“You’re going to use the instructor’s car aren’t you. You’ve spent a lot of time in it, you’re familiar with the controls, the seating adjustments, how to adjust the mirrors, how the brakes respond, the predictable acceleration and handling and you’ll know what to do with the show me, tell me part of the test. You’ll certainly know how to open the bonnet for a start.
If you’re using an unfamiliar car, then you could well start the actual driving part of the test with your confidence well and truly shattered. The instructor will ensure that their car is regularly serviced and maintained to a high standard, their job depends on it.
If there’s a problem with the instructors car on test day, yes that will be upsetting, inconvienent and perhaps annoying, and, if it can’t be sorted out on the day, the test will be cancelled. But you don’t need to find the money for repairs, or will you have to find money for a retest, the instructor would pay for that.
In yours or your parent’s car or your mate’s car, you need to know that absolutely everything is up to scratch and the examiner will cancel a test where a vehicle condition is a problem and you will have to pay for the retest.
For example, if there’s a legal issue with tyres, remember that you, as the driver, are responsible. Illegal, therefore unsafe, tyres will get you three points and up to £2,500 fine. That’s per tyre. You might also have to pay extra for insurance to cover you for driving your mate or your mum and dad’s car on test as well.
So, have I got the point across by now. I hope. You’ll be using the driving instructor’s car? Good choice!”
