Day: July 9, 2025

6 New Driving Laws in 2018

Motoring law changes all the time, but in 2018 there are some pretty big changes afoot. Here are six new changes to the law that will affect each and every one of us, so read up to ensure you stay on the right side of the rules as published on the Car Keys website.

For free advice just ask on on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form.

New MoT legislation

There are new MoT changes that come into force on May 20^th, which introduce new testable items.

From this date, any diesel car that has had its DPF removed or tampered with will instantly fail the test, while aftermarket high definition headlamp bulbs will also be outlawed.

Reversing lights will be tested for the first time, and your car will also fail if the brake fluid is visually deteriorated.

Classic cars over 40 years old will now be exempt from testing, too.

Finally, the current system of advisories will be replaced with minor, major and dangerous faults. Minor faults will work the same as the current advisory system and won’t constitute a fail. A car with dangerous faults cannot be driven away from the test until the repairs have been carried out.

Here’s all you need to know about MOT tests and pre checks

Learner drivers to be allowed on motorways

Starting this year, learners will be allowed on motorways for the first time, though motorway driving won’t form part of the test as there are some regions of the country where this will be impractical, such as Western Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

All instructors will be encouraged to give drivers some motorway training, you can read more on the Pass Plus page here.

Penalties for misusing motorways

New ANPR-based (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras will be introduced on major motorways to monitor misuse of the hard shoulder. If a driver uses the hard shoulder on a managed motorway when it isn’t open, or drives in a lane with a red ‘X’ above it, the cameras will automatically trigger a penalty, which includes a £100 fine and three points on your driving licence. Keep an eye on those gantry signs to avoid an unpleasant surprise…

Changes to the driving test

As well as the independent driving element of the current test, where the examiner gives no instructions for 10 minutes, the new test laws will include a section where delegates are expected to follow instructions from a sat nav unit to prove they can follow the directions safely.

The test will also include a section where the driver is asked to demonstrate a function of the car, such as how the windscreen wipers work, or how to demist the windscreen.

Reversing into a car park bay is now also part of the test.

Tax rises for diesel cars

First year car tax for all diesel cars that aren’t compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard will rise by one tax bracket from April 1^st, with rates to increase by anything from £20 to £560 in the first year depending on the model and its current emissions.

Unsurprisingly, the government hasn’t publicised this one very much!

Children’s car seats

Rules around child car seat safety have changes significantly.

New models of backless booster seats will only be suitable for children taller than 125cm or weighing more than 22kg, with high back seats featuring guides to lower the level of the seatbelt in line with the passenger’s shoulders.

In addition, all children below 15 months old must now travel in a backwards-facing car seat.

All children must use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seatbelt. You can choose a child car seat based on your child’s height or weight.

Retro Car Trends That Used To Be Popular

Things that were once luxuries are now taken for granted. Power steering, electric windows, central locking – a few years back, it’d be a rare to find these on even the most opulent of cars. Of course, things are very different today – new superminis get more tech than the luxury saloons of the 90s.

To remind ourselves how far car design has moved on, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane and had a look at some must-have options and accessories of days gone by. We’re not sure any deserve a renaissance, but they are testament to how far design and technology (not to mention taste) has developed.

Pop-up headlights

Once upon a time, you can imagine some automotive designer demoing this to a room full of executive decision-makers and the chairman exalting “Oh my god, it’s the future!”

Sadly, despite adding an oddly human touch to cars thanks to the headlights opening and shutting like sleepy eye-lids, it wasn’t.

Designed to give cars a sleeker profile, hidden headlights allowed manufacturers to produce low-down sports cars while getting around headlight height requirements.

While designers may have got around safety requirements once, in the last decade new regulations have pushed it out of favour – European design laws now require the front-end of cars to be more readily deformable to protect pedestrians in an accident.

As it is difficult and costly to create hidden headlights that comply with these laws, we’ve had to say goodbye to winking sports cars.

Removable stereos

The infotainment systems in modern cars are, in effect, part of the car itself. Not too long ago however, things were different. All stereos came in one universal shape and, thanks to the questionable car security at the time, they became a top target for thieves.

The answer came in the form of a removable fascia. Designed to deter shady characters, anyone who managed to prise the radio out would find it useless without its front fascia.

A simple and effective feature it may have been, there’s no question that modern touchscreen tech, and car security for that matter, is infinitely superior.

