Frequently Asked Questions

It is a question that is impossible for me to give an honest answer to, as without assessment of the existing skills and the rate at which a student learns, I would simply be guessing. When learning to drive, it is important to take a structured approach to the process, allowing sufficient time to acquire the skills needed to drive safely and pass the driving test. Generally, for a new driver, this will involve beginning with the basics of control, moving off, stopping, basic speed and steering control. We then utilise these skills as the foundation on which to develop the skilled drive.  Often, a driver will already have some driving experience prior to commencing driving lessons. The student may have had lessons with another driving school, friend or relative, or have experience driving in another country.  This prior experience will often be helpful to the learning process and we may well assess the existing skills and build on these. However, as often as prior experience can be helpful, it can also be a hindrance,  with "bad habits" and a lack of awareness of the key requirements sometimes meaning that a student may need to spend a number of hours undoing any inappropriate driving behaviours they may have previously learned. Every person learns different skills at different rates of progress.

From DVSA:

• "There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have or hours you must practise driving to pass through the 5 levels of progress. How many lessons you need will depend on how quickly you learn. Research shows that, on average, it takes people 45 hours of driving lessons with a driving instructor plus 22 hours of private practice to pass their test. But those who manage 100 hours of driving lessons plus practice are much safer on the road after their test. Research also shows that people who combine their driving lessons with private practice are 50% more likely to pass the driving test."

There are advantages and disadvantages to learning in either. Many students have started in a manual and keep stalling it or getting the wrong gear, which puts them off. These are easily resolved training issues and if this is you, we can fix it quickly!

• By far the biggest advantage of holding a manual licence is cost. Holding an automatic only licence means that you will pay on average around 43% more for your car insurance* and this perpetuates every year at renewal which can add up to thousands of pounds over a few years. Manual cars are generally cheaper than their automatic equivalents and particularly for the sort of car a new driver will want, there will be a far greater choice of manual cars available, resulting in lower prices.
• Another great advantage of learning in a manual gearbox car is that it offers the driver more control over the drivetrain and greater involvement in the driving process. This requires the driver to learn good planning skills, which could be the reason automatic licence holders pay more for their insurance! 
• A further advantage is that once you have your "full" licence you will be able to drive any car or van in your licence class, making you more desirable to prospective employers and giving you greater choice and lower cost for hire cars etc.
• The main disadvantage of learning in a manual car is that you will have to make more physical inputs to the vehicle to control it, so manual may not suit a student with physical impairment.
• Some students may take slightly longer to learn in a manual gearbox car, so may need a few more lesson. Manual lessons are generally lower priced than automatic, but the cost penalties beyond test significantly outweigh any saving made by going for an automatic licence.

* Source: Admiral Insurance 2024

You will need to bring your driving licence and a share my licence code to your first driving lesson. You may send details of this in advance of the first lesson to save time. You will also need to bring glasses if they are needed for long distance.

You should wear comfortable clothing and closed toed shoes. Avoid wearing shoes with heels or platform soles. Also, please consider the condition of clothing - soiled workwear or sweaty gym wear will leave residues or odours on the seat and seatbelt which will be unpleasant for myself and other students. Please avoid using oily hand creams or lotions as these contaminate the controls making the touch points (steering wheel, hand brake, gear lever, indicator and wiper columns) slippery.

You will generally be collected from home, work, college or wherever suits you best. Sometimes it may not be possible to collect you from a very specific location due to parking or waiting restrictions. If you need to start or finish your driving lesson(s) outside of the areas I normally cover, please ask as it may still be possible. 

To pass the driving test, you need to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the rules of the road, can operate the vehicle safely and confidently, and can make good driving decisions. Chris's Driving School will provide you with the necessary training and guidance to help you pass the driving test.

