1ST 5HRS £105.00 Oldskooldriving#1 Automatic only, late tests,  Hi im Jim and ive been teaching for 23 yrs now im very experienced and taught over 500 people or more to drive. Im based in NW london and we can do home or office pick up dependant on location
Contact us


1ST 5HRS £105.00 Oldskooldriving#1 Automatic only, late tests,  Hi im Jim and ive been teaching for 23 yrs now im very experienced and taught over 500 people or more to drive. Im based in NW london and we can do home or office pick up dependant on location

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07716831262 for prices.

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Intensive automatic instruction from a 20yrs veteran of driving tuition we tend to get successful results in 98% of our 20/25 hr courses, we have a fast track, test booking service if you find an early test difficult to find. Their is an administrative charge for the 'fast track service'. We do LATE TESTS and VERY LATE TESTS, we cover parts of the NW london area such as West hampstead, Brondesbury park,Willesden green.


IS DRIVING AUTOMATIC EASIER THAN MANUAL?


Yes, driving an automatic car is generally considered easier than driving a manual car, especially for beginners. Automatics eliminate the need for clutch control and gear shifting, simplifying the driving process. 

Here's why:

No clutch pedal or gear changes:

You don't need to coordinate the clutch and gear stick, which can be a challenge for new drivers. 

Simpler operation:

You can simply put the car in "Drive" and focus on the road, pedal placement, and steering. 

Smoother driving experience:

Automatic cars provide a smoother, more effortless drive, especially in stop-and-go traffic, as there's no need to repeatedly change gears. 

May be better for nervous drivers:

The reduced complexity of an automatic car can make it less stressful for new or anxious drivers, allowing them to focus on the road. 

Potentially quicker learning:

Some learners may find it quicker to pass their driving test in an automatic car due to the reduced number of skills to learn.
We also cover Maida vale, Queensway, Paddington, Kilburn and Cricklewood area all students welcome.from beginners to advanced drivers naturally catering for disqualified drivers and those that find driving very difficult at times.


oldskooldriving we can be found on Facebook feel free to visit and read all the testimonials of our very grateful students. 


What are the average results for the practical driving test in Great Britain?

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Practical driving testAverage pass ratePass rate by genderPass rate by ageNumber of attemptsNumber of faultsTest centresLearner driver insurance
Practical driving test
Not everyone passes their practical driving test the first time - and that’s fine! 😎

Some learner drivers take a few attempts to get it right, while others never pass at all. It’s all about making sure that you get your licence only when you’re good and ready. There’s no rush when it comes to being safe on the road.

Managing your expectations can help reduce the pressure you feel in the lead-up to a test, and help you put things in perspective if you don’t pass.

To help with this, we’ve found the average pass rate for the country and broken things down further using age and gender data. We’ve also pinpointed the test centres with the highest and lowest pass rates, identified the most common errors, and found how many people pass their first (and sixth!) try.

It can be frustrating waiting for that licence, but these facts and figures should help you see that every single learning-to-drive experience is different. Good luck!

(PS - if you pass the standard driving test, you can drive a van up to 3,500kg. However, it's worth keeping in mind there are some major differences, so it's we've put together some beginner tips for driving a van to help.

Average pass rate in Great Britain
First up, the headline stat: the average pass rate for the practical driving test in Great Britain.

During the final three months of 2021, 419,742 driving tests were completed in the country. That’a a lot of L stickers and ‘good luck!’ texts! Of those, 48.1% were successful - meaning more tests were failed than passed.

For the current period of 2021/2022 (why driving data is grouped by financial year, we’ll never know! 🤷‍♂️), the pass rate is a little higher, at 49.6%.

That’s a lot of numbers! But the main takeaway here is that, no matter how annoyed you might feel after failing your test, you’re in the majority. More tests are failed than passed.

Passing your driving test feels great
Passing your driving test feels great
Learner car insurance by the hour 🚗
Lesson overrun? Extend your cover easily in the app. Get a quote.
Pass rate by gender
Let’s break things down further, by age, gender and attempt number.

There’s not much difference between men and women when it comes to pass rates in the driving test, despite some lazy stereotypes and tedious routines from comedy dinosaurs down the pub.

