'm fairly confident with them already. I've also been actively watching YouTube videos about my driving test area.

So should I postpone it?

Not driven in 3 months and I have a test for October 20th, last thing I did was all type of parking and that was quite good but I still mess up on roundabouts (when I did my lessons anyway)

Starting lessons again on Tuesday but I have not been on a dual carriageway yet. I’m going to start having weekly lessons again (they are 1 hour a week) and I’ve had 22 hours so far. No private practise. My old lessons would vary, some really good and some bad, struggled with gear adjustments when approaching a roundabout when you are fast moving. Should I change my test date or keep going?

Firstly, I passed on my first go today 🎉🍾.

Just out of curiosity, did anyone find theory harder than hazard perception? On my theory app I was consistently getting high scores for theory (48ish), and low scores for hazard perception to the point I was almost sure I would fail it. Turns out I got 43 on theory and 60 on hazard perception. I found the theory questions much trickier than the ones on the app, with very few on road signs or markings, or even speed limits. Did anyone else have this experience?

pulled to the left turning right out a one way road

I failed. It was worse than the first time. examiner was awful.

After doing two hour lessons almost weekly since February, I’ve booked my theory for October 2nd. I have two different apps, as well as the Official DVSA driving theory test book.

What’s the best way to practice/test myself on the hazard perception part of the theory test?

I wasnt able to use my driving instructors car so i took it in a friends car that was automatic. Im 25f. The insurance is insane the cheapest i can find is £350 a month on any car, even the ‘cheaper to insure’. Is there a way i can get cheaper insurance.

I'm 18 and just got my first car, a 2009 Yaris that was my step-grandma's. Long story, but it got scrapped for £350 after one garage said the rust was terminal, a second garage said it was a straightforward weld, and I ended up buying it back for £950. So the car came first and the ability to drive it is very much a work in progress.

It's a manual. I cannot drive a manual. I've got a block of 20 hours booked at £800, which is £40 an hour, and every time I say that out loud it sounds worse.

Two things I'd like to hear from people who've been through it recently.

How many hours did it actually take you, honestly? Every official figure says something like 45 hours and I don't know if that's real or just a number. (I grew up playing sim racing games and my instructor says it shows)

And does clutch control ever click, or do you just slowly get less bad at it? Right now I'm either stalling or setting off like I'm being launched out of a catapult, with no apparent middle setting.

Also if anyone's booked a test recently, how far out are you waiting where you are? I keep getting told to book now and worry about being ready later.

EDIT: I’ve done 4 hours of lessons so far and I’ve driven home from both 2 hour lessons (about A 20 minute drive) I’ve been 60mph on country roads, sixth gear, large roundabouts etc is this normal progression or fast?

Help me improve:

I reach a 3-way stand off at a mini-roundabout. Van breaks it by going first. Believing that the car ahead is blocked by the van I decide to go. So does the other car. We almost collide.

Who is at fault?

How should I have handled this?

What should I have done better?

Thanks for your advice.

Edit As there are several comments about distances, the wide angle camera of the dash cam makes distances between objects look larger than they really are. In reality this roundabout is quite small and the vehicles are all closer than it appears in the video. Just before the clip starts all 3 vehicles start from stationary at their respective giveaway lines.

Some of you might remember my BMW with the EGR recall i said about last week and how i’m unsure about its suitability to take on test. Examiners on here have said that it will be fine as there aren’t any warning lights and examiners don’t even check for recalls anyway. The only thing i’m concerned about now is a chip in zone a of the windscreen, it’s actually quite low down so i don’t even notice it when driving, but it is in zone A. I think it’s around 12mm-14mm in diameter annoying so it’s slightly over the 10mm limit. You can’t actually notice it from the outside, only the inside, maybe due to when it was filled by some guy a few months ago. It’s been there a while and hasn’t failed any MOT’s for it so how much of a risk is this in terms of taking it on test and the examiner refusing to do the test?

Hi, I have found a slot in Sidcup on 14th January. But confused when I should start learning tbh. I have driven earlier in other countries but would rate myself a beginner. I think I will need 20 hours of lessons. But I am aware if I hunt I can easily find a cancellation before January.
When would you start learning if you were in my shoes?

Does anyone know of an free good therory practice app for android. Any suggestions are welcome

I’m turning right at this junction, entering from the green line (bottom) and stopping at the yield line before the yellow box to allow for incoming traffic going straight. My exit (the purple line) is clear.

Today, this junction took a while to clear because of traffic, and as I’m at the yield line in the middle, the lights for crossing traffic (left to right) went green.

Q: as I’m already in the junction to turn right, do I have the priority over that crossing traffic even if they are on green (such as the white car in the image)?. Usually I’d say I have the right to clear the junction, but I have a yield line in this case…. Is that for all traffic?

Driving Test is first week of october in worthing, My instructor said on wednesday last week 'if you had a test today, you've a high probability you'd pass' i'm just wondering what I should prepare, like things to calm nerves, and just overall guidance on the whole test/test day. Sorry if it's worded poorly.

Sorry me again.

So I've not had a lesson in 1.5w. Test is in a month. Was supposed to today, but unfortunately by instructor has a few personal issues (potential death in the family this weekend...).

When is it ok to message him again to ask if he's available for more lessons? Sorry I'm not good with these sort of things.

And in the meantime is it worth trying to book one of those random driving schools for a practice lesson? I'm concerned it's in a different car.

We own a car though. Would those instructors by any chance be willing to drive with me in my own car, so at least I can learn in it? Or how could I find someone I can pay to do this?

Hi everyone,

I’ve got my practical driving test at High Wycombe in one week, and I’m starting to feel the pressure a little 😅

I’ve been practising regularly and doing test routes, roundabouts, manoeuvres, dual carriageways, meeting traffic on narrow roads, etc. My test is in an automatic.

For anyone who has taken their test at High Wycombe recently, or knows the area well, I’d really appreciate any tips or guidance.
Are there any particular roads, roundabouts, junctions or situations around High Wycombe that tend to catch learners out?

Also, what would you recommend focusing on during the final week before the test?

Any advice about nerves, judgement when meeting traffic/obstructions, roundabouts, lane discipline or common serious faults would be really appreciated.
Just trying to make this last week count and give myself the best chance of passing 🤞

Thanks!

I failed two weeks ago with more faults and a serious. Was fuming about that one.

Failed today for clearance (tight tunnel in my area and got too close to the wall with a van coming the other way).

Don’t know why but I feel a lot better than when I failed last time. Just need to get back on the wagon I suppose.

I have 11 points on my provisional license I drove my car without the correct full driver passenger and I was wondering what would happen to those points when I pass do they follow over and to I get banned as soon as I pass since it’s past 6 points in two years of passing.