Pre-test & Car Hire - Instructor not available

The_Morrigan

I've just gotten my date for my driving test and my driving instructor is not free, nor is his car available for hire for my allocated slot.

I do have my own car, but I'd rather not do the test in that as it's a sports car and doesn't really give off the impression of a learner in a nice safe and small new driver type of car.
I really want the tester to feel at ease in the car, rather than prejudging me based on my 1.6lt car.

Does anyone have any advice or opinions on this?

truedoom

borrow a mates car for the day? get your insurance swapped over?

check with other instructors, see if they are willing to let you hire their car.

ask your instructor if they can recommend someone who'll let you hire their car.

ProudDUB

Could you get with your instructor and get a block of times and dates from him, when he and his car are available? Then ring back and ask for a different date for the test. If you give them the dates that work for you, they will probably be able to find a date/time that suit you both. I'd say they are well used to people ringing them up, who need to use their testers car for the test and, they need to coordinate the dates & times with everyone involved.

BuffyBot

Ask your instructor if he knows a colleague who may be free at that time and/or have have a similar car.

MascotDec85

ProudDUB wrote: »

Could you get with your instructor and get a block of times and dates from him, when he and his car are available? Then ring back and ask for a different date for the test. If you give them the dates that work for you, they will probably be able to find a date/time that suit you both. I'd say they are well used to people ringing them up, who need to use their testers car for the test and, they need to coordinate the dates & times with everyone involved.

This

J_R

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I've just gotten my date for my driving test and my driving instructor is not free, nor is his car available for hire for my allocated slot.

I do have my own car, but I'd rather not do the test in that as it's a sports car and doesn't really give off the impression of a learner in a nice safe and small new driver type of car.
I really want the tester to feel at ease in the car, rather than prejudging me based on my 1.6lt car.

Does anyone have any advice or opinions on this?

Hi,

If yor car is road legal, then my advise, do the test in it. The testers do not pre-judge. They do not mark you on the type of car, only on how you drive it.

You will be more familiar with your own car therefore you should have greater confidence driving it, so use it.

sopretty

I did my first test in an instructor's car and got a lot of marks for clutching and gears. My own car was petrol and the instructor's car was diesel, so a little different to handle. I wouldn't recommend doing it in an instructor's car unless you're very very familiar with it.

Yamanoto

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I really want the tester to feel at ease in the car, rather than prejudging me based on my 1.6lt car.

You may be prejudging the tester unfairly?

Your result will depend largely upon your competence behind the wheel & given you're most familiar with your own motor, it'd be mad not to make use of the clear advantage that provides.

J_R

Hi,

when I was an instructor I would always strongly recommend my pupils to use their own car.

Just a couple of things to beware, If you have pasted on a sun visor strip it must not be deeper than the interior sun visor and if windows are tinted the driver must still be visible from outside the car.

Even had pupils do the test with their cars fitted with full body kits. This necessitated them literally inching their way across the speed ramps.

If the car is legal, no problem whatsoever.

The testers are professionals, they will only mark you on your driving. Not your choice of car.

The_Morrigan

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'm absorbing it all in before I make a final decision.
Just on the car familiarity.... I only have my car three weeks so I've about the same experience in both cars at this point in time.

thesimpsons

definitely use the car you are most familiar with. both my kids did test in 1.6 sports version of standard family car, its what they did all their lessons and practice in. Both passed first time. I always think as 18yr olds they looked funny sitting behind wheel of obviously "middle aged dad's car" but hey, its what they most familiar with.

miss no stars

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I've just gotten my date for my driving test and my driving instructor is not free, nor is his car available for hire for my allocated slot.

I do have my own car, but I'd rather not do the test in that as it's a sports car and doesn't really give off the impression of a learner in a nice safe and small new driver type of car.
I really want the tester to feel at ease in the car, rather than prejudging me based on my 1.6lt car.

Does anyone have any advice or opinions on this?

I did mine in a very new (new to me and new in general) 2l high horsepower car. The tester seemed to be delighted to not have to sit into a rust bucket heap of crap tbh. So if it did anything I'd say it worked in my favour... Use the car you're more familiar with. This will be your own one given that you can hop into it any time you have someone to go out with you, whereas you can only book an instructor for a certain number of times. I'd also advise having your instructor do a couple of lessons in your own car with you.

ProudDUB

Use the car that you feel most comfortable driving, especially when doing the reverse around a corner, hill start and 3 pt turn parts of the test. If it is overcast or raining and hard to see the curb that you are reversing around, you'll want to be behind the wheel of a car that you feel very familiar with.

