What to Expect on Your First Driving Lesson – Expert Tips from Andrew’s Driving School

Starting your driving journey is exciting, and it’s completely normal to feel a little nervous. A good driving instructor will make sure your first lesson is safe, supportive, and designed to help you build confidence from the very beginning

Before Your First Lesson

✔️ Make Sure You’re Legal to Drive

Before your instructor even turns the ignition, you’ll need to meet a few legal requirements:

• Be at least 17 years old (or 16 if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment)
• Hold a valid UK provisional driving licence (Here’s how to apply for your provisional licence)
• Be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away (wear glasses or contacts if needed)

Bring your provisional licence to your first lesson. Your instructor will need to check it before you get behind the wheel.

Meeting Your Instructor

Your instructor will usually pick you up from your home, school, college, or another agreed location. The car will always be clearly marked with L-plates and fitted with dual controls, so you’ll never be alone in an emergency.

To help ease you in, your instructor may drive you to a quieter residential area or industrial estate where you can begin without the pressure of heavy traffic.

In some schools, a practice called piggy backing is used. This means you may be collected while the previous pupil is still in the car, or dropped off while the next learner joins