Last December, our research shows that 34,805 men and 66,313 women took their driving tests. Men passed 49.6% of the time, and women passed 45.6% of the time - a difference of only a few dozen per every 1000 tests.

Basically, no matter your gender, the recent driving test data shows that you’re slightly more likely to fail than pass your test. Sorry!

Most common driving test faults
We've found the 10 biggest mistakes that learner drivers make during their test. Learn more
Pass rate by age
Unlike gender, things are way more varied when it comes to age.

Perhaps surprisingly, given the high premium rates they receive, the youngest drivers have the highest pass rates.

For the period of April 2020 to March 2021, in-between all that COVID-19 self-isolating and those endless Zoom quizzes, 437,352 tests were carried out.

The youngest age group was also the age group with the highest pass rate: those aged 17 years and under passed an incredible 63.5% of the time.

Tests involving those aged 18 were also passed a majority of the time, with a 53.7% success rate. The kids are alright!

The trend continued with those aged 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. While a majority of those age groups narrowly failed, these applicant demographics all saw at least 48% of tests pass.

As the age groups rose, however, the pass rate continued to drop. Those aged 26, 27 and 28 are the last group with a pass rate of at least 45%, while 37 is the cut-off for a pass rate of 40%. From there, it gets lower and lower.

No age group in the 40s has a pass rate of more than 37.9%, no age group in the 50s has a pass rate of more than 35.5%. Over the age of 60, the pass rate drops to 32.7%.

So, in simple terms: **the younger you are, the more likely you are to pass - ** and pass rates start top drop considerably for drivers over 50 or 60.

Average number of driving test attempts
But what about test attempts?

Luckily there’s plenty of data out there on that too.

Looking at the figures from March 2020 to April 2021, we can see a very clear pattern emerge:

Test attempt Number of tests Pass rate
First 248,299 51.0%
Second 95,183 50.4%
Third 43,320 48.7%
Fourth 22,205 46.6%
Fifth 11,902 44.3%
Sixth and on 6,337 38.8%
If you’re taking your first or second test, you’re more likely to pass than fail. Even if you’re taking your third or fourth attempt, you’re only slightly more likely to fail than pass.

By the fifth attempt, the pass rate drops to 44.3%. Attempts from sixth onwards are grouped together. At this point the pass rate drops to a nervy 38.8%.

But even if you’ve failed the first few times, don’t give up hope just yet. Every year, thousands of learner drivers pass after the sixth-attempt mark - so there’s hope for everyone so long as you keep practising and improving!

Learner driver tips 🚗
How to handle blind spots, stopping distances, roundabouts and hill starts. Learn more
Average number of faults
First, a little explainer on driving test faults.

Faults, put simply, are mistakes you make during the test. There are three types:

A driving fault (also referred to as a ‘minor’). You can make 15 of these before you get an automatic fail. A driving fault isn’t a dangerous mistake, but it's one that could become dangerous if you keep on making it. An example of this would be failing to indicate on a quiet road.
A serious fault (or a ‘major’). One of these and you automatically fail, because the mistake is deemed potentially dangerous. For example, failing to brake when approaching a turn with a car behind you.
A dangerous fault (also a major). This mistake is dangerous to you, your instructor, a member of the public or a piece of property. For example, if you try to pull out in front of a car you didn't spot, and the examiner has to grab the wheel to stop you. It's an automatic fail.
Now that we've got that out of the way, let’s take a look at how many people passed their first attempt without making a single error. The gold standard of driving tests! 💯

In 2018/2019 (the last ‘normal’ year before the COVID-19 lockdowns and backlogs), 733,167 first-attempt tests were taken. Of these, 341,394 (46.6%) people passed. Of these, an extremely talented 10,247 people passed without a single error - 1.4% of the total.

Don’t put extra pressure on yourself by trying to achieve a perfect score - but it’s interesting to see just how many people do so.

If you’re wondering about what errors in particular catch people out, we’ve got a separate guide on the 10 most common driving test faults.

How to drive a manual car
Tips for pulling off, changing gear and stopping. Learn more
Pass rate by test centre
We wrote a special guide last year about the driving test centres with the highest and lowest pass rates - and it’s proved to be one of the most popular pieces of content we’ve ever produced. 💁‍♂️

It’s not hard to see why, with a 54.3% difference in pass rate between the easiest and the hardest test centres.