Your driving a fancy car won't prejudice the tester on the day. He is there to judge your driving ability and nothing else. There aren't many learner drives that can afford to buy, tax and insure a fancy sports car, or have the balls to learn how to drive in one. If he gives any thought to the owner of the car at all, he will probably presume that someone else owns the car & that you are just a named driver on the policy.

The_Morrigan

ProudDUB wrote: »

Use the car that you feel most comfortable driving, especially when doing the reverse around a corner, hill start and 3 pt turn parts of the test. If it is overcast or raining and hard to see the curb that you are reversing around, you'll want to be behind the wheel of a car that you feel very familiar with.

Your driving a fancy car won't prejudice the tester on the day. He is there to judge your driving ability and nothing else. There aren't many learner drives that can afford to buy, tax and insure a fancy sports car, or have the balls to learn how to drive in one. If he gives any thought to the owner of the car at all, he will probably presume that someone else owns the car and that you are just a named driver on the policy.

Being a thirty something year old learner helps with affording a fancy smancy car

I'm still in two minds about it all tbh I think another factor with my car is the possibility of bumping the kerb because its so feckin long and low to the ground compared to the instructors car.

I did a practice turn around last night and it took 6 or 7 moves to complete it without mounting the kerb.
Reversing round the corner in my car ends up with my bonnet on the right side of the road till I correct it.

My full license holder tried the same moves and although he is driving thirty years he didn't do them any easier/faster.

It is these things that are playing on my mind a bit now...I can't afford to fcuk up.

miss no stars

The_Morrigan wrote: »

Being a thirty something year old learner helps with affording a fancy smancy car

I'm still in two minds about it all tbh I think another factor with my car is the possibility of bumping the kerb because its so feckin long and low to the ground compared to the instructors car.

I did a practice turn around last night and it took 6 or 7 moves to complete it without mounting the kerb.
Reversing round the corner in my car ends up with my bonnet on the right side of the road till I correct it.

My full license holder tried the same moves and although he is driving thirty years he didn't do them any easier/faster.

It is these things that are playing on my mind a bit now...I can't afford to fcuk up.

If you're not comfortable in the car you have - use an instructor's car. Engine size, make, newness, sportiness aren't going to have an affect on your test result... Not being able and/or confident at executing manoeuvres safely and expediently as required by the test is another thing entirely.

MascotDec85

Use the instructors car. Move the date if needs be. It was pretty apparent from your op you'd much rather do that.

You should always use the car you're most comfortable in.

I'd a pupil a few weeks ago who was driving my car better than her own. She used it for the test and flew it.

You do what suits you.

J_R

The_Morrigan wrote: »

Being a thirty something year old learner helps with affording a fancy smancy car

I'm still in two minds about it all tbh I think another factor with my car is the possibility of bumping the kerb because its so feckin long and low to the ground compared to the instructors car.

I did a practice turn around last night and it took 6 or 7 moves to complete it without mounting the kerb.
Reversing round the corner in my car ends up with my bonnet on the right side of the road till I correct it.

My full license holder tried the same moves and although he is driving thirty years he didn't do them any easier/faster.

It is these things that are playing on my mind a bit now...I can't afford to fcuk up.

Hi,

The tester makes due allowance for size of car, overhangs etc. (Be very careful of kerbs/overhang, remember the camber of the road also affects the clearance distance required). Reversing, just worry about the back wheel. Keep it the same distance from the kerb (about two feet). How far the front swings out depends on the type of corner, (sharp or curved) and the length of car.

The testers are professional but they are also human and they would enjoy a drive in something other than the usual Opel Corsa. Quite a few are car enthusiasts and they would enjoy a drive in something exotic or different - provided of course you can handle the car in a safe competent manner.

I had a young pupil who did the test in one of the very first Austim Mini's. He restored it himself. Tester spent the entire test quizzing him on the work involved, where did he source certain items etc etc. Also had another pupil, youg lad again, who restored a VW Golf MK 1. Again he was complimented on great job he did.

Also had a very young girl did the test in her own little sporty car (Ford Puma I think). She came out screaming "He said he loved my car, he just loved my car, Oh and I passed".

Of course the most important thing, all the above were excellent drivers.

You have at least the weekend, bring sandwiches, spent the days in the car driving. And take lessons in your own car.

Some driving instructors push to use the school car, but this is for their own monetary gain not for the pupils benefit.

Do the test in whichever car you feel the most comfortable and competent.

Best of luck

sopretty

I want to know what car you have!!!