Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
Monday to Friday 09:00 - 18:00
Occasionally and by mutual agreement, Test Valley Driving may offer weekend lessons but may charge a premium for this.
1 hour lessons can feel rushed and the time allowed to actually learn is restricted.
Each lesson will begin with a summary of the previous lesson and will end with another summary. We may need to drive to a suitable area (such as car park or dual carriageway) and so the amount of time for training could feel very short. A 2 lesson slot allows time to reflect, learning to take place and Q&As.
By mutual agreement, lesson times may be reduced to suit the needs of the student.
It may not be a case of which one is better but rather, which one suits your needs?
For years, manuals dominated the market but with the introduction of more efficient gear boxes, hybrids and electric power-trains, this is shifting.
By 2035, you will not be able to buy a brand new petrol or diesel car. Because all hybrids and electric vehicles are automatic, in the years to come, manual will become obsolete.
You can read more on the Gov website.
If you pass a test in a manual, you can drive both a manual and automatic. If you pass in an automatic, you can only drive an automatic.
Some students chose to start off in a manual but may find the gear selection hinders their progress. By removing this stress, they find it easier.
You may feel learning in an automatic car will be quicker and simpler than in a manual and this may be true in the initial stages but it often levels out as learning progresses.
Of course, we all learn differently and learning to drive is no exception. You may feel learning in an automatic car will be quicker and simpler than in a manual and this may be true in the initial stages but it often levels out as learning progresses.
The UK average to learn from zero to test standard is 45 hours professional tuition along with 22 hours of private practice (with friends and family). Therefore, it is necessary to consider the cost and time implications in learning to drive before you commit.
The driving test is not difficult to pass but it is incredibly easy to fail.
This is a key question. Learning to drive is not a matter of taking a few hours of lessons and 'that'll do'. Learning to drive is actually pretty easy. What is not so simple is being consistent and being independent. What this means is, can you drive unsupported in a controlled and safe manner? If the answer is no, you are not ready to pass.
The best way an instructor knows you are ready is by you being able to drive with no intervention and passing multiple mock tests.
Yes, friends and family can assist in your learning but please ensure they meet the criteria before doing so.
You can read more on the Gov website
Please note, parents (in particular) may have had driving lessons many years ago and the teaching syllabus and style may have changed since they passed the test. Additional learning and practice time is highly recommended but sometimes, additional teaching can complicate matters. Test Examiners will quickly recognise those learners who have spent additional hours on the road. Experience can be vitally important.
Being based in Whitchurch and Andover and covering the surrounding villages, the most accessible test centre is Winchester and 90% of tests are taken there.
Due to our location, we can also cover Basingstoke, Newbury and Salisbury test centres but please speak to the instructor before booking anywhere. Please bare in mind, if a test centre is further to travel to, this will impact on your actual time in the chosen location and perhaps the lesson duration and price.
Prior to any test, it is advisable to spend time driving and getting to know the area.
Test Valley Driving operates Peugeot 208 cars.
Charlie drives a fully electric car (EV). It drives like most other fully automatic cars (just quieter and quicker).
Prakash drives a near identical manual Peugeot 208 (in blue).
The job of an instructor is principally to ensure you are in the best position possible to pass the test, ideally first time. However, some learners may go ahead and book a test date before they are ready. Sometimes this may be due to peer pressure from friends and family who urge them to 'give it a go and see'.
The UK pass rate is only 49% for first-time tests. This is very low and reflects on the fact that too many students want a take the test before they are fully independent drivers.
Our role at Test Valley Drivers is not to hold you back from taking the test but to urge you to only take it when you have a greater chance than the 49%.
Each time an Instructor allows their car to be taken, their licence details are taken by the Examiner and the results are fed back to the DVSA. Questions will be asked of the instructor if too many of their students are failing the test and therefore their livelihood is at risk.
Yes, this is totally acceptable, even if all of your lessons have been in dual controlled instructor car.
If you opt to take lessons and/or the test in a private car, please ensure the insurance is valid and you adhere to the DVSA rules about such cars.
More often than not, our diaries are full. New slots become available following successful Test passes or students opting to drop lessons. Please contact for more details.
The answer is both.
Charlie teaches in an automatic (red Peugeot e208).
Prakash teaches in a manual (blue Peugeot 208).
£46hr for auto.
Please note, all lessons are 2 hours unless arranged by mutual agreement.
Please see the webpage dedicated to lesson prices and further details.
Mainly Whitchurch and Andover and surrounding villages