Sun strips

This must-have accessory of the disco era graced the windscreen tops of many would-be rally drivers and, while sun visors probably weren’t what they are today, shading your eyes from the rays came at the expense of obscuring a good portion of your windscreen.

For those that really wanted to stand out, decking out your sun strip with slogans, or your loved one’s name, became the thing to do.

We can’t really understand the reason for this, but it’s probably good that this trend was consigned to the history books.

Beaded seat covers

beaded seat covers

Pensioners and minicab drivers – the only two demographics whose interiors are still likely donning beaded seat covers. But how did they ever catch on in the first place?

It was once reported that they relieved backache. That said, you don’t see any hanging up in the pharmacists, so we can only presume painkillers for back complaints have progressed substantially since the late ‘80s.

We’re not sure how hundreds of knobbly wooden balls pushing into your back can be comfortable, but one positive is that it did keep you cool on hot days, especially if your car was adorned with velour upholstery.

And finally vinyl roofs

Sticking with fabrics, it was more common to see vinyl on the outside of the car than on the inside in the 1970s. Available on only the plushest trim levels, if your car had a vinyl roof, people knew you were doing well for yourself.

The idea of a fabric-covered roof on a hardtop may seem ridiculous now but the idea stems from the early days of motoring.

When the automotive world was in its primitive stages, easing the transition from horse and carriage to motor vehicle was a key consideration and manufacturers actually tried to make their vehicles resemble a carriage.

So, if you ever see a 1973 Ford Cortina and are pondering the reason behind its squidgy brown roof, it’s all down to horses.

Oxford Learner Driving Academy Car Buying Tips

Cars with diesel engines were once the most highly sought after of all engine types. In fact, diesels have historically commanded a premium over identically specified petrol vehicles, even in the used market.

But prices have slumped since punitive reforms to the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) came into force in April 2017 and further reforms were announced that are set to be enacted in April 2018.

Emergent technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and petrol/electric hydrids are gaining a foothold in the UK car market. These new technologies are generally considered to be better for the environment, but what’s best for your wallet? Read on to find out.

Car Buying Tip # 1: The rise and demise of diesel

Way back in 2001, then chancellor Gordon Brown introduced revised tax rates for all newly registered cars. Rather than being based on engine size as before the taxation bands were based upon the amount of carbon dioxide a vehicle emitted. This move was prompted by the EU’s imperative to meet the requirements agreed in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Technological advancements at the time meant that diesel cars could be built to emit less carbon dioxide than their petrol counterparts. As a result of this, diesel vehicles often fell into the vastly preferential road tax emission bands at the lower end of the scale,

Spotting a rare opportunity to slash the cost of motoring, British drivers switched to diesel cars in droves. During the ’00s the number of diesel cars on Britain’s roads more than doubled from 3.45 million to 8.1 million.

But all good things must come to an end sooner or later. Even before Brown’s road tax reforms in 2001, scientists knew that whilst diesel engines burn fuel more efficiently and thus emit less CO2, diesel cars also emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides.

Some nitrogen oxides (NOs) are greenhouse gases and others are immediately harmful to human health. Petrol cars can mitigate NO emissions more effectively by using catalytic converters. The rapid spike in popularity of diesels during the early 21st Century led to dangerous levels of NO build up in our larger cities. This is is why we now find ourselves on a diesel witch hunt.

Car Buying Tip # 2: Time to put the brakes on

The first tax hike for new cars came into effect on 1st April 2017. This saw some diesel owners that previously paid no road tax at all on their old car facing the prospect of paying a ‘standard’ £140 a year (after their first year of ownership) should they choose to upgrade to a new diesel within the same emissions band.

The silver lining is that the first year of road tax is still based upon emissions. This means that for the most environmentally friendly cars the first year’s tax will be much lower. However, this cost is paid by the manufacturer and most likely passed on through the ‘on-the-road’ cost of the car, so this is unlikely to make much difference to consumers.

In April 2018, all diesel cars registered on or after 1st April 2017 will be subject to further increases in VED. This time, the change is simpler, with the charge for each emissions class being moved up a band. This means that from next month any car that was registered on or after 1st April 2017 that isn’t ’emission free’ will attract a tax charge of at least £130 a year once the car is a year old.

In summary, combined with rising diesel fuel costs these developments make buying any new diesel car far less appealing than it was a few years ago.

