I passed!! I passed!! I passed!! I passed!!

Are you sure your provisional is still valid though?  For some reason I have it in my mind that the provisional is only good for two years.  I could be wrong about that though.

I think it's the theory test result that is valid for 2 years... you have to pass the practical within 2 years of the theory, or you have to retake the theory test.

From http://www.dsbs.co.uk/provisional-driving-licence :

The provisional licence is valid from the day you become of legal driving age (this can be 16 or 17 years of age) and is valid for as long as it takes for you to pass your theory and practical tests.

Oops! Sorry for the misinformation! 

My provisional licence was valid for something like ten years. Maybe they're valid forever for UK citizens (unless you pass the driving test)?

And yes, I also passed my driving test few weeks ago.. second time lucky! Had messed up on reverse around the corner and aced it the second time 

I think it's the theory test result that is valid for 2 years... you have to pass the practical within 2 years of the theory, or you have to retake the theory test.

From http://www.dsbs.co.uk/provisional-driving-licence :

The provisional licence is valid from the day you become of legal driving age (this can be 16 or 17 years of age) and is valid for as long as it takes for you to pass your theory and practical tests.

Heeee - I've been here 5 years, and I just booked my first driving lesson for next Monday!    (I've had my provisional licence for 3 years, but I'm a big chicken.)

We're in the same boat!  I've been here over 4 years, and just had my first lesson last week.  My next lesson is in about 2 hours.  I feel like I'm 16 again and wondering if I'll ever be ready to take the practical test lol.

I was here 10 years before I finally got around to getting my licence. I passed the theory test but failed the first driving test. Had to take more driving lessons...and passed on the second time. The first time the test instructor could tell I had driven for most of my life in the USA and on an automatic car..lol

So glad I finally have it behind me now.

Congratulations Jagacharaja! 

And good luck to you Yankeeangel!  I know what you mean about feeling 16.

Heeee - I've been here 5 years, and I just booked my first driving lesson for next Monday!    (I've had my provisional licence for 3 years, but I'm a big chicken.)

Oooooh... good luck Mrs. R!!!!

Oooooh... good luck Mrs. R!!!!

Yeah, let us know how it goes!!!    Soon you will be terrorizing people on the other side of the road, how fun!!! 

Soon you will be terrorizing people on the other side of the road, how fun!!! 

The people of this town better stay off the roads and pavements on Monday! 

Heeee - I've been here 5 years, and I just booked my first driving lesson for next Monday!

yay!

I passed this morning!! First time and only 2 minor faults! Was crazy, my mock exams leading up to my actual practical test I was getting 6 minor faults on average!!

I was really nervous last night after not being that nervous yesterday or the last few days leading up to it. My lesson the hour before the test went alright, but I was messing up on a lot of silly little things I wouldn't ordinarily do, like when doing a 3 point turn, turning my wheel in the wrong direction in the last point before driving away so that I was facing the direction I was already pointing in at the start of the maneuver! Luckily I got those errors out of the way for the test!

I bought my manual car here at the beginning of May, which was the same time I got my provisional license. Before that, my only experience driving a manual was random nights in parking lots with guy friends and my partner. I took my test in a manual just because I wanted to be able to drive any car in case of emergencies (partner is diabetic, his mum has a bad hip and is at home alone all day sans car and his sister has a young child at home and they only have one car between her and hubby, etc.)

Yay! Yay! Yay! Go California-expats And everyone else, of course.

How many hours of practice did you get total?

Super cool!

Congratulations!  It's great to hear that it is possible to pass on the first go!! 
I have a test coming up in September and I soooooo want to pass. 
You must be over the moon!

How many hours of practice did you get total?

I had 32 hours' worth of lessons with my instructor in total. He does only 2 hour lessons, so I had one of those once a week.

I tended to only drive once a week outside of that, weekly shop at Sainsbury's which is about 6 miles round trip. Every second or third weekend I'd also drive into town which is about 4 miles round trip. I drove once to Greater Manchester/Warrington area (about 40 miles) on A roads and country roads.

So total driving time each week including my lesson was about 3 hours.

Thanks for the congrats Rubygirl and Jennie, I am absolutely ecstatic that I passed!! I didn't think it would be possible to get the elusive first time pass, but luckily it all worked out in the end for me! Hope it's the same way for you two too!

Congrats!