ResourcesLearning to DriveDriving Lessons and PracticeWhat Will My First Driving Lesson Be Like?
Learning to Drive

What Will My First Driving Lesson Be Like?

January 31, 2024

9 min read

Leon McKenzie's avatar

Leon McKenzie

Content Writer

Want to get your licence ASAP?

Our driving courses have been rated 'Excellent' 6,000+ times on Trustpilot.

Person driving in the dusk

Getting behind the wheel of a car can be exhilarating—or nerve wracking. After all, while the freedom of the open road is an exciting prospect, that emotion is tempered somewhat by the fact that… well, you have no idea what you’re doing yet! One thing that can help to ease your mind, however, is knowing what to expect on your first lesson.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly what is likely to happen during your first driving lesson from start to finish. We’ll even include a few tips to help your first lesson fly by without a hitch!

Your first driving lesson

While the duration of your first driving lesson may vary depending on your chosen driving school or instructor, it will likely be around two hours long. This will be more than enough time for your driving instructor to introduce basics like the cockpit drill and even get you out onto the roads briefly. Unless you’ve decided on a particularly intensive approach, it’s unlikely that your lesson will be any longer than that.

Your instructor will, of course, let you know how long the lesson will be well in advance. They’ll also have a lesson plan in mind, so you don’t have to worry about them being ill-prepared.

Getting picked up

If you’re taking a course with PassMeFast, your driving instructor will pick you up from home or your workplace, depending on your preferences and overall availability. If you’re learning with another driving school or independent instructor, however, they may ask you to meet them at a designated location.

Once you’ve settled on a date and time for your first driving lesson, it’s important that you double-check all of the details. You don’t want any mix-ups ruining your big day! On the day itself, your instructor might show up early. So, make sure you’re ready early just in case.

For your first driving lesson, you will need to bring:

  • Your provisional licence. This will only be for your first lesson. It will allow your driving instructor to make sure you’re legally allowed to drive.
  • Comfortable shoes. You should wear flat, comfortable shoes that have a thin sole so you can feel the controls properly.
  • Glasses or contact lenses. Though it might seem obvious, if you need to wear either, make sure you remember—your lesson will be cut short otherwise!
  • A bottle of water. You’ll be in the car for a couple of hours, so you might want to stay hydrated.

Lesson plan

Head somewhere quiet

An empty street in Peru

Once your instructor has greeted you, they will guide you to their car. Before you even think about getting behind the wheel, you should know that you won’t be driving straight away. In your first driving lesson, your instructor will be sticking to the basics and will only likely let you drive for a short while. Once you’ve completed a few more hours, your instructor will start to let you drive away from your home or workplace to an area of their choosing.

As you’re learning with a local driving instructor, they’ll know all the best places to take learner drivers. For your first lesson, they’ll pick out a quiet, residential area where you won’t be disturbed. They’ll then get out of the car and have you switch places with them so that you’re finally behind the wheel.

Get used to the car

Before you start the engine, you’ve first got to get to grips with the basics. In fact, most of your lesson will be taken up by you getting used to your instructor’s car—looking at the controls, figuring out how to move things around to suit you better and finding out how everything works. In all, it might not seem particularly interesting, but it will be fundamental in helping you learn to drive.

The cockpit drill

Once you’re behind the wheel, your driving instructor will walk you through the cockpit drill. This will consist of safety procedures and handy explanations that will show you how to adjust certain parts of the car in order to ensure you’re able to drive safely. Though the instructor will likely move through it slowly enough, be sure to ask them to repeat anything if you’re not sure.

The cockpit drill is otherwise known as DSSSM and is pretty straightforward once you’ve done it a few times.

  • Doors. Before you ever set off, you first need to make sure that all the doors are closed and secure.
  • Seat. Your seat will need to be adjusted to ensure you can reach the controls, have a clear view of the road ahead and look in your mirrors. You will also need to move the headrest.
  • Steering position. The steering wheel will need to be moved closer/further, higher/lower, depending on your position.
  • Seatbelt. You will need to be buckled in before you ever drive off—for obvious safety reasons.
  • Mirrors. In order to see the road behind you and your blindspots, you will need to adjust the mirrors so they’re in your eyeline.

Your instructor will demonstrate how to use the levers and controls to adjust everything and give you a few pointers to make it easier for you in the future. Trust us, you’ll know it like the back of your hand in no time.

Car controls

Next, you’ll move onto car controls. Your instructor will likely start with the foot pedals. It’s easy to remember which is which—simply remember the acronym CBA for Clutch, Brake and Accelerator. Your instructor will briefly explain the uses of each pedal to you. The gear stick will likely come next, along with the handbrake.

Before you start getting too bored by the theoretical side of things, your instructor will probably let you get some hands-on experience with the clutch. They’ll walk you through how to find the biting point—giving control over to you so that you can get used to doing it over and over again. You might spend a good five minutes finding the biting point, letting it go momentarily and then finding it again. It’s definitely good practice to have!

Your lesson will then delve briefly into the importance of checking your mirrors and blindspots before moving off. You might even get the chance to try out signalling with indicators! (We’ll hold briefly for a loud applause here.)

Start moving!

Man driving with his hands on the wheel

Worried you’d get to the end of your first driving lesson without actually getting to drive? Relax! Your driving instructor will squeeze in some time for you to slowly drive around a quiet residential area. Though you probably won’t go any higher than second gear, you’ll be able to get a feel for using the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. You’ll also get to try out some kerb-side parking.

Whilst you might only have a short time to drive during your first lesson, you should bear in mind that you’ll get plenty of time to do so during your next lesson.

