anxiety on getting driving license and passport

I've heard people say that you should start working on your license immediately, but I put mine off still since I didn't have a car and didn't realize that you usually take the practical test in your instructor's car.  If I had known that was possible, it would have made life much easier. 

Now I've recently been hired for a job that requires me to buy and use my own car.  I'm thrilled, but suddenly feeling anxious about the timing of things.   I came into the UK Nov. 12 2006.  I need to get things going as I don't even have my provisional (because of the aforementioned concerns about getting my driving license and when public transport and hoofing it was fine for me before.

To add to my worry, my passport expired last week.  I started looking to see if I could sent that in first for my provisional and then send it in for renewal, but it looks like the passport must be current.  I have been trying to get my passport renewed earlier, but cancer followed by a death in the family and legal constraints like getting NIN and setting up employment required me to keep my passport.

This is really tough when I hear all the stories of how long it can take to get everything done--especially if you don't pass the driving test the first time.  It is vital that I complete my license before the year is up as my job depends on it, so that definitely ups the motivation for me to not slack off, but from sending it in to actually getting it, what kind of timeline can I expect if I really work hard on it?  Any tips for keeping things moving quickly (on either the passport or the license)?  When I add in the time to renew my passport, am I going to be able to get this done?

To give you an idea of the timeline, I sent off my application for my provisional on Monday 4th June, and received my provisional last Saturday - the 23rd.  So that's about three weeks, there.  I called BSM to book my theory test on Monday and they said I'd be looking at the week of 23rd July - so, four weeks off.  I can't book a practical test until I've passed my theory test, and I don't imagine the wait will be any less for the practical than it is for the theory.   So it looks like I'm going to barely scrape by (17th September is my one-year mark).

my initial practical test date would have put me over the 1-year mark.  i called every day and asked if there were any cancellations.  because i was using my own car, i didn't have to arrange for my driving instructor's car.  ended up taking my test 2 weeks b/f my 1-year mark.  this was in peterborough.

so you passed first try then?  That's good news.  I've heard so many talk about taking the test 7,8,9 times and that definitely makes me nervous.  A friend of mine told me he'd rather re-defend his doctoral dissertation than get another UK license

Tell me about doing it in your own car.  A friend said it is better to do it in your instructor's car as they will make you take extra steps with your car to make sure it's up to snuff, especially since they.  You have to have the learner plate on for that too don't you?

I'll also keep calling for cancellations in mind if I can't get a date before my one year is up.

I also just bought this drivers test prep guide, which hopefully will help.

I think what took longest was waiting for an appointment.

I sent for my provisional after the new year and then before I was ready it was returned and I booked the theory. I had hoped to study while waiting for the provisional but I didn't have enough time because the turn around was fast. I passed the provisional and booked a practical. I had no UK driving experience so I also had to fit in some lessons but because the  wait was so long in my area I had plenty of time... two months. It is really dependent on the waiting times in your area. You should be able to check that on the DVLA website or call for cancellations.

i already had a car leased to me from work for the previous year, an automatic.  my instructor had a manul car, and so taught me in my car.  it seemed natural that i'd take it in my own car.

the only thing with that- i didn't have an extra mirror or L plates (becuase i was driving legally on my US licence at that point).  when i got to the test center, they had to find L plates and an extra mirror for them.  if they didn't have a spare one there, they said that they woudl have put me down as a no show and i would have lost the money. 

there was a thread on here about a year or so ago, debating the legality of this.  do they really need the L plates & extra mirror?  i can't remember the outcome- but frankly- i'd just make sure you had those two things (you can buy them anywhere- halfords, etc). 

i do remember on the dvla website (it's down at the moment) there was a section- Is my car suitable for the test?  look around the site and see what you can find.

good luck!  stay calm!  i almost failed becuase of my nerves- l

I remember following that thread.  it's part of why I didn't realize you could do it in an instructor's car (that and having to do it in your own car back in the States).  I will get my drivers tests study guide Monday from Amazon and it comes with the L plates.  I didn't remember needing an extra mirror though.  I think I'll shoot for the instructor's car, but keep the option open to book a cancelled appt in my own car if needed.

The waiting time for my area was about 4 weeks but I didn't bother with checking every day for cancellations (like my DH did).  I took lessons through BSM and the test in my instructors car instead of our own as it was newer and easier gear box to use.  Ours doesn't like going into first sometimes.  It was BSM's policy (and maybe other schools too) that all tests were priority so you don't have to wait until the instructor is free, the test is booked and any lessons it conflicts with would be re-arranged.  Same thing happened with my DH's test too and wound up with a test spot within 10 days or so.  Check with the driving school to find out if they will reschedule lessons if you get an earlier test.

I passed first attempt although thankfully I didn't have the route with the reversing around the corner or parallel parking.    Just stay calm and you should be fine.  I think my examiner somehow knew I had been driving for years (though first time driving manual) as she kept starting up small talk towards the end.  It was freaking me out! 

You should be able to get your passport back in 3-4 weeks. I renewed mine in mid-April. Time for driving test depends on where you live. As an aside, after having driven 20+ years (including 3 years for a living), I failed driving test miserably (supposedly) in my own car. The difference in the way they treated me when using the instructor's car the next time was remarkable. It is a game and not a routine matter as in the US. Good Luck!

I went on a two day residential driving course...at the end of the second day I took my test and passed. I would highly recommend this route if you are able to take a couple days off work, they get you booked in at a test center, ring and see if there are any openings available asap...then it is over and done with easily. If you want any more details don't hesitate to ask.

I didn't have the route with the reversing around the corner or parallel parking.   

That's because they gave that route to me. 

I got lame points... one for not indicating left at a roundabout to the oncoming car even though I was going straight (my instructor didn't even know that), then forgetting my test car had a teeny engine and when I pulled from the curb I had a wee bit of a roll back and third, well my expert UK parallel park in 3 steps was a bit sloppy. He laughed when I told him I am an awesome parallel parker in the states even in SF uphill/downhill on one way streets. 

It kind of sounds like a lot of it comes down to luck of the area you live in and how strict your examiner is.  Isn't that reassuring? 

I just received my copy of the driving test software.  I bought Driving Test Success (deluxe version) from Amazon.  Hopefully that will work well.  The Amazon reviews were positive.  I'll get studying and I'm looking for a way to get my international bank order for my passport fee so I can get that off ASAP.  That's today's task, then while that's all off I guess I'll start looking into driving instruction.  I've heard there are a couple of private instructors in my church congregation.  I'll have to search that one out.  It may be a good place to start.

Thanks for the advice.  It is helping me settle my nerves a bit.

I got my passport back in two weeks from London (just got it back yesterday)  So I was quite happy about that. I'm going in to apply for my provisional license next week and will hopefully be taking the theory test quickly and then the practical. To practice for the theory test I've been finding this link helpful. It costs £6.99 for unlimited practice theory tests for a month. I've found it super helpful.

http://www.theory-tests.co.uk/home/

Good luck!

I've actually exceeded the one year limit by about...hmmm...thee years! Anyway I passed my theory the first time and there was a two month wait for the practical so like meggles I called everyday and asked if there were any cancellations and I got lucky and got in in two weeks. I also passed my first time. If your local test centres don't have availabilities you can always enquire about test dates at other test centres. I live in Coventry but took my theory test in Stratford.  Don't stress too much about it and good luck!