Car Buying Tip # 3: Petrol is back in demand

The popularity of diesels is now plummeting. This is due to a combination of rising running costs combined with plans to levy surcharges or even enact outright bans on diesel cars in some city centres. Owners of diesel cars are now finding it harder to sell their vehicles as list prices fall through the floor.

As a result, the cost of petrol vehicles has begun to go up as demand for these ‘cleaner’ cars has risen. Buyers are increasingly likely to find that prices of second hand petrol cars are more than they expected. What’s more, as the price of petrol itself continues to creep up (albeit at a slower rate than diesel), drivers will yet again find running costs increasing in the coming months.

Car Buying Tip # 4: Going electric

The mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has long been held back by issues with performance, range, and cost. Even modern EVs on a full charge will struggle to cover a fraction of the miles offered by a traditional vehicle with a full tank.

Nothing short of a vehicle from a premium range will be suitable for longer road trips without regular charging stopovers. This wouldn’t be such a problem if there were more charging points. This is especially true in a county like Norfolk where finding even a traditional petrol station that’s still open can be a challenge at times.

The good news is that research cited by The Guardian claims that EVs are now the most cost-effective vehicle in terms of total cost of ownership. For the time being, generous government subsidies are underpinning this figure by substantially reducing the initial purchase price. And because EVs are zero emission at the point of use, they are also exempt from road tax.

The rising cost of running traditional vehicles will no doubt encourage the uptake of EVs, bringing down the cost of purchase and ownership further, even once the subsidies are removed.

Car Buying Tip # 5: Zipping around the city

Where EVs really excel is in city centres — the very place where diesels are now so unwelcome. If your journeys are typically less than 50 miles you can silently zip about town on a full charge or less for a fraction of the cost of a traditional vehicle.

In spite of notable black spots in rural areas, Britain already has one of the most extensive network of charging points in Europe. You can bet this is set to continue to grow substantially as people abandon combustion engines in search of cheaper motoring.

So, EVs are now cheap and increasingly practical. But unless you can afford to fork out for a new or nearly new car, you’ll still have to carry on burning fossil fuels for now.

Car Buying Tip # 6: Hybrid — the best of both worlds?

Perhaps you love the idea of an electric car but live in a rural area where there are no charging points? Or maybe you can’t park close enough to your house to charge your car overnight? In these cases, a hybrid car could be the way to go.

The biggest benefit of hybrids is that you get two engines in one car. The drawback… is that you get two engines in one car. You pay twice for the engines and then your car has to lug those two engines around (with fuel too, don’t forget). One of these engines will always be redundant at any given point in time.

Whilst driving stop-start around the city, your electric engine runs the show. If the battery runs flat, or when you pick up enough speed your petrol engine kicks in. No plugging in overnight, or forgetting to charge, or running flat without a charging point to be seen.

At first glance, a hybrid will give you both the environmental kudos of electric combined with the performance and range of a petrol engine. So long as you remember to refuel, you’re golden.

But hybrids don’t come cheap — you’re paying for two engines, remember? And you still have to pay for fuel, which is already eye-wateringly expensive and is set to carry on going up. Plus, the government isn’t interested in giving you a tax break any longer — hybrids still pollute when running on petrol and that’s all the government cares about. The standard rate of vehicle tax will be set at £130 from next month for hybrids, a mere £10 annual saving over and above a standard petrol car.

Conclusion

Electric vehicles are generally considered to be the best for the environment. But older models still aren’t that common so unless you can afford a new or nearly new car, an EV might not be a realistic option right now. Charging points might also be non-existent where you live at the moment.

For the time-being you might have to plump for petrol until the EV market matures and preloved vehicles (and charging points) are easier to come by.

Even if you can’t save money by going electric right now, we can still help you save money on the cost of driving. Once you successfully complete our Pass Plus course you will be able to save on the cost of your insurance. You’ll also be a safer and more confident driver to boot!

Call us on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form.

How To Get Cheap Car Insurance for Young New Drivers UK

Young drivers in the UK are statistically more likely to have an accident and make a claim. This has the knock-on effect of sending their car insurance costs sky high.

Getting the best cheap car insurance for young drivers can feel like an impossible task, but there’s plenty you can do to help keep costs down. From picking the right car to increasing your excess, our tips go back to basics so that you can consider a wide range of insurers, not just those that offer telematics or pay-as-you drive insurance.

Read our nine top tips to help you find cheapest car insurance for young drivers.

