Driving Lessons

20784

Hi,

I've decided to learn how to drive. Will like to know the first step. Never drive before. Can someone explain how to start? Do i need to meet driving instructor? Someone said i need Learner permit, don't know how to go about this. Will appreciate full explanation about this. Thanks

Lord TSC

IIRC, first step is to go do the written exam, the Driver Theory Test.

Info: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_tests/driver_theory_test.html

After that, you get your learner's permit, which then let's you start getting lessons. You need to do a minimum of 12 lessons before you can do your proper driving test (though you should probably do more than the 12 for safety purposes).

20784

Lord TSC wrote: »

IIRC, first step is to go do the written exam, the Driver Theory Test.

Info: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_tests/driver_theory_test.html

After that, you get your learner's permit, which then let's you start getting lessons. You need to do a minimum of 12 lessons before you can do your proper driving test (though you should probably do more than the 12 for safety purposes).

Ok thanks

20784

Lord TSC wrote: »

IIRC, first step is to go do the written exam, the Driver Theory Test.

Info: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_tests/driver_theory_test.html

After that, you get your learner's permit, which then let's you start getting lessons. You need to do a minimum of 12 lessons before you can do your proper driving test (though you should probably do more than the 12 for safety purposes).

Hi mod, I've done the Theory test yesterday and i passed it. So what next? Need to apply for learner permit? i heard about eye test? whats next? How long will use the learner permit before i apply for driver licence?

Thanks

rubberdungeon

https://www.ndls.ie/how-to-apply/learner-permit.html

https://www.ndls.ie/medical-reports.html

https://www.ndls.ie/identity-validation.html

https://www.ndls.ie/where-to-apply.html

https://www.ndls.ie/booking-service.html

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Hi mod, I've done the Theory test yesterday and i passed it. So what next? Need to apply for learner permit? i heard about eye test? whats next? How long will use the learner permit before i apply for driver licence?

Thanks

You need to fill out this form: https://www.ndls.ie/images/Documents/LearnerPermits/D201_Learner_Permit_app_form.pdf

€35.00 application fee.

Get an eye test and include the report with the form and fee.

Include your theory test cert.

ID (passport etc), PPS Number, proof of address.

When you have all this information and filled out the form, make an appointment at your local NDLS office and bring it all with you. They will process it and send you out a learner permit. Once you have this, pick a driving instructor and start taking lessons.

A minimum of 12 lessons is mandatory, you have to be having lessons/practising driving (accompanied) for at least 6 months before you can applied to do your driving test. When you do your driving test and pass you can then apply for a full driving license (similar to the procedure above). On passing, you must have N-Plates on your car for 2 years.

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

You need to fill out this form: https://www.ndls.ie/images/Documents/LearnerPermits/D201_Learner_Permit_app_form.pdf

€35.00 application fee.

Get an eye test and include the report with the form and fee.

Include your theory test cert.

ID (passport etc), PPS Number, proof of address.

When you have all this information and filled out the form, make an appointment at your local NDLS office and bring it all with you. They will process it and send you out a learner permit. Once you have this, pick a driving instructor and start taking lessons.

A minimum of 12 lessons is mandatory, you have to be having lessons/practising driving (accompanied) for at least 6 months before you can applied to do your driving test. When you do your driving test and pass you can then apply for a full driving license (similar to the procedure above). On passing, you must have N-Plates on your car for 2 years.

Thanks. I'm confused about the eye test. Can i go to any optician to do the eye test? or is there specific form i need to give optician to complete for the eye test, or the optician only need to give me the eye test result? Will i be charged fee by the optician for the eye test?

Thanks

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Thanks. I'm confused about the eye test. Can i go to any optician to do the eye test? or is there specific form i need to give optician to complete for the eye test, or the optician only need to give me the eye test result? Will i be charged fee by the optician for the eye test?

Thanks

Yes you have to go to an optician for an eye test. When you're booking it, say it's for a driving licence. When they have done the test they will give you a report to include with your application. There is a fee for an eye test, it varies by optician. If you have been working or have a medical card you might be entitled to a free one. Call the optician with your PPS number and they will check for you. Generally eye test can range from €25.00 - €40.00 depending on where you go. Specsavers used to do €15 eye tests but I don't know if they do any more.

