What to expect from an intensive driving course
Learning to drive is a costly exercise, not only in terms of the money spent on driving lessons, but on the time spent taking them – although no minimum requirement has been set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), learner drivers takes an average of around 45 hours of lessons with a qualified instructor before taking the practical test.
And some even recommend an extra 22 hours of private lessons with a family member or friend on top of that – either way, you’ll be looking at a good few months before you can finally lose those L-Plates. It can be even longer if there are not many tests going around, luckily people can sign up for test cancellations so they can get notified straight away when a test is free, potentially bringing their time forward and getting rid of those L-plates a lot sooner.
Or you could take an intensive driving course and go from provisional to pass-master in a matter of days.
What is an intensive driving course?
Taking an intensive driving course means taking all the lesson time you need and spreading it over a few days instead of a few months, and there are different types of courses for different types of driver.
If you’ve already got a fair few hours of driving experience under your belt, maybe you’ve already failed one driving test, a three-day course could be all you need to refine your skills and get a pass the next time around.
If, on the other hand, you’ve no previous experience behind the wheel, a ten-day course will be more suitable as you’ll be doing around five-hours’ tuition a day to fast-track your way to a pass.
What happens on an intensive driving course?
There’s a common misconception that taking an intensive driving course means taking fewer lessons before you take your test, but that’s not how it works at all – as a brand-new driver, you’ll still have to take the recommended 45-67 hours of practice, you’ll just condense into a few days instead of few months.
The only way to can cut down the number of hours tuition you take is by having some prior driving experience taking on an intensive course.
Where do the lessons take place on an intensive driving course?
Some intensive driving courses are residential, which means taking lessons on unfamiliar roads away from where you live, something that can make the whole learning experience that little bit more difficult. You also have to factor the extra travelling and hotel expenses into the overall cost.
So, a better option could be use an intensive driving course provider that fits in with your schedule and home life, and has male and female instructors right across the UK, from Exeter to Edinburgh (you can find out more here http://intensivedrivingcourses-bennetts.co.uk/edinburgh). This means you can practice in your home town where you will be familiar with the surrounding areas and roads, and this is a huge benefit when it comes to learning to drive in a short space of time.
Whichever type of intensive course you choose, you will most likely have to take time off work as you need to commit yourself to putting all your effort into your lessons each day.
Is a pass guaranteed as part of an intensive driving course?
Taking an intensive driving course doesn’t guarantee a pass – you’ll still have to take the same DVSA-standard driving test as every other learner, and must still meet the required standard behind the wheel.
The only difference is, all being well, the open road could be all yours in a matter of days instead of months – and that has to be all the incentive you need.