1. Pick one of the cheapest cars to insure for young drivers

When looking for your first car, the cost of car insurance is often a big factor in the buying process. All cars on the market belong to one of 50 different car insurance groups — the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers can be found in groups one to five. This is particularly important for young male or female drivers with fast cars, which are typically more expensive.

2. Steer clear of car modifications

Car modifications, such as alloy wheels and body kits, often appeal to young drivers wanting to personalise simple-looking hatchbacks or medium-sized cars. However, avoid them if you want the best insurance for young drivers — modifications are known to increase premiums by hundreds of pounds. Again, this is the sort of thing that young drivers with fast cars, or those who want a fast car, should be aware of.

If you are absolutely determined to modify your car, consider if you would be happy to replace the modified parts with cheaper ones, otherwise the costs of the premiums could be much higher.

3. Consider a black box policy

Black box policies (also known as telematics) use an app or a small device installed in the car to monitor usage and driving behaviour. These types of policy can help to cut the cost of car insurance for young drivers as insurers are able to base premiums on actual driving behaviour rather than assuming every young driver is at risk of making a claim.

If there ever was a way to get the cheapest insurance for young drivers, then black box insurance is top of the list. In fact, drivers aged 17-21 with zero no claims could save an average of £1,282 by choosing black box insurance over a standard policy (based on quotes generated by uSwitch between November 2016 and January 2017).

4. Pay per year, not per month

With the average car insurance premium for young drivers into the thousands of pounds, it can be tempting to stagger payments rather than shelling out for the cover all in one go. It’s usually much cheaper to pay for the whole year in advance rather than paying monthly, if you can afford to. You’ll avoid the monthly interest charges and could save a substantial amount.
5. Consider increasing your excess

Choosing to pay a higher voluntary excess on top of the compulsory excess you’re quoted — the amount you’d have to pay up front if you made a claim — can significantly reduce the cost of your car insurance. However, make sure you’re able to afford to pay the excess if you do have an accident — young drivers with little money could struggle to stump up £500 or more after a crash. Furthermore, statistically speaking, young drivers are more likely to make a claim within the first year of driving, so beware that you could end up forking out the higher voluntary excess early on.

6. Think about the level of cover you need

Comprehensive car cover is normally the most expensive type of car insurance — it covers both your car and other vehicles if you have an accident. Third-party cover — the most basic level of cover — covers claims against you if you’re involved in an accident and injure someone. It also covers the cost of repairing or replacing the other person’s car, but not your own. Assess how often you plan to drive, what you can afford to cover, and what type of superficial car damage you might be prepared to live with. Learn more with our guide on the different types of car insurance.

7. …but don’t assume third-party is the best insurance for young drivers

It pays to compare quotes with different levels of cover before you buy. According to the Association of British Insurers, the average third-party, fire and theft premium is more expensive than comprehensive cover because it’s often chosen by younger drivers with a tendency to make larger claims. Bear this in mind before you compare car insurance for young drivers. Also, don’t search for cheap car insurance for the price alone. You still need to assess what type of cover it is you need. Sacrificing quality of cover over the price could end up costing you more in the long term.

8. Add a named driver, but beware of ‘fronting’

You can reduce car insurance costs by adding an extra named driver to the insurance policy – especially if they’re older and more experienced on the road, regardless of whether they are male or female, although you should avoid those with points. Putting the policy in a parent’s name, with the young driver as a named driver when they’re actually the main driver – known as ‘fronting’ – is illegal and can result in insurers rejecting claims.

9. Increase security and limit risk

Adding extra car security features, such as an alarm or immobiliser, can often help you get cheaper cover. Car insurance can be cheaper still if you park your car in a garage or driveway overnight rather than leaving it on the street as insurers see this as a further way of minimising risk.

Our driving school is unique in that every single one of our expert, qualified drivers has extensive local area knowledge and a reliable familiarity with all of the test routes you’ll be taking – and this includes our new driving instructors in Bicester too.

Our company values mean that you get to rest easy and feel safe, on every road and during every lesson. We’re here for you – and that’s why we have been chosen as one of the Top 3 Driving Schools in Oxfordshire.

With the safety of dual-control cars in addition to expert, DVSA registered driving instructors, our goal is to support developing your confidence in a supportive and stress-free environment – until you’re ready to take the next big step and conquer a driver certification test!