Learning to drive is a costly business unfortunately but just take it one step at a time. I had spent a small fortune learning to drive and thought I was going to pass first time and I didn't. It nearly killed me to pay another €85 to repeat the test.

I'm not trying to put you off or anything, it's just that you don't seem to know a lot of what's involved so I wouldn't want you to get started and then realise you can't afford it but it's a great skill and it gave me a new lease of life, I don't regret a cent of it.

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

Yes you have to go to an optician for an eye test. When you're booking it, say it's for a driving licence. When they have done the test they will give you a report to include with your application. There is a fee for an eye test, it varies by optician. If you have been working or have a medical card you might be entitled to a free one. Call the optician with your PPS number and they will check for you. Generally eye test can range from €25.00 - €40.00 depending on where you go. Specsavers used to do €15 eye tests but I don't know if they do any more.

Learning to drive is a costly business unfortunately but just take it one step at a time. I had spent a small fortune learning to drive and thought I was going to pass first time and I didn't. It nearly killed me to pay another €85 to repeat the test.

I'm not trying to put you off or anything, it's just that you don't seem to know a lot of what's involved so I wouldn't want you to get started and then realise you can't afford it but it's a great skill and it gave me a new lease of life, I don't regret a cent of it.

Thanks. I've done the eye test and passed it. Got the eye test result now. Will apply for Learner Permit this week. Is it a good idea for first time to start learning driving with Automatic or Manual? which one is better to start with? Also after the 12 lessons, will i still do more lessons? someone said better i do more than 12 lessons so as to pass the second test? what do you think?

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Thanks. I've done the eye test and passed it. Got the eye test result now. Will apply for Learner Permit this week. Is it a good idea for first time to start learning driving with Automatic or Manual? which one is better to start with? Also after the 12 lessons, will i still do more lessons? someone said better i do more than 12 lessons so as to pass the second test? what do you think?

Absolutely learn in a manual. Most cars are manual. Automatic (generally) in your average run of the mill car, are for the elderly/people with a disability. Other automatic cars are (generally) very high powered like big BMW's etc.

If you learn in an automatic, you will only have a full driving licence for an automatic meaning you would have to do another driving test for a manual. Whereas if you learn in a manual, you will do a driving test in a manual and your driving licence covers both manual and automatic.

(Generally) automatic's are hard to get and more expensive to insure as they have in most cases been a manual car but modified to suit another person and turned into an automatic. Once a car has been modified in some way, it is in most cases more expensive to insure.

If you buy a pack of 12 lessons from a driving instructor, they will probably offer you some kind of discount like 12 for the price of 10/11 etc. Do them first and see how you get on, the driving instructor will most likely do maybe 6-8 lessons with you and then tell you to go off and get on the insurance of your parents car or get your own car and practice for a couple of months. Go back to the driving instructor when you think you have had enough practice, have a lesson, they will probably say if they think you're ready to book the test or not (usually 8-10 week waiting time). If you book the test, they will do the remaining 4-6 lessons with you tidying up on bad habits and practising key maneuvers and if any more lessons are needed in the run up to the test so be it.

Do everything you can to get it first time and don't be in a rush. Listen to the driving instructors advice.

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

Absolutely learn in a manual. Most cars are manual. Automatic (generally) in your average run of the mill car, are for the elderly/people with a disability. Other automatic cars are (generally) very high powered like big BMW's etc.

If you learn in an automatic, you will only have a full driving licence for an automatic meaning you would have to do another driving test for a manual. Whereas if you learn in a manual, you will do a driving test in a manual and your driving licence covers both manual and automatic.

(Generally) automatic's are hard to get and more expensive to insure as they have in most cases been a manual car but modified to suit another person and turned into an automatic. Once a car has been modified in some way, it is in most cases more expensive to insure.

If you buy a pack of 12 lessons from a driving instructor, they will probably offer you some kind of discount like 12 for the price of 10/11 etc. Do them first and see how you get on, the driving instructor will most likely do maybe 6-8 lessons with you and then tell you to go off and get on the insurance of your parents car or get your own car and practice for a couple of months. Go back to the driving instructor when you think you have had enough practice, have a lesson, they will probably say if they think you're ready to book the test or not (usually 8-10 week waiting time). If you book the test, they will do the remaining 4-6 lessons with you tidying up on bad habits and practising key maneuvers and if any more lessons are needed in the run up to the test so be it.