The hardest places to pass tend to be in busy cities, with test centres in London, Liverpool and Birmingham making up the top 5 with the lowest success rates.

And the easiest places are generally rural areas with less road traffic, with the top 5 highest pass rates found in the Scottish countryside.

Regardless of the location, however, you will never pass your test if you don’t put in the hard yards and get that practice done. So don’t try to game the system by taking your test at an ‘easier’ centre - if you aren’t ready, you won’t pass.

Automatic driving lessons only. 1st 5hrs £105.00, 1st 10hrs £360.00, thereafter £370.00. 7 day intensive courses available from £600.00. 

ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE BY 48 HRS. prepaid lessons after 28 days of inaction can't be refunded.

RULES REGARDING FOREIGNERS DRIVING IN THE UK. YOU MUST PRESENT A VALID PROVISIONAL LICENCE TO HAVE A DRIVING LESSON!

Foreigners can drive in the UK on a valid foreign license for up to 12 months after arriving, but after that, they must obtain a UK provisional license and pass the UK theory and practical driving tests to get a full UK license. Here's a more detailed breakdown:Driving with a Foreign License:Initial Period:You can drive in the UK on your foreign license for up to 12 months after you first arrive or become a resident. EU/EEA Licenses:If your license is from an EU/EEA country, you can drive in the UK using your original license until it expires. Non-EU/EEA Licenses:If your license is from a non-EU/EEA country, you can drive for up to 12 months, after which you need to apply for a UK provisional license. International Driving Permit (IDP):If your driving license isn't in English and you passed your test in a non-EU country, you may need an IDP. Obtaining a UK Driving License:Provisional License: After the initial 12-month period, you'll need to apply for a UK provisional license. Theory Test: You'll need to pass the UK theory test. Practical Test: You'll need to pass the UK practical driving test. Driving Lessons: You'll need to take driving lessons and be supervised by a qualified driver. "L" Plates: When learning to drive, you must display "L" plates on your car. Supervisors: If you are moving from a non-European Union and European Economic Area country, you must choose a supervisor who is 21 or older, qualified to drive the type of car you're learning in, and has had their full driving license for 3 years. 

Learning to drive an automatic car can potentially lead to a quicker and less stressful learning experience, as it eliminates the need to master clutch control and gear changes, allowing you to focus on other essential driving skills. Here's a more detailed breakdown:Simpler Learning Curve:Automatic cars are easier to learn because there's no clutch or gear stick to worry about. Focus on Road Awareness:Without the complexity of gear changes, you can concentrate more on road awareness, speed management, and other critical driving skills. Reduced Stress:The simplicity of automatic driving can make the learning process less stressful, especially for beginners. Quicker Progression:The ease of learning can lead to quicker progression and potentially a faster path to passing your driving test. Lower Pass Rate:While automatic driving can be easier for some, the pass rate for automatic tests is generally lower than for manual tests. Limited Flexibility:If you pass your test in an automatic, you'll only be able to drive automatic cars in the future, limiting your flexibility.

FULL EXPLANATION OF PARALLEL PARKING.

Few manoeuvres strike fear into the hearts of learner drivers like the parallel park.
Like many things however, practice makes perfect, coupled with a good understanding of how best to execute the manoeuvre.

So, when preparing to take your driving test, make sure you’ve read our essential guide to parallel parking first.

What is parallel parking?
Parallel parking is a means of parking your vehicle parallel to the road, usually in a line of other vehicles.

Typically, you’ll drive your vehicle alongside the one in front of the available space, before reversing it in.

It’s generally considered one of the trickier skills for new drivers to learn, but becomes second nature with practice and can be essential when hunting for a parking space in a busy street after you’ve passed your test.

When do I need to parallel park?
Parallel parking allows you to park in a smaller space than would be possible if you were driving forward into it.

Driving forward into a roadside space is usually only doable if two spaces in a row are unoccupied.

By reversing in, a driver can take advantage of a single empty space, not too much longer than the car.