For most people, the optimum lesson duration is around two hours. This allows for skills to be learned and consolidated in the same session. Single hour lessons can very much limit the scope of a lesson as there is often not enough time to practice and repeat what has been briefed, resulting in the need for extensive recap at the following session. Often, subjects and situations that we would want to cover can simply be inaccessible in the one hour time frame, particularly around the rush hour. Overall, most students will need a lower total number of hours if they take two hour lessons. For some, a nice compromise is to take one and a half hour lessons. Note: As of the end of April 2025 and until further notice, Chelmsford driving tests will be taking place from an address in Witham and a single hour lesson will not be long enough to practice in that area unless you are based close to there.

Not at all. Many of my students are on two week rolling timetables, work unusual shift patterns or have irregular work schedules. I will always do my best to accommodate all students requirements and will do my best to make myself available for lessons at times convenient to you.

If it is possible for you, practice in your own car can be very beneficial and can significantly reduce the number of lessons you will need. I will always encourage a student to practice in their own car as soon as I feel that they will be safe to do so.

This may be possible, subject to my evaluation of your driving. In order for me to consider taking you for test, I will need to be completely satisfied that your driving is consistently safe, meets the standard required to pass the test and that I am comfortable for you to use my car. In order to decide if I can take you for test, I will need to complete an absolute minimum of 8 hours of assessed driving. Please bear in mind that I cannot abandon my regular students to fit this assessment in, so allow as much time as possible for me to be able to schedule the assessment. Completing the assessment in no way guarantees that I can present you for test. I will only present candidates that are driving consistently, safely and autonomously. I will never take someone to test unless they are fully ready to pass.

No, the car is a strictly non smoking / vaping environment. I am a non smoker. DVSA examiners will refuse to carry out tests in cars that smell of cigarette smoke.

As an instructor, I have to travel between driving lessons, which is time in my working day where I am not earning. By doing 2 hour lessons, my costs are reduced and I'm happy to pass this saving on to you in the form of a discounted one and a half or two hour rate.

The best way to book a test at the moment is to access the DVSA site. The newly available tests go onto the system at 6am Monday mornings. Cancellations can become available at any time. Once a test date is secured, you can then use your booking  number to look for cancellations in a test booking management app. 

The COVID pandemic gave rise to a situation in which unscrupulous and profiteering individuals saw an opportunity to make money out of people that needed to book a driving test. Unfortunately, these people are continuing to operate despite some partially effective measures implemented by DVSA. In combination with the backlog of tests from the pandemic, these people have made booking a driving test an extremely difficult task. Please do not support them by "buying" a test slot at a premium price. You should not pay a "booking fee" and your test should not cost more than the current DVSA price (£62 / £75 weekdays / evenings, weekends and Bank holidays.  £124 / £150 for an extended driving test  weekdays / weekends). These so called "agents" are nothing better than ticket scalpers. Given that they are behaving unscrupulously, some of them may simply take your money and not deliver a genuine test date at all!

I can, but the trainer booking facility only gives me access to the same appointments as the public, so you will have the same chance of finding a test date that I will.

The difficulty in booking tests has lead DVSA to introduce an increase in the required notice period needed to cancel a driving test without losing the fee. From April 8th 2025, car driving test candidates are required to give 10 working days notice to DVSA. Monday to Saturday count as working days, but Sundays and Bank holidays do not. What this means in practical terms, is that we need to be driving at test standard at least two weeks before the booked date if we are to avoid the risk of losing the test fee. The days of cramming lessons in over the week leading up to test are over, which is a very good thing for both students and instructors.

I generally require 48 hours notice to cancel a driving lesson without charging for it. This may seem unfair, but students cancelling at short notice can cost a driving instructor many thousands of pounds over the course of a year. We tend to find people are much less likely to cancel if they have to pay for the lesson.

I will not normally ask for pre payment for routine lessons, but if a student consistently cancels booked lessons, I will ask them for a non refundable pre payment to book further lessons.

No. Please do not ask me to take you for test to "have a go" when you are not ready to pass. I have a very good pass rate and a good working relationship with the driving examiners. I will not, under any circumstances, disrespect my colleagues at DVSA or jeopardise my reputation by presenting a candidate that is not up to test standard.