Do everything you can to get it first time and don't be in a rush. Listen to the driving instructors advice.

Thank you. You and this forum have really helped me. . I got my learner permit this morning. However, i wonder if its compulsory i do the 12 lessons at once???

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Thank you. You and this forum have really helped me. . I got my learner permit this morning. However, i wonder if its compulsory i do the 12 lessons at once???

No it's not compulsory to do them all at once, normally a driving instructor would recommend to do 5-6 lessons, send you off to practice for a couple of months and then use the remainder of the lessons to tidy up on everything.

The only people that generally do all 12 lessons at once are learners that don't have their own car or don't have access to any car so therefore lessons are their only form of practice but they could be getting 20-25 lessons to get enough practice in.

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

No it's not compulsory to do them all at once, normally a driving instructor would recommend to do 5-6 lessons, send you off to practice for a couple of months and then use the remainder of the lessons to tidy up on everything.

The only people that generally do all 12 lessons at once are learners that don't have their own car or don't have access to any car so therefore lessons are their only form of practice but they could be getting 20-25 lessons to get enough practice in.

So that means its time for me to buy a car, right?

ProudDUB

20784 wrote: »

So that means its time for me to buy a car, right?

No. You can do the lessons in your instructors car if you want. Or you can do them in a friend or family members car, as long as they are willing to add you on to their insurance policy. The odds of you passing the test are much better if you have access to a car to practice your driving in. Whether you choose to buy your own car, or use someone elses car to practice in, is entirely up to you.

20784

ProudDUB wrote: »

No. You can do the lessons in your instructors car if you want. Or you can do them in a friend or family members car, as long as they are willing to add you on to their insurance policy. The odds of you passing the test are much better if you have access to a car to practice your driving in. Whether you choose to buy your own car, or use someone elses car to practice in, is entirely up to you.

Ok thanks, i think i'll need instructor that can rent his car for me to practice since i don't have a car yet? How often i need to practice while taking lessons? Is it a good idea to book for 5 lessons at once, and taking each lesson every two weeks? Any suggestion? Nervous :rolleyes:

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Ok thanks, i think i'll need instructor that can rent his car for me to practice since i don't have a car yet? How often i need to practice while taking lessons? Is it a good idea to book for 5 lessons at once, and taking each lesson every two weeks? Any suggestion? Nervous :rolleyes:

I'd say 1 lesson every week for a couple of weeks, 1 every 2 weeks is too much of a break in between in my opinion.

Call the driving instructor you have chosen and let them tell you any offers they have, they usually talk through prices, frequency of lessons etc at your first lesson.

At each lesson you normally book forward for the next lesson, they usually have a diary with them and slot you in somewhere you both agree on each week.

Lessons can get shuffled around a bit depending on how busy the instructor is, other clients may be waiting on a quick test for work or something and then need a pretest lesson at the last minute or may need to use the instructors car etc. I got a call a few times from my instructor needing to change my day/time around when he had situations like that, so it's not just a case of booking in for 5 lessons every Wednesday at 10am, if you know what I mean.

And driving instructors always tend to be very busy in the summer because it's the best time of year to learn to drive, plus young people are on summer holidays from school and college etc so just bear that in mind. Get booking the first lesson and take it from there.

20784

Hi guys, I've now done 9 courses, do i need to continue the course, or do i need to stop now and buy a small car for practice? at present i have no friend own a car that i can use for practice so thinking of buying a car? What do you think i should do now?

punisher5112

20784 wrote: »

Hi guys, I've now done 9 courses, do i need to continue the course, or do i need to stop now and buy a small car for practice? at present i have no friend own a car that i can use for practice so thinking of buying a car? What do you think i should do now?

You are not allowed drive the car on your own without a full licence holder that has held it for over 2years.

Continue with your lessons and do a pre test before your test.

Listen to your instructors advise.

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Hi guys, I've now done 9 courses, do i need to continue the course, or do i need to stop now and buy a small car for practice? at present i have no friend own a car that i can use for practice so thinking of buying a car? What do you think i should do now?

It will cost you a small fortune if you're looking a buying anything half decent. Insurance has gone up over 20% alone for drivers this year and you're on a provisional with no experience. You could be looking at €4000+ for a year if you even get a company to take you and that's before you buy the car.

