What To Expect On Your First Driving Lesson

Learning to drive can be daunting. If it’s your first time behind the wheel of a car, it’s normal to feel a little nervous. Driving is a brilliant skill to have and will give you some independence, so try to channel that nervous energy into excitement.

Don’t worry, your driving instructor will help to put you at ease, and to help we’ve put together a guide to give you an idea of what to expect on your first driving lesson.

What to expect

You’re probably wondering what your first driving lesson will involve, but stay calm, you won’t be expected to get in the driver’s seat straight away. Your instructor will take you to a quiet road to give you an overview of the car controls, gears, doors, windows, and mirrors, known as a cockpit drill.

How to prepare

Before you arrive for your first lesson as a learner driver, there are some ways that you can prepare to feel at your best:

• Wear comfortable clothing – something that you won’t feel too hot or cold in, and is easy to move in.
• Wear glasses if you need them – if you wear glasses for reading or computer work, you may also need to wear these for driving. If you’re unsure, check with your optician before your lesson.
• Eat light – if your lesson is in the morning try to eat something light. You may feel like skipping breakfast if you are nervous, but something light will give you a little energy boost and help with your concentration.
• Breathe – being nervous or anxious is totally normal. Try taking some deep calming breaths before your lesson and discuss any worries you have with your instructor. They are there to help you feel at ease.

What to bring

• Comfortable footwear – flat shoes are best for driving, ideally with a thin sole so that you are able to feel the control pedals.
• Provisional licence – for your first lesson you will need to bring your provisional driving licence to prove that you are legally allowed to drive. If you haven’t applied for this yet you can do sohere.
• Water – you may want to bring a bottle of water with you to your lesson, especially if you’re learning during the summer months. Staying hydrated will also help your concentration.

Getting picked up

Your driving instructor can pick you up from your chosen location, whether that be home, work, or college. Make sure you make a note of your lesson time in your phone calendar or set a reminder to ensure you’re ready on time.

Getting used to the car

Your Totally Driving instructor will never take you out onto the main road straight away. This is dangerous and can create unneeded anxiety and stress. Firstly, your instructor will take you to a quiet area to get used to the car and run through something we mentioned earlier in this guide – a cockpit drill:

Door

Check all doors are closed properly and securely.

Seats

Is your seat comfortable for driving – can you reach the pedals properly? Are your back and head comfortably supported?

Mirrors

Can you see all your mirrors without straining to look at them? If not, make sure that they are adjusted so that you’re able to see the road behind you and any blind spots.

Seatbelt

Is your seatbelt secure?

Controls

Is your steering wheel at the right height for you?

How much control do you get?

During your first lesson, your instructor will focus on ensuring you become familiar with the controls, including:

• Gears
• Clutch control and finding the biting point
• Signalling with your indicators
• How to check your mirrors and blind spots before moving off
• Stopping the car

Post lesson

After your first lesson – breathe – you did it! Your instructor will drop you back at home, work, or college and have a chat with you about how you found the lesson.

If you haven’t done so already you can book your next lesson, ideally, this should be within a week of your first one to maintain momentum. Take your time, you’re now on your journey to learning to drive!

If you have any questions at all or would like to book your first lesson with us, get in touch.