Frequently Asked Questions
Am I able to have driving lessons in my own/family or friends car?
Under certain circumstances, customers may want to receive lessons in their own/family vehicle. This is a good idea where the car will be used for a Driver’s Test. It is also a good idea when a learner has a new car and wishes to familiarise themselves with it prior to licensing. Safe Drive Driving School is able to offer customers training in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is registered, roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
Prior to any training being conducted in the customer’s vehicle, the instructor should inspect the vehicle for its roadworthiness. The inspection should include, but is not limited to, a check of the following items;
- the registration label is valid, current, intact and displayed appropriately
- the vehicle is comprehensively insured and the customer’s insurance company is notified that it will be used by a driving instructor to conduct training in
- The tyres:
- all indicators, headlights and brake lights are working
- seats and seat belts are in good working order and are not damaged or twisted
- any loose items in the cabin of the vehicle are stowed in the cargo (boot) area
- the windows and interior are clean
- the vehicle has sufficient petrol to last the course of the lesson (minimum requirement – a quarter of a tank)
Are automatic cars easier to drive?
Under certain circumstances, customers may want to receive lessons in their own/family vehicle. This is a good idea where the car will be used for a Driver’s Test. It is also a good idea when a learner has a new car and wishes to familiarise themselves with it prior to licensing. Safe Drive Driving School is able to offer customers training in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is registered, roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
Prior to any training being conducted in the customer’s vehicle, the instructor should inspect the vehicle for its roadworthiness. The inspection should include, but is not limited to, a check of the following items;
the registration label is valid, current, intact and displayed appropriately
the vehicle is comprehensively insured and the customer’s insurance company is notified that it will be used by a driving instructor to conduct training in
The tyres:
are correctly inflated (air pressures must reflect the manufacturer’s recommendation as a minimum).
have appropriate levels of tread
are not damaged
all indicators, headlights and brake lights are working
seats and seat belts are in good working order and are not damaged or twisted
any loose items in the cabin of the vehicle are stowed in the cargo (boot) area
the windows and interior are clean
the vehicle has sufficient petrol to last the course of the lesson (minimum requirement – a quarter of a tank)
The lesson charge is not reduced for lesson in a customer’s own car.
How do I book my driving test?
Under certain circumstances, customers may want to receive lessons in their own/family vehicle. This is a good idea where the car will be used for a Driver’s Test. It is also a good idea when a learner has a new car and wishes to familiarise themselves with it prior to licensing. Safe Drive Driving School is able to offer customers training in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is registered, roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
Prior to any training being conducted in the customer’s vehicle, the instructor should inspect the vehicle for its roadworthiness. The inspection should include, but is not limited to, a check of the following items;
the registration label is valid, current, intact and displayed appropriately
the vehicle is comprehensively insured and the customer’s insurance company is notified that it will be used by a driving instructor to conduct training in
The tyres:
are correctly inflated (air pressures must reflect the manufacturer’s recommendation as a minimum).
have appropriate levels of tread
are not damaged
all indicators, headlights and brake lights are working
seats and seat belts are in good working order and are not damaged or twisted
any loose items in the cabin of the vehicle are stowed in the cargo (boot) area
the windows and interior are clean
the vehicle has sufficient petrol to last the course of the lesson (minimum requirement – a quarter of a tank)
The lesson charge is not reduced for lesson in a customer’s own car.
How many lessons will I need to learn to drive?
Under certain circumstances, customers may want to receive lessons in their own/family vehicle. This is a good idea where the car will be used for a Driver’s Test. It is also a good idea when a learner has a new car and wishes to familiarise themselves with it prior to licensing. Safe Drive Driving School is able to offer customers training in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is registered, roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
Prior to any training being conducted in the customer’s vehicle, the instructor should inspect the vehicle for its roadworthiness. The inspection should include, but is not limited to, a check of the following items;
the registration label is valid, current, intact and displayed appropriately
the vehicle is comprehensively insured and the customer’s insurance company is notified that it will be used by a driving instructor to conduct training in
The tyres:
are correctly inflated (air pressures must reflect the manufacturer’s recommendation as a minimum).
have appropriate levels of tread
are not damaged
all indicators, headlights and brake lights are working
seats and seat belts are in good working order and are not damaged or twisted
any loose items in the cabin of the vehicle are stowed in the cargo (boot) area
the windows and interior are clean
the vehicle has sufficient petrol to last the course of the lesson (minimum requirement – a quarter of a tank)
The lesson charge is not reduced for lesson in a customer’s own car.
Should I learn to drive in an automatic or manual car?
Under certain circumstances, customers may want to receive lessons in their own/family vehicle. This is a good idea where the car will be used for a Driver’s Test. It is also a good idea when a learner has a new car and wishes to familiarise themselves with it prior to licensing. Safe Drive Driving School is able to offer customers training in their vehicle, provided the vehicle is registered, roadworthy and comprehensively insured.
Prior to any training being conducted in the customer’s vehicle, the instructor should inspect the vehicle for its roadworthiness. The inspection should include, but is not limited to, a check of the following items;
the registration label is valid, current, intact and displayed appropriately
the vehicle is comprehensively insured and the customer’s insurance company is notified that it will be used by a driving instructor to conduct training in
The tyres:
are correctly inflated (air pressures must reflect the manufacturer’s recommendation as a minimum).
have appropriate levels of tread
are not damaged
all indicators, headlights and brake lights are working
seats and seat belts are in good working order and are not damaged or twisted
any loose items in the cabin of the vehicle are stowed in the cargo (boot) area
the windows and interior are clean
the vehicle has sufficient petrol to last the course of the lesson (minimum requirement – a quarter of a tank)
The lesson charge is not reduced for lesson in a customer’s own car.
Questions asked by Driving Examiner.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil.
The dipstick is identified in the picture below. This involves you opening the bonnet. You would check the oil level by removing the dipstick, wipe it clean of oil, dip it back in, removing it again and the oil should leave an oily mark between the maximum and minimum marker.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.
The coolant expansion tank is identified in the picture below. This involves you opening the bonnet. The coolant can be checked by looking at the maximum and minimum levels found on the side of the expansion tank (never open the coolant when it’s hot).
Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
The brake fluid reservoir is identified in the picture just below. This involves you opening the bonnet. It can be checked by looking at the maximum and minimum levels found on the side of the brake fluid reservoir.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
The brake fluid reservoir is identified in the picture just below. This involves you opening the bonnet. It can be checked by looking at the maximum and minimum levels found on the side of the brake fluid reservoir.
Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
Tell the examiner that you would check and adjust all the tyres including the spare tyre when they’re cold with an air pressure guage. Don’t forget to refit the valve caps after. Tyre pressure information can be found in the car manual or sometimes there’s a sticker on either the drivers or passengers door pillar.
Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.
The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part is at least as high as your eye or top of the ears and as close to the back of your head as comfortable. If you do need to adjust it, there’s a little button at the base of the head restraint that you can press and then move the head restraint up or down.
Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
You would check all the tyres with a tread depth gauge. The tread depth should be no less than 1.6mm across the central three quarters breadth of the tyre and you’d check this all the way round the tyre. There also shouldn’t be any cuts or bulges on the outside of the tyre wall.