Taking a driving test in your own car
Discussion
GF only run Mini'sEx instructor here.
Own car is fine as long as relevant regs are complied with.
Car must be insured for driving tests (and have tax + MOT)
Passenger side must have rear view mirror of adequate dimensions and working seat belt.
L plates to be CLEARLY displayed....on the front and back NOT on top of the bonnet - keep them as close to vertical as possible.
Not sure if this is required but I believe they want a rear seat (so the examiner can be assesed by his boss) and convertibles must have the roof up. See the full list but IIRC the StreetKa is a no-no.
No loose stuff esp in the cabin. Test may be stopped if the examiner gets worried about things wandering around in the boot.
That's about it really - if you are taking her for test arrive at the test centre nice and early (so you aren't getting stressed in a traffic jam) and mooch around doing a little distracting practise eg an emergency stop or anything else that wont dent confidence but keeps the mind busy. Be in the waiting room with minutes to spare for time to settle, but not enough to get nervous, and maybe a quick pee.
And remember to do more manouvre practise than driving around - especially reversing around corners and parallel parking. It's the reversing that usually gets the girls.
Own car is fine as long as relevant regs are complied with.
Car must be insured for driving tests (and have tax + MOT)
Passenger side must have rear view mirror of adequate dimensions and working seat belt.
L plates to be CLEARLY displayed....on the front and back NOT on top of the bonnet - keep them as close to vertical as possible.
Not sure if this is required but I believe they want a rear seat (so the examiner can be assesed by his boss) and convertibles must have the roof up. See the full list but IIRC the StreetKa is a no-no.
No loose stuff esp in the cabin. Test may be stopped if the examiner gets worried about things wandering around in the boot.
That's about it really - if you are taking her for test arrive at the test centre nice and early (so you aren't getting stressed in a traffic jam) and mooch around doing a little distracting practise eg an emergency stop or anything else that wont dent confidence but keeps the mind busy. Be in the waiting room with minutes to spare for time to settle, but not enough to get nervous, and maybe a quick pee.
And remember to do more manouvre practise than driving around - especially reversing around corners and parallel parking. It's the reversing that usually gets the girls.
planetdave said:
Ex instructor here.
<lots of useful info>
It's the reversing that usually gets the girls.
Good to know. I took my test in my own car as my instructor had actually suggested I learn in my car as a) it would save me money and b) it was the car I would be driving after I passed. Obviously only suggested it once I was at a level sufficient to not need dual control in his opinion.<lots of useful info>
It's the reversing that usually gets the girls.
- must not rise to bait about reversing*
Took mine in a Suzuki Jeep van in 1995 and did nothing special, not even a named driver, was on my Dad's trader insurance policy.
During the test the indicators stopped working and when it came to reversing around a corner because it was a van the insrtuctor said I had to do it the opposite way, which did throw me! Luckily I passed though.
During the test the indicators stopped working and when it came to reversing around a corner because it was a van the insrtuctor said I had to do it the opposite way, which did throw me! Luckily I passed though.
planetdave said:
Car must be insured for driving tests (and have tax + MOT)
Ah, so this is the point - what does that mean? My insurance company confirmed it was, but didn't impose special conditions, issue an additional certificate or charge more money?planetdave said:
L plates to be CLEARLY displayed....on the front and back NOT on top of the bonnet - keep them as close to vertical as possible.
Gotcha! Ours are vertical on bonnet (Yarises / Yariis have a plastic front bit, nowhere to tie and a vertical metal bonnet)planetdave said:
That's about it really - if you are taking her for test arrive at the test centre nice and early (so you aren't getting stressed in a traffic jam) and mooch around doing a little distracting practise eg an emergency stop or anything else that wont dent confidence but keeps the mind busy. Be in the waiting room with minutes to spare for time to settle, but not enough to get nervous, and maybe a quick pee.