Head back home

Once you’ve stopped the car, applied the handbrake and turned off the engine, the instructor will tell you to switch places with them. They will then proceed to drive you back home or back to work. They will stop the car and then discuss how the lesson went. Though they won’t have as much feedback as they will once you’ve had a few more lessons, they’ll still have tips to offer based on what they’ve seen so far.

Once you’re back home, it’s time for you to unwind and relax. You’ve finally got your first driving lesson out of the way. Congrats—you’re that much closer to passing your driving test!

Tips for your first driving lesson

Close up picture of a woman holding a steering wheel

If our guide hasn’t done much to ease your worries, we’ve compiled some tips to help you get through your first driving lesson easily enough.

Keep calm

Though driving might be brand new to you, that doesn’t mean you should panic or overthink your first driving lesson. For starters, your driving instructor won’t be rushing you onto the motorway for your first lesson. They’ll be keeping things nice and simple—easing you slowly into driving. Plus, they’re using a dual control car, so they’ll be able to take control if you do end up making a mistake.

Remember that nobody’s perfect

Worried that your instructor will have to go through everything twice? It’s your instructor’s job to help you get to grips with learning to drive. You’re trying something completely new, so it’s understandable if you need them to walk you through things more than once. Your instructor will have had plenty of students, so they will know that some people need longer to get to grips with driving.

Don’t worry if you forget things

If you come out of your first driving lesson and realise you’ve forgotten everything you covered, don’t panic. It will take you a few lessons to get used to doing the cockpit drill automatically, for example, or even finding the biting point without any help from your instructor. Some learners only need one lesson to master a skill and others need longer to build up their muscle memory. Either way, there’s no need to worry if it’s taking you a while to remember things.

Don’t get ahead of yourself

Whilst we understand wanting to get out on the road, it’s important not to rush things. Your instructor isn’t taking their time just to annoy you. They’re making sure you’ve got the basics out of the way before you move onto driving—they don’t want to have to walk you through adjusting car controls at the beginning of every single lesson after all.

There’s no such thing as a dumb question

Though you might be slightly intimidated by your driving instructor to start with, you shouldn’t let that put you off asking questions. If there’s something you’re confused by, or want to know more about, then ask. It could make the difference between you mastering a skill faster or struggling for a few more lessons.

FAQs

What if I make a big mistake?

It’s your first driving lesson. You are definitely going to make at least one mistake—it’s pretty much a given. Instead of spending your entire lesson worrying about slipping up, just concentrate on what your instructor is teaching you. Trust us, your instructor will have seen learners do every silly thing imaginable in lessons.

I’m not sure driving is for me. Should I just quit?

You can’t know whether driving is or isn’t for you after just one lesson! Whilst some learners take to driving straight away, others need while longer before they actually start to enjoy driving and build up their confidence. So, even if you feel disheartened after your first lesson, try to wait until you’ve finished a few more to make up your mind.

Where will I get picked up?

It depends on what you’ve arranged with your driving instructor. With PassMeFast, you can usually get picked up from either home or your workplace. Other driving schools or instructors might only accept a home pickup. If you’re not sure, it’s best to check with your instructor rather than just assume.

I’m really nervous for my first driving lesson. What should I do?

Breathe in and out! Nerves are completely normal for learner drivers—your instructor certainly won’t hold it against you. You might find it helpful to check out our handy guides to avoiding test day nerves and relaxing before your test. Whilst they do talk about the driving test, some of the tips will still be relevant for your first lesson.

Is there anything I can do to prepare?

As we’ve covered, you need to make sure you’ve got your provisional licence. You also need to wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes. It could be worthwhile giving the Highway Code a quick read. Whether you’ve passed your theory test or not, there’s plenty to learn!

Can I start driving lessons before taking my theory test?

Yes. Some driving instructors even encourage learners to do so, as it will help them combine the theoretical side with some hands-on experience. It’s entirely up to you. If you want to get it out of the way, do so. Make sure you don’t leave it too late, however, as you need to pass the theory before you book your practical test.

I’m really nervous for my first driving lesson. What should I do?

Yep! If you’ve got a busy schedule, driving lessons at night are a godsend. It’s also good to get some experience with driving at night under your belt. Of course, you’ll have to make sure your driving instructor is available to do so.

How many driving lessons do I need to pass my test?

On average, learner drivers need around 40 to 50 hours of driving lessons before they’re ready to face the driving test. This can vary depending on how quickly you get to grips with certain skills. Your driving instructor will be able to advise you on whether you need more or less hours once they’ve assessed your ability.

Is it easier to learn in an automatic car?

Not necessarily! Some learner drivers struggle with getting to grips with clutch control, which is why they decide to make the move to an automatic car. Of course, just because you don’t have to faff about with the clutch doesn’t mean you’ll find it easier to drive.

How do I find a good driving instructor?

For starters, you need to pick a DVSA-approved instructor—they’ve been vetted and approved by the DVSA. Plus, they’ve been trained to teach learners according to the DVSA’s high standards. You can use the DVSA’s instructor database to find a local ADI. Alternatively, you can take a PassMeFast course and we’ll match you up with one.

When am I supposed to book my driving test?

It depends. If you’re learning with an independent driving instructor, you should ask them. Waiting times can be long, but it’s best to make sure you’ve progressed a little first. There’s no point in booking a test, for example, if you’re only taking a lesson every couple of weeks. If you’re booking with PassMeFast, we’ll find a test date suited to you and then match you with an ADI who will work lessons towards this date.

Am I allowed to drive outside of lessons?

Yes! As long as you’re following the rules! You can find out everything you need to know about this in our guide to practising driving outside of lessons.

Subscribe for driving advice, offers & more

We'd love to let you know about our courses, news and offers via email. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Star Genie Limited trading as PassMeFast. Company number 10093359

Copyright © 2024 owned by Star Genie Limited

PassMeFast, Blue Tower, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2ST