We are 100% committed to sitting by you, teaching you, training you, and ultimately encouraging your new driver skill-set until you feel ready to take on the roads alone.

At Oxford LDA, we’re very proud to offer every single one of our learners exceptional client-care, we also pride ourselves on offering great service, plus well-trained driver teachers too. We’ve transposed these values to our new location too, so if you need a driving lesson in Bicester, be sure to contact us.

It’s our job to make your journey toward driver certification easy – and enjoyable. So if you’d like to learn new skills in a safe, positive and quality assured driver environment, be sure to drop us a line and tell us a little about you, your goals, and what you need. We’re here to help!

We know that every learner comes with a unique set of abilities, personality and sometimes fears as well – so we’re sure to integrate those understandings, to benefit your development. Because no two people are totally alike, we respect that sometimes, you might need a different style or approach to teaching – and that’s okay, we go with your flow.

Many new drivers have a reluctance to undertake certain driver aspects, such as roundabouts, reverse parking, or complex traffic rules, and with good reason. Sometimes, driving can feel overwhelming, that’s why we make every challenging aspect more transparent, and even offer helpful tools, like our tailor-made YouTube speciality videos built purely for your benefit:

Okay, so my teenage years ship sailed a long time ago, but somehow I’ve reached the age of 34 without ever learning to drive. For years, it didn’t seem important – but recently, I’ve realised that I’m losing a lot by not getting my L plates. I can’t do road trips across California, I can’t do favours for friends with kids, and I would be completely useless during an alien apocalypse.

I’m not alone in being a 30-something (driving) virgin. My generation of city-living, bike-riding, eco-minded and digitally savvy professionals is – in stark contrast to our parents – decidedly meh about cars. More and more of us are putting off those driving lessons, for longer. And the downer is that this only makes it more difficult. “At the age of 17, the pass-rate last year was 57%, but for drivers at the age of 35, it had dropped to 38%,” *

*Figures/statistics from 2014

Excerpts from Anna Hart from Grazia magazine when she bites the bullet and books her very first driving lessons. And doesn’t kill anyone!

And not only is it statistically more difficult, learning to drive terrified me. So Grazia set me the challenge of passing my test in 2015, because if I can do it, then trust me, anyone can…. So far, I’m three lessons in, with my nerves-of-steel instructor Mario. Amazingly, I genuinely enjoy my first few lessons. I’ve done a roundabout! I’ve been in fourth gear! I’ve done a really terrible turn-in-the-road! Not bad, for a girl who still has to do that miming-writing-with-a-pen thing to determine my left from my right.

“At this stage, your learning curve is quite steep,” agrees Mario, warning me that the real challenge comes later. Being a terrible learner driver is easy – I feel triumphant simply because I haven’t crashed into a schoolbus. It’s becoming a good learner driver that is hard.

I promise to be 100% honest about the ups and downs. If you, like me, were on the fence about learning to drive, then hopefully this will give you the incentive you need to get in the driver’s seat.

Prevously, Grazia writer Anna Hart wrote about the challenges of learning to drive when you’re 30, blogging about it here.

WATCH OUT WORLD: I’m officially a driver. Today I had a sunny drive around Wanstead with a nice man called Kevin, only stalling twice and swearing once, and at the end of it he said the magic words: “Well done, Anna, I’m going to pass you today.” Nothing prepares you for the flood of joy that comes from passing your driving test. Particularly if, like me, you’ve postponed learning to drive for years, making excuses, developing weird phobias, and convincing yourself a skill that any 17-year-old boy appears to master in six weeks will remain tantalisingly out of your grasp forever.

Now I finally know how to pass your driving test, and I also know how not to, because two weeks ago, I flunked my first driving test. Failing your driving test is not a pretty feeling. It’s pretty much the worst Tinder date of your life. The examiner feels sorry for you, they wish you well, but they can’t wait to get away from you and they’re stuck right next to you. You feel guilty and apologetic but also crazily desperate to prove to them that you’re not a total loser after all. Failing your driving test is one of the worst ways to spend 40 minutes I’ve ever come across. But now that I’ve passed, I can see exactly how I nailed failing the first time around.

Here’s my failsafe way of failing your driving test:

1. Expect to fail. I told myself that I was bound to fail, that all the best drivers fail first anyway, that I shouldn’t really expect to pass. Then, things went surprisingly well, but I’d already worked myself into such a pitch of nerves and doom that I made a dumb error (okay, I nearly squashed a pedestrian on a crossing) and flunked on that one serious error.

