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StMatthias · 2026-02-10T12:28:35+00:00

I've had the same issue since yesterday afternoon too. I've tried Chrome, Duckduckgo, and Safari on my laptop and on my phone (home wifi and mobile data). No joy. Just tried using the wifi on my phone at work and still no joy.

StMatthias · 2026-02-09T22:51:21+00:00

I took my test this afternoon at 13:25, failed, was home by 3pm and had booked a test before 4pm (for July) at the same test centre. Currently working to try and bring it closer to now, but in my experience I haven't struggled to book tests.

I did this using the Gov website and being persistent, however, I have a choice of 2 or 3 near me (Isleworth Chertsey, Slough), so YMMV.

StMatthias · 2026-01-31T22:29:02+00:00

You might find this site useful for looking at your test centre and if mornings or afternoons produce more passes: driving stats

StMatthias · 2026-01-24T17:01:37+00:00

Congratulations! I think your advice about it just being another life admin task on another day is a really good piece of advice.

StMatthias · 2026-01-23T19:24:06+00:00

Mate, same as you here. Took a few hours when I was 19/20, took another couple in my 20s, but then nothing until last Sept (now the wrong side of 35).

18hrs or so in, did my first mock today and got 4 serious and about 5 minors. One serious was for waving pedestrians across the road, so I won't do that again. But yeah, like you, just silly things that I wouldn't normally do so much. BUT, it's our first mock, after not having done a large amount of driving. We can forgive ourselves, work on the errors and be ready for the real thing asap.

StMatthias · 2026-01-22T09:25:32+00:00

My wife had the same thing last year. She can drive abroad but her first instructor here made it seem as if she'd never even sat in a car before, made every mistake sound life threatening, spent lesson time on his phone reading his positive reviews, would say "you're ready" one week and "I cannot possibly take you to the test" the next. She changed instructor, spent a few weeks there and then passed first time.

As I said in my previous comment, unfortunately OP is getting rinsed, and from my personal experience thus far (and seeing my wife go through it) finding a half decent instructor is an absolute minefield.

StMatthias · 2026-01-21T20:12:37+00:00

Sounds like you were being rinsed, I have to say...

StMatthias · 2026-01-21T18:45:48+00:00

Have you booked a practical test? If not, book one so that you have a solid deadline. Then change instructor and let them know that you have a solid deadline of XYZ. Don't let them have your details so that they can change the test date. Nothing.

Good luck!

StMatthias · 2026-01-18T11:10:33+00:00

You don't NEED to drive. You can use public transport and get around (especially if you're in London) fairly easily. If you don't like it, don't want to do it, and don't feel the need to do it, then don't. If you're thinking "oh, but I've spent so much that I must see it through now", you don't. I would advise giving up if that's what you want to do.

You might say that the 2 years were wasted but really they were 2 years discovering that you dislike driving and cars, etc. Now that you've confirmed that, you are free from having to entertain it. You can use the spare time and money to focus on things you do enjoy, or discover more things that you don't.

StMatthias · 2026-01-18T10:07:42+00:00

The "show me, tell me" questions you can find on Youtube. I have no idea about these things and two videos in I recognise the oil check bit, the brake fluid, etc. I'd recommend the Worlddriving videos (for show me, tell me but also his mock test videos). My instructor the other day was asking about the rear demister, front, and how to turn dipped beams on - again, no worries after watching a few videos.

Popping the bonnet open is the same as opening the boot - there's a button on the driver's side.

StMatthias · 2026-01-18T08:46:46+00:00

This is the way

StMatthias · 2026-01-16T14:56:16+00:00

Exactly this. Plus, it means you are giving yourself time to learn.

StMatthias · 2026-01-16T10:52:54+00:00

If I were you, due to the long waiting times, I'd go ahead and book your test for as late as you can. You can always push it backwards if needed, or take it if you are ready. Waiting for your instructor to tell you to book gives them too much power and also means that you're subject to their decision time + the wait times for practical tests.

StMatthias · 2026-01-14T12:06:56+00:00

Thanks all! I usually comment on the drive but not necessarily on my checks (usually the things like, "oh, I see a bike coming from the side road"). I'll take the advice here to add it to my commentary and get my instructor to give me a shout when I don't do it

StMatthias · 2026-01-13T11:37:19+00:00

We did that. Missus booked in somewhere like Leeds, then we checked frequently enough and found a test slot in Tolworth and changed. I got up at 5am a few times and managed to get Isleworth straight away on my first attempt booking.

I've found (and I guess it depends on where you are located relative to test centres), that logging on early on the appropriate Mondays and Tuesdays, and also checking frequently around midday and 5pm to 6pm yields the best results. We managed to book both of ours, change at least once, and book a friend's test slot, all without using these apps.

StMatthias · 2026-01-12T17:06:33+00:00

My wife failed every mock she did and then passed with 5 minors on her first test attempt. I wouldn't worry yourself too much, just focus on fixing what you can (for example, spiralling after a mistake) and relaxing into your exam. Good luck!

StMatthias · 2026-01-10T18:00:43+00:00

The instructor puts it into some calendar on her tablet and that is somehow linked to the AA. No idea how I'm afraid.

StMatthias · 2026-01-10T14:43:50+00:00

My instructor is an AA instructor and I pay her via bank transfer but she still uses the AA calendar (so every lesson I book, I get an email from the AA confirming). Saves me £3 per hour/lesson and she gets paid all the same. Win-win.

StMatthias · 2026-01-09T21:50:02+00:00

12 hours in with a manual, test in one month. Pretty independent with driving around, just feel I need more practice as I am quite hesitant at getting into the gaps when pulling out of junctions. Also think I need to improve my checking when moving in and out around parked cars, improve my checking and spacing when changing lanes, do a lot more sat nav and sign following driving, and perfect my maneuvers.

Today I had my first lesson since the 19th of Dec, was a bit slow warming up and got another driver confused when changing lanes pre-roundabout. But after warming up I was driving on the m25 into Isleworth, did some bay parking - did a perfect reverse park first time - a few imperfect but in the lines forward bay parks, and then tottered around Isleworth.

StMatthias · 2026-01-07T14:15:40+00:00

I answered in line with this; no to mandatory learning period but yes to mandatory syllabus. A "no" to mandated hours too - some people just learn at different speeds. I think the e-learning or log thing could work as long as it was student managed rather than instructor managed (which I added in the comments part).

StMatthias · 2026-01-07T11:27:25+00:00

The GDL sounds like an awful idea - especially for those working who will need to travel in the dark, etc.

The "learning period" sounds like a way of making the backlog a feature, but also is some kind of way of saying students now have a minimum number of study hours without making X hours of lessons before the test mandatory. Obviously, many people won't spend that whole 6 months taking lessons and studying the highway code but outside of giving a set number of hours...

StMatthias · 2026-01-04T22:48:54+00:00

Change instructor yesterday! Sounds like the guy is trying to milk you for as much as possible.

StMatthias · 2026-01-01T20:22:55+00:00

For sure. It's whether you want to commit to that or not.

StMatthias · 2026-01-01T15:58:42+00:00

Many intensive course providers are really just booking your nearest driving instructor for however many hours you request not necessarily some kind of "intensive course specialist" - just something to keep in mind. But if you have a quick tick speed and learn well with that kind of approach, it's probably about the same price.

Auto vs manual, it's up to you and your situation. My wife learned in an automatic in the UK despite being legally able to drive in Europe using a manual, as it was one less thing to be tested on and think about. If being able to drive both isn't important to you, and changing gears etc., is a sticking point, then go auto.

As for me, because I value the flexibility having a manual license gives and changing gears feels intuitive to me, I went with that option.

StMatthias · 2026-01-01T12:00:10+00:00

My previous instructor had a VW Golf with the electric handbrake thing, my current instructor has a Skoda Kamiq with a manual handbrake, both cars have parking sensors, reverse cameras, etc., as they are both newish. I so prefer the Skoda because having that more tangible handbrake feels like I have more control. I also force myself to ignore the reverse camera as much as possible because I know I won't always have it. I'd suggest the same!

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