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Stephen Lavender, ADI
- Hawkinge Driving
School
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Get started! |
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Your learning
experience starts right here...
Learning to
drive can open a whole new world of freedom and independence, but it
is not just about passing your test.
We aim to give
you the confidence to tackle driving in the 21st century,
and the skills to survive, ensuring ‘safe driving for life’.
Getting Started
The minimum age for taking driving lessons in a car in the UK is 17,
or age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at
the higher rate (mobility component).
Before you can
start taking driving lessons you must apply for a provisional licence,
which you can do 2 months before your 17th birthday,
however you can NOT drive until your 17th birthday.
To apply for your provisional licence, and
obtain further details, visit the DVLA website at
www.dvla.gov.uk
or obtain form D1 from the Post Office, better still
ask us
to send you one FREE when you book your first driving lesson!
We have compiled
a list of questions that you might like to ask when you are selecting
a driving school :
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Will my instructor be fully
qualified?
Yes - and with
qualifications above the minimum required for instructors. |
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Do you have any female
instructors?
No - it's only
me, but I can recommend a lady instructor if you prefer. |
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What type of car will I be
taught in?
I have a Ford Ka
- an excellent car for visibility and very easy to use. |
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What features does the car
have?
Click here to
see my Car page for full details. |
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Does it have dual controls?
Of course!
For your safety and comfort, this is essential. |
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How much do you charge? (if
it's very cheap! Ask yourself why?)
My prices are
based on the time of your lesson, and your location.
Use my Contact page to get a quote. |
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Do you have discounts for
beginners courses, block bookings etc?
I can offer
several discount schemes, again use my Contact page here
to obtain details. |
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What courses do you
provide?
Intensive,
semi-intensive, Motorway, PassPlus,
and, of course, normal hourly lessons! |
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Do you use the DSA
syllabus?
Yes - and you'd be surprised
how few driving schools follow this. |
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Can I have my lessons on
Saturdays, Sundays, evenings etc?
Of course! I work when
you are free. |
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What test centres do you
cover?
I
specialise with one test centre, Folkestone.
That way I can always ensure
I remain up to date with local changes. |
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Do you give full hour
lessons?
Yes - but it is often better
to take longer lessons, 90 minutes or two-hours.
Do you know some schools only give 50 minute lessons? |
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Do you pick me up/drop me
off at school, college, work etc?
Again, Yes! I
come to you, and I don't carry other pupils on your lessons!
Some driving schools get one pupil to drop off the previous one! |
What about the instructors pass rate!
In my opinion this piece
of information is not very useful.
Say you have an instructor with a high pass rate and who wants to keep
that high pass rate, and waits to apply for your test until you're
driving is at a very high standard (above the required standard so as
to maintain the high pass rate.)
But who's to say you couldn't have passed your test 10 lessons ago?
You didn't get the chance so you'll never know!
So you would be wise to interpret pass rates with caution.
That said, my pass rate is above average for this
area!
I would rather get you through your
test quickly, so that you will go on to recommend me to everyone you
know!
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