2. Rush it. Because my attitude was ‘let’s get this fail over with asap’, I did everything far too quickly. And got rattled. And then tried to squash a pedestrian. Be cool!

3. Be tough on yourself. Pre-test, my inner mantra was ‘Oh FFS, you have to go flunk your test today, UGH’. Afterwards, it was, ‘You knew you were going to fail, and you FAILED, you massive, massive loser.’ Obviously, I would not let anyone other than me talk to myself this harshly. And guess what: it really doesn’t help.

4. Give up. Halfway through, I stalled. And then tried to move off with the handbrake on. And I convinced myself I’d failed, and got so despondent and stressed that I made the serious error that actually caused me to fail.

This time around, I did everything right. I took three 2-hour lessons with my instructor this week in preparation. I did yoga every day this week. I skipped coffee and drank heaps of water and ate well before my test, instead of dehydrating myself massively because I was so worried I’d need to pee halfway through. I wore clothes that made me feel good, having planned a preppy ‘I am such a good driver!’ outfit earlier this week. I even wore my hair in pigtails, because that helps the examiner see that you’re checking the mirrors. But the most important thing I changed? How I talked to myself. “What a lovely day to pass my test! I can’t wait to pass my driving test today! Golly, passing my test is going to be SUCH FUN, that lucky instructor next to me!” I know, I know. But you don’t need to be a positive-thinking automaton for your entire life. Just the morning of your driving test.

And when you pass, all of this, and all of the lessons, are totally worth it.

I excitedly told my mum, my husband, and a even a couple of London Underground staff who got in my way.

I suddenly realised that I had no plans for the evening, because I couldn’t quite imagine a time after my test ever arriving; it was like a big wall in my diary had finally come down and I could look into the future. A future in which I can rent a Mustang and drive the Pacific Coast Highway. Or pop over to a friend’s house in West London without spending four hours on public transport or £60 on Uber. Or be a useful daughter, picking up my parents from the airport instead of having to rely on them all the time like a teenager. A future in which I get to one day shop for a CAR, which is even more exciting than shopping for a new coat.

Oxford Driving Lessons and Surrounding Areas

Call now on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form online and schedule in your driving lessons today!

Learning to drive Apps – we find some that might help you along…

If you are taking driving lessons right now, revising for your theory test or preparing for your practical driving test an App for your smartphone, iPhone, or tablet might help you along…

For iPhone and iPad from iTunes:

The Official Theory Test Kit for Drivers from iTunes for iPhone or iPad at £4.99

Includes theory test questions and the The Official Highway Code (Nov 2012).

Also available individually:

The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers at £2.99

The Official Highway Code at £3.99

From Google Play for Android:

Driving Theory Test – UK Car

£3.46 by Vialsoft, who also do a FREE version.

This includes a mock test in full exam setup.

UK Driving Theory Test from Webrich Software at £1.99

This includes the official test bank of 970 questions which can be studied by topic, they also do a FREE version.

The AA Theory Test for Car Drivers at £1.99 for Full Version

There is a ton of other learning to drive apps, paid and free versions and of course we recommend using a reputable app site like Google or iTunes and reading reviews first to check for any potential problems and to see which suits you best.

Thinking about learning to drive in the UK? Here is what to do next…

If you are thinking about learning to drive in the Oxford (UK) area, or indeed any location, here is short guide on what to do next.

Work out how affordable driving lessons are for you:

Think about how you will be paying for your lessons and how much driving lessons cost. How often can you afford to have driving lessons? It’s also worth thinking about the benefits a driving license will have for you, can it improve your career prospects, save you money on public transport, help you in your personal life. There are many reasons why having a driving license can help you get ahead.

Get a provisional driving licence.

You can apply up to 3 months before you are 17 for a provisional driving license to drive a car, and start learning when you are 17 or more. It will cost £50 and you will need to be a resident of Great Britain and provide your past 3 years addresses, have identification and your National Insurance number if you know it, to find out more and apply its:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

Decide when you will take your driving lessons in the UK.

What other commitments do you have, whether it’s work or study when will you fit in your lessons, and when is a good time to learn? – when you are not too stressed or tired is best as you will be able to concentrate more and be more open to learning. It’s good to have lessons at different times of the day too to experience day and night driving conditions and varying levels of traffic in your local area.

