when to start driving lessons....

I've been here nearly 3 months, and haven't been able to afford lessons yet.  I was wondering if you guys thought I could start taking lessons in January and have enough time to tpractice, ake my tests, and get my license before mid-July.
Thanks!

If you have a US license, just make sure your covered in the insurance and start driving for some quick practice. My husband just told me to take a few lessons just to get the really specific things down, like a 3 point turn in the road without touching the curbs, emergency stop and parallel parking etc...I got here in Feb on my visa so I only have 5 months left on my US license before I HAVE to get my UK one.

From start to finish... it took me 6 months of driving ALOT with my husband to learn everything I needed to know it pass the test... keep in mind i drove for 7 years on an automatic car in the US and i never knew how to drive manual so i literally felt like all i knew how to do was steer when i started driving over here.  So, for now, I would say practicing with your DH is good enough and then for the specifics ... go to an instructor.

Remember you have to take your theory/hazard perception before you can book your practical test... so while you've got some downtime now, why dont you get yourself the practice CD for about £6 and then take that before January.. so then all you have to worry about is the practical and your not rushed to do them all.

Best of luck 

From start to finish... it took me 6 months of driving ALOT with my husband to learn everything I needed to know it pass the test... keep in mind i drove for 7 years on an automatic car in the US and i never knew how to drive manual so i literally felt like all i knew how to do was steer when i started driving over here.  So, for now, I would say practicing with your DH is good enough and then for the specifics ... go to an instructor.

Remember you have to take your theory/hazard perception before you can book your practical test... so while you've got some downtime now, why dont you get yourself the practice CD for about £6 and then take that before January.. so then all you have to worry about is the practical and your not rushed to do them all.

Best of luck 

great advice!  but where to get this elusive cd...    would the public library or bookstores have them, or would i need to order one online?

btw, i have always driven manual in the US and find the shifting is not as difficult as I thought it would be using my left hand.  It's more the narrow and crowded roads that make me nervous!  i have been driving a little, but not nearly enough... i think it would be a good idea to practice a bit more and take the theory test before i start the lessons... unless you think the driving instructor would help with the theory test... ?

lilmrsmullen found a great deal on the driving CD here:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=47073.0

I never had an instructor because my husband taught me... but I dont know how a instructor could help with your theory. You basically take the practice tests until you memorized all the answers and then practice a few hazard perceptions so you know what to expect and take it.

My library has the hazards perception/theory DVDs

some nice UKY-er is sending me her cd-rom.... thanks again!!!!   
another reason people on this forum are such rock stars!!   

It might be an idea to see if you can find out what waiting lists for the practical tests are at the centre you will be taking the test as some have longer waiting times than others and you don't want to find you don't pass by mid-July because of appointment waiting times (especially if you don't pass first time).

For example, it took me almost 6 months just to pass the test after all my lessons (I'm British so this was when I was learning to drive as a teenager) - the test centre had a 2-month waiting list for practical tests so in February 2001, I called to book my test and the closest available date was April. I failed that first test, but had to wait until June to take it again and unfortunately failed that one too. The next test date after that was August, but then it got cancelled due to the examiner being ill and was rescheduled for a week later - I finally passed in the second week of August!

you can get test dates changed online.  you get 3 tries.  most are able to change it to a much closer date and not have to wait months and months.  some have done in as fast as 3 days.  this is due to cancellations...

you can get test dates changed online.  you get 3 tries.  most are able to change it to a much closer date and not have to wait months and months.  some have done in as fast as 3 days.  this is due to cancellations...

Ah, okay - that's certainly a new thing since I took the test... you couldn't even book online back then, it was over the phone only!

Ah, okay - that's certainly a new thing since I took the test... you couldn't even book online back then, it was over the phone only!

Yeah luckily my area is only a 3 week wait so I won't need to find cancellations.  Oh for the OP, do your lessons ASAP.  I thought I could just go straight to the test with only a few lessons but my first lesson has me thinking otherwise.  The sooner you get use to the stupid rules or the test, the better.