We’ve built a thriving Driving School in the last 11 years.
We’ve built it on results, on cheek, on comedy and sometimes on straight talking bluntness- so let’s start blunt.
*TRIGGER WARNING- STRONG AND DIRECT LANGUAGE BELOW*
The entire purpose of this post is for the few, not the many. It’s easy, when you’ve been listening to your family or friends telling you how hard it is to book a test, for you to grab the first available test that comes up.
Let us be perfectly clear…..If you book a driving test without your instructor’s approval, you are not taking it in their car. Not in any DrewMatic car. There are no exceptions, no excuses. You’re welcome to look elsewhere for another instructor, but believe us when we say- there isn’t a single reputable instructor anywhere that hasn’t heard the lines –
“My instructor let me down.”
“My instructor isn’t available.”
“My instructor is in hospital.”
Blah. Blah. Blah.
We are not being mean. We are being honest. When we say you are not ready, it is because you are not ready, it is completely unfair to put that pressure on your instructor, it’s the same as asking a builder to certify a house extension when the walls are still wet plaster.
You are free to use your own car, or hire one, but when the examiner says, “That’s the end of the test, I’m sorry, but you haven’t passed,” remember who booked it against instructor advice. Maybe you’ll fluke it that’s great, we’re pleased for you, but probably won’t be accepting any lifts off you in the future, fluking a test isn’t cool, believe us.
Now let’s talk about the problem.
Every time the DVSA drops new test dates, some people literally lose their minds. is like the Covid toilet roll crisis all over again. Everyone’s in a frenzy, grabbing whatever they can, terrified someone else will get there first. The same panic. The same poor judgment. The same bone headed and stupid outcome….
Panic-buying a test slot makes as much sense as panic-buying 40 packs of Andrex. You end up with something you don’t know how to use properly and a mess to clean up afterwards. Then comes the guilt trip.
“Please can I take it anyway?” “I’ll be fine.” “It’s only for the experience.”
No. You can’t. Not in our cars anyway. You are asking your instructor to risk their job so you can have a go.
Here’s the part most people do not understand.
If you fail, or fail badly, it reflects on your instructor. Too many of those, and the DVSA calls them in for a Standards Check. Fail that 3 times in a row and their career is done. Gone.
That’s why we are firm. We are not here to risk our licence, reputation, and income because you panicked over a test date.
Ask your instructor what a Standards Check Marker is. Once they explain, you’ll see why every good driving school controls who tests and when. Now let’s deal with the big question.
Are you actually ready?
You might think so.
But if your instructor still has to:
• Tell you when to speed up or slow down
• Help steer when you drift too close to the kerb
• Use the dual brake because you missed a hazard
• Remind you to check mirrors or blind spot
• Talk you through every manoeuvre
• Read signs out loud for you
• Tell you which lane to be in
• Remind you which exit to take on a roundabout
• Stop you from freezing when traffic tightens
Then no, you are not ready. And when that car door closes at the test centre, your instructor is not in the passenger seat. The examiner sits there. The car feels smaller. Your hands shake. You think you might have even wet yourself… One wrong move and your confidence melts.
The examiner cannot save you. They will not coach you. If you get it very badly wrong, and they feel you’re a danger, they can end the test and step out. You will be sitting there alone in the quiet, replaying every mistake, wondering why you didn’t listen.
Your instructor is back in the waiting area. Your phone is off. Nobody can help you. The friends who said “just go for the experience” are not there either. They are at home, forgetting how bad their test went.
People have short memories when it comes to failure. Ask anyone who failed if it was fun. Watch their face. The truth is simple.
You are the only one in that car. And if you are not ready, you will find out the hard way. Nerves are fine. Everyone gets them.
But if you need help to do things before your test then you are not ready. We say no for your sake. Not ours. We have waiting lists longer than our patience. Your slot can easily go to someone else, it’s not about the money! We say no because we want you to pass first time, not scrape through on luck.
A driving test is proof that you can meet the MINIMUM standard to drive alone.
Not an experiment to see what happens. So think. Are you test ready, or are you panic-buying confidence like the toilet roll morons of 2020?
If you are still convincing yourself that “a little more luck” will get you through, you are about to learn that luck runs out faster than test slots. Listen to your instructor. They do this every day. They know what ready looks like. We will never apologise for saying no to someone who is not ready. We will not risk safety, our jobs, or your dignity so you can gamble on hope.
Please wait until you are ready. We care about you. We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t.
Then book it. Pass it. Own it.
That is how you do it right.
