So, it's time to do it

Nan, sorry I’m late to this party. I went through several instructors before I found “the one” His name is Tommy Automatic. Just kidding, I only know his first name, but he teaches on an automatic.

He teaches to Anniesland, and has been teaching for decades. He’s probably early 60’s. Now I googled test site pass rates and at the time Anniesland had the highest by a fraction of a percent.

Tommy is an older gentleman, very calm and I passed on my first try with only 2 minors! He doesn’t waste your time (My first instructor sat me on the side of the road the first session and read an outdated book to me gack!!) He was very stingy about letting me drive. Tommy gets you right behind the wheel, but if you’d rather not, he’d probably accommodate ie: pick you up and drive you to the practice area- he let me drive there

His number if you’d like to call him is 07971108402. I think he would remember me, a ditzy American who passed on the first try. (I get ditzy when nervous)


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Thanks, Barb. As soon as I have my license I'll give him a call.

don't try to be a hero and try to do it from memory of how you currently drive! lol I didn't properly study, I just whizzed through practise exams a few times and I had to take the test 3 times to pass. Study and take your time during the test (read everything carefully, don't skim it like I did) and you'll be fine.

Oh no no. I still plan on taking some driving classes as well because I'm the type the learns better when I have someone I can ask questions too. And while we have a lot of family that lives over there, they are not driving instructors and may not teach me the CORRECT way to do things. haha What I meant was taking the online courses over and over again will help thought with things like terminology. Like "pelican crossing" and "zebra crossing" and "junction box". All of those I had no clue what the were referring to but once I saw that answer I was like "Oh yeah, ok I know what that is."   So its stuff like that which the test will help me memorize.

Oh no no. I still plan on taking some driving classes as well because I'm the type the learns better when I have someone I can ask questions too. And while we have a lot of family that lives over there, they are not driving instructors and may not teach me the CORRECT way to do things. haha What I meant was taking the online courses over and over again will help thought with things like terminology. Like "pelican crossing" and "zebra crossing" and "junction box". All of those I had no clue what the were referring to but once I saw that answer I was like "Oh yeah, ok I know what that is."   So its stuff like that which the test will help me memorize.

I will say that it got so much easier to answer the questions once I started driving lessons, especially on the questions regarding manual transmission.

I will say that it got so much easier to answer the questions once I started driving lessons, especially on the questions regarding manual transmission.

I don't know remember any questions about manual transmissions?

I will say that it got so much easier to answer the questions once I started driving lessons, especially on the questions regarding manual transmission.

I don't know remember any questions about manual transmissions?

My son failed his theory test first time because of questions on using a manual transmission. He did a bit more reading and passed on the 2nd attempt and said that again there were questions on driving a manual transmission. He took his driving test this afternoon  in his automatic and passed first time. He is on night shift tonight so we celebrated with milk shakes. He has been in England  10 months now (moved to the USA when he was 4 and is now 36) and got a job within 6 weeks, bought a house within 12 weeks and now got a full driving licence. He is feeling very happy at the moment.

My son failed his theory test first time because of questions on using a manual transmission. He did a bit more reading and passed on the 2nd attempt and said that again there were questions on driving a manual transmission. He took his driving test this afternoon  in his automatic and passed first time. He is on night shift tonight so we celebrated with milk shakes. He has been in England  10 months now (moved to the USA when he was 4 and is now 36) and got a job within 6 weeks, bought a house within 12 weeks and now got a full driving licence. He is feeling very happy at the moment.

You didn't encourage him to sit the test in a manual? He'll only be able to drive automatics with that licence.

You didn't encourage him to sit the test in a manual? He'll only be able to drive automatics with that licence.

He has cerebral palsy which, among other things, affects his fine motor control, and it was an amazing achievement when he passed his test at all in Louisiana when he was 18 just 2 years after he came off anti-seizure drugs. Easy to buy automatics in England these days, he has no desire at all to learn to drive a manual.

He has cerebral palsy which, among other things, affects his fine motor control, and it was an amazing achievement when he passed his test at all in Louisiana when he was 18 just 2 years after he came off anti-seizure drugs. Easy to buy automatics in England these days, he has no desire at all to learn to drive a manual.

Ah, I've not seen you mention that before. Fair enough. 

Congrats to your son Durhamlad I want an automatic for similar reasons, but am attempting to learn manual if my legs will cooperate enough. If not I'll have to take the driving test in my car, or keep hunting for an automatic instructor.

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Ah, I've not seen you mention that before. Fair enough. 

No worries, I’m sure I hadn’t mention his disabilities before. The instructor he used here in England this year teaches disabled folks to drive and the school car was not just an automatic it was also fitted with the bits and pieces to drive without pedals.

Congrats to your son Durhamlad I want an automatic for similar reasons, but am attempting to learn manual if my legs will cooperate enough. If not I'll have to take the driving test in my car, or keep hunting for an automatic instructor.

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Thank you 

My wife said that she didn’t want to go back to manuals after 29 years of driving automatics so we bought an automatic when we got back even though I quite like manuals and have driven them plenty on visits back over the time we have been away.

You didn't encourage him to sit the test in a manual? He'll only be able to drive automatics with that licence.

I always tend to tell people (obviously different in this scenario) to try manual to give yourself options, but if they really get stressed to the point it makes you feel horrible, just make it easy on yourself and go auto. Having an auto only license now a-days isn't as much of a struggle as I think it used to be. Autos are much more common now so not as limiting. The problem is more that they are fairly more expensive if you're looking to outright buy.

I don't know remember any questions about manual transmissions?

Meant about driving manual (like what gear to use for a particular scenario). I couldn't visualise it properly until I started my driving lessons and was putting it into practise and it made it easier to remember for the theory test.