Most residential roads accommodate roadside parking as standard, and in town and city centres where space is a premium, parallel parking might be the only option to get a space.

Parking guide: where you can and can’t park
Did you know that we offer specialist learner driver insurance?
For additional parking assistance, why not check out our parking range on RAC Shop
Learner Driver Car Insurance
Only pay for the cover you need until you’ve passed your test. Get learner driver insurance so you can practice outside of your lessons. 

Learn more
Learner Driver Car Insurance
How do I parallel park?
These instructions assume you’re parking on the left-hand side of the road (i.e. with the flow of traffic).

If parking on the right-hand side, the directions are reversed.

This is a general guide and while the principles will remain the same, your driving instructor might have their own preferred methods and reference points for teaching. First things first:

Make sure the space you are aiming to park in is big enough.
Indicate, then pull up alongside the space and check there’s a minimum of two feet either end.
Edge forward slowly, until the centre of your passenger side front window is roughly lined up with the front of the car in front of your space - if it’s facing the same way as you. (If it’s parked facing the opposite way, line up your passenger window with its back bumper).
Check your mirrors, and turn to check your blind spot.
Once you are happy it is safe, slowly begin reversing, looking behind you over your left shoulder and through the rear windscreen.
Slowly reversing now, roughly line up your back tyres with the back bumper of the the car in front of your space.
Now apply your handbrake and check your blindspot again, as when you turn to reverse into the space, the front of your car will swing out into the road slightly - so you will need to ensure nothing is coming.
If it is safe to do so, turn the steering wheel one complete turn to the left. Keep things nice and steady, concentrating on achieving a full turn.
Start slowly reversing, using the nearside mirror to check the position of the kerb, and the rear view mirror to see the vehicle behind you.
Once you can see the kerb in your nearside mirror and you’re clear of the car in front, it’s time to stop the car and starting turning the steering wheel to the right.
This time, use full lock, bringing the front of your car in towards the kerb. The trick here is fast steering but slow reversing - so quick hands, but steady feet.
Straighten up your position on the road, by again turning the steering wheel to the left so the car is reversing back straight, remember to reverse back 2 car lenghts upon execution ensuring you dont stop in front of a drive or obstruction like a tree.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE DRIVING TEST!

DVSA is trialling some change to the driving test to
increase the amount of time spent on rural roads and driving independentlyTrialling changes to the driving test

On 6 May 2025 DVSA will begin a trial to increase the amount of time your pupils spend on higher speed roads, including rural roads, during a driving test.

We know that rural roads are some of the most dangerous high-speed roads for novice drivers. The current killed or seriously injured statistics show 48% of casualties in young car driver collisions occur on rural roads, compared to 42% for other aged car driver collisions.

This trial aims to better replicate the challenging conditions your pupils face when they are novice drivers in the real world and help to improve road safety.  

The trial will not change the content you need to teach your pupils or the length of time a driving test takes.

We will contact learner drivers with a test booked at the trial sites to make them aware about the trial and reassure them that what they need to learn or will be tested on during their test will not change.

Details on the trial

The trial will run for 3 months from 6 May 2025 at 20 driving test centres (DTC) across Great Britain. These are:

Avonmouth, Bishopbriggs, Bolton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Dudley, Halifax, Hendon, Hereford,  Hornchurch, Isleworth, Maidstone, Middlesbrough, Musselburgh, Norris Green, Norwich (Peachman Way), Nottingham (Chilwell), Oxford, Portsmouth, Wakefield.

Up to 4 examiners will take part in the trial from each of the DTCs above and will use updated routes that include three changes to the test:

Reducing the amount of stops during the driving test from four to three. Currently, there are four stops on a driving test, which take place on lower risk roads with lower speed limits.

The need to find 4 slower speed areas to do these stops limits the distance that can be covered on a test, which impacts the number of high-speed roads that can be accessed.

Reducing the number of stops from 4 to 3 will allow flexibility for test routes to spend more time on higher speed roads, including rural roads.

Changing the frequency of carrying out an emergency stop (ES) from one in three driving tests to one in seven. Like the controlled stops, ES need to be done in lower speed areas which limits the distance that can be covered on tests. This again impacts on the number of high-speed roads that can be accessed on test.


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