There's no point saying I'll just buy a banger for €500, it will spend 90% of the time at the side of the road with the bonnet up or in the garage and it will cost you a lot more than you will pay for it to keep it on the road.

Even a second hand old car from a dealer will probably only come with 6 months warranty and will still set you back a minimum of €4500-€5000.

Buy of DoneDeal/private seller and you have no comeback.

If I were you I'd be very careful and just stick with paying for lessons until your instructor thinks you're ready to sit the test. Even 20 more lessons at €30 will only set you back €600, big difference to the amount above.

Don't know what age you are but I'm 26 with a full licence and no claims or penalty points and I got a €2750 quote for a 1.4 litre yesterday. (That quote includes a 5% loyalty discount, a 10% online discount and a 20% Ignition discount. Ignition is a 1 hour driving test with the company prior to them giving you a discounted rate).

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

It will cost you a small fortune if you're looking a buying anything half decent. Insurance has gone up over 20% alone for drivers this year and you're on a provisional with no experience. You could be looking at €4000+ for a year if you even get a company to take you and that's before you buy the car.

There's no point saying I'll just buy a banger for €500, it will spend 90% of the time at the side of the road with the bonnet up or in the garage and it will cost you a lot more than you will pay for it to keep it on the road.

Even a second hand old car from a dealer will probably only come with 6 months warranty and will still set you back a minimum of €4500-€5000.

Buy of DoneDeal/private seller and you have no comeback.

If I were you I'd be very careful and just stick with paying for lessons until your instructor thinks you're ready to sit the test. Even 20 more lessons at €30 will only set you back €600, big difference to the amount above.

Don't know what age you are but I'm 26 with a full licence and no claims or penalty points and I got a €2750 quote for a 1.4 litre yesterday. (That quote includes a 5% loyalty discount, a 10% online discount and a 20% Ignition discount. Ignition is a 1 hour driving test with the company prior to them giving you a discounted rate).

Was offered a Nissan Micra 1L for 700e, comes with valid NCT till 2016, tax is 199. But really need to confirm if its the right time to buy the car after 9 lessons so far. ?

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Was offered a Nissan Micra 1L for 700e, comes with valid NCT till 2016, tax is 199. But really need to confirm if its the right time to buy the car after 9 lessons so far. ?

I've known people who have bought cars before they've even had a lesson. Did you get an insurance quote for it?

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

I've known people who have bought cars before they've even had a lesson. Did you get an insurance quote for it?

Not at all, have no idea .. have idea likely amount?

tomhenryford

20784 wrote: »

Not at all, have no idea .. have idea likely amount?

If you have the reg number of the car it should be easy enough to find out, the likes of fbd.ie will give a ballpark figure if you enter the engine size, your age, etc. The other online quotes system probably will say something like 'we are unable to quote you at this time. Please call the following number etc' because you'd be considered high risk.

Try entering your details on fbd.ie and see how you get on. I still think you'd be looking at €3,500+ if you're under 21.

20784

tomhenryford wrote: »

If you have the reg number of the car it should be easy enough to find out, the likes of fbd.ie will give a ballpark figure if you enter the engine size, your age, etc. The other online quotes system probably will say something like 'we are unable to quote you at this time. Please call the following number etc' because you'd be considered high risk.

Try entering your details on fbd.ie and see how you get on. I still think you'd be looking at €3,500+ if you're under 21.

.


I'm 28

Squidgy Black

tomhenryford wrote: »

Don't know what age you are but I'm 26 with a full licence and no claims or penalty points and I got a €2750 quote for a 1.4 litre yesterday. (That quote includes a 5% loyalty discount, a 10% online discount and a 20% Ignition discount. Ignition is a 1 hour driving test with the company prior to them giving you a discounted rate).

If I was you I'd 100% shop around and get a better quote next year, I'm 20, provisional licence, 0 years no claims bonus, and was quoted 2300 on a 1.4 litre.

tomhenryford

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

If I was you I'd 100% shop around and get a better quote next year, I'm 20, provisional licence, 0 years no claims bonus, and was quoted 2300 on a 1.4 litre.

Really? Who was that with? I could only get a lower quote if I was willing to put a box thing on the car that would monitor my driving

Squidgy Black

tomhenryford wrote: »

Really? Who was that with? I could only get a lower quote if I was willing to put a box thing on the car that would monitor my driving

First Ireland