Find a qualified driving instructor or driving school, talk to them and book your first lesson/s.

If you don’t live in the Oxford area then a search in Google or another search engine for any of the following in your area will help:

• Driving lessons
• Learn to drive
• Affordable driving lessons
• Local driving school
• DSA qualified driving Instructors

Don’t forget your driving instructor must be DSA and ADI qualified and registered. Find out more about who can teach you to drive, including the rules if friends or family help you with extra lessons here:

https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-who-can-teach-you

If you are looking for driving lessons in Oxford or the surrounding areas then you need look no further your Oxford Local Driving Academy can help with:

• Fully qualified, registered instructors who are experienced and patient
• Lessons available round the clock, seven days a week
• Great offers and intensive driving courses available
• Excellent pass rates and extra help with difficult local areas, like roundabouts

Get in touch today for friendly advice and to book your first lesson with Oxford LDA.

Driving Test Theory – Shocking new pass rate stats

New statistics have found that the theory test pass rate has fallen to its lowest level in over the last ten years.

The pass rate of the theory test has fallen by a quarter over the last decade. It has also been proven by the Department of Transport that women were more likely to pass their theory test than men, as found by the Sunday Times.

We will look at how the test has changed over the last decade to decipher why pass rates have plummeted and some tips to help you pass the test.

Theory test timeline

Here is a timeline for what has changed in the theory test over the last 10 years:

Photo credit and article courtesy of insurelearnerdriver

Edmund King, President of the AA said that: “Some people assume you can pass the theory test with a few lessons and a bit of common sense but you can’t. Some of the questions are actually quite obscure. “ King then went on to add, “The test is obviously very necessary but perhaps part of it could be a bit more mainstream and relevant to the reality of driving.” King also gave an example of these more obscure questions: “Following a collision, someone has suffered a burn. The burn needs to be cooled. What’s the shortest time it should be cooled for?”

The obscure questions could be one of the reasons as why the pass rates have dropped by 20% in just 10 years.

Here are some of our tips to help you get through the theory test:

• Check your answers and revisit tricky questions
• Get a good nights sleep
• Get yourself a revision schedule
• Be in the right frame of mind

For more tips on taking the theory test, click here

Make sure you are brushing up on your Highway code study and getting some private practice in as well by speaking to us on 01865 722 148 or you can send a message via the Contact Form online.

5 things to do whilst practising outside of your driving lessons

we always say at InsureLearnerDriver, practising outside of your driving lessons is a key ingredient to boosting your chances of passing your driving test. Not to mention it can do absolute wonders for your confidence behind the wheel!

But even private practice can become tedious if you’re doing the same thing repeatedly. So, here’s some things to put on your to do list to shake up practising outside of your driving lessons.

Drive to different places

Practising outside of your driving lessons doesn’t have to be dull and boring. Fancy a trip to the drive-thru? Go for it. Want to go shopping? Do it! All you need is an accompanying driver that meets your insurer’s criteria and you can drive anywhere (apart from motorways).

It’s a little taste of the freedom that comes with passing your test, so make the most of it.

Drive at night

When you pass your test, we very much doubt that you’ll only drive during the daytime. Even though it is not a requirement for the driving test, it is extremely beneficial to practice this before you pass. Don’t be intimidated by it, the best time to do this for the first time is with an experienced driver next to you.

Drive with different passengers

We love our parents very much. However, sometimes they can make driving an even more stressful experience… It can be a good idea to invite different people to be your accompanying driver (if they’re willing!).

If you’re insured on an InsureLearnerDriver policy, the criteria for the accompanying driver is anyone over 25 and has held an UK, EEA or EU licence for at least 3 years. It does not have to be the owner of the car if you have a borrowed policy.

Practice the “show me, tell me” section

Hopefully, you would run through the “show me, tell me” part of the driving test with your instructor. However, we understand that during driving lessons, time is limited. Try running through your revision for the questions whilst sitting in your parked car.

Your car is a good setting to practice these questions because the subject of the questions is most likely right there in front of you! It might help you remember far better than reading a book.

Click here to see our page on “Show me, Tell me” questions.

Dedicate time to parking practice

Parking is one of the most difficult parts of not only learning to drive but driving as a whole, with limited time during driving lessons you may not always be able to practice it.

It takes time and practice to be able to master such a skill, especially when it comes to parallel parking! Practising parking outside of your driving lessons will hopefully feel a little bit less stressful! Source