Ta. I've thought I'll drive her there and just plonk her in. First time she drives she's pretty good, but after an hour's practice, at the end of a 12 hour working day, mistakes get made.planetdave said:
And remember to do more manouvre practise than driving around - especially reversing around corners and parallel parking. It's the reversing that usually gets the girls.
As in this case - all 3 failures have been due to the same. I don't quite understand the disconnect - she seems wants to do it 'academically' on a set of instructions (ie. 1 turn left, pass the car, 1 turn right, 1 turn left) rather than 'feel' which way the car is turning. Just lots of practice I think (unless you have any magic suggestions!)
paoloh said:
Has anyone found a definitive answer on SMG yet?
My wife only has an auto license, when we were looking for a new car she quite fancied an MR2. The SMT version does not have a clutch pedal but gears must be changed manually, it is however classed as an automatic.I queried the DVLA about the MR2 and got this reply-
DVLA said:
I can confirm that provided your wife has a full category B licence (limited to automatics only) she will be entitled to drive the vehicle in question. A vehicle with automatic transmission mean a class of vehicle in which either –
a) the driver is not provided with any means whereby she may vary the gear ratio between the engine and the road wheels independently of the accelerator and the brakes, or
b) she is provided with such means but they do not include a clutch pedal or lever which she may operate manually,
(and accordingly a vehicle with manual transmission is any other class of vehicle)
From that I would say that if the SMG does not have a clutch pedal it is an autoa) the driver is not provided with any means whereby she may vary the gear ratio between the engine and the road wheels independently of the accelerator and the brakes, or
b) she is provided with such means but they do not include a clutch pedal or lever which she may operate manually,
(and accordingly a vehicle with manual transmission is any other class of vehicle)
sniff petrol said:
topless_mx5 said:
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I wonder what the most expensive car anyone has taken a test in is. I heard once of someone doing it in a Ferrari 360, anyone top that?
Tom Hartley junior was due to take his test in a F355 back in 1999 when he was 17 but that car failed on him so he had to use an F50 instead.I believe there was an issue with taking the test in a LHD only F40 or F50 so had to settle for a measly 360M. Either that or couldn't use the F1 550M he wanted as it was deemed an auto.
Something like that anyhoo.
paoloh said:
But V5 states manual and SMG stands for Sequential MANUAL Gearbox.....
Much as I can understand your desire to prevent negative "auto" associations from ruining your ownership experience, an SMG is not a proper manual.BMW can call it whatever they like, but if you don't have direct, independent control of the clutch, it's auto-something.
John
I see there is no explicit requirement for a reverse gear. I would love to see the examiners face if you turned up in a bike engined car and asked him/her to get out and push when it came to the manovers! Especially if it was something like an original mini with a sleeper conversion so they had no advanced warning (except the engine note and rev counter).
What would happen if you turned up in a vehicle with a clutch peddle but that could also operate totally automatically, and then left it in auto mode? Would you get an auto license or a full one?
What would happen if you turned up in a vehicle with a clutch peddle but that could also operate totally automatically, and then left it in auto mode? Would you get an auto license or a full one?
LathamJohnP said:
paoloh said:
But V5 states manual and SMG stands for Sequential MANUAL Gearbox.....
Much as I can understand your desire to prevent negative "auto" associations from ruining your ownership experience, an SMG is not a proper manual.BMW can call it whatever they like, but if you don't have direct, independent control of the clutch, it's auto-something.
John
I couldn't care less what I drive, I actually love driving my AUTO ML. It is a simple question on this topic.
paoloh said:
LathamJohnP said:
paoloh said:
But V5 states manual and SMG stands for Sequential MANUAL Gearbox.....
Much as I can understand your desire to prevent negative "auto" associations from ruining your ownership experience, an SMG is not a proper manual.BMW can call it whatever they like, but if you don't have direct, independent control of the clutch, it's auto-something.
John
SMT stands for Sequential Manual Transmission on the MR2 btw - it is still an automatic by definition.
I ended up buying a 325 auto for my wife because she did not like the 330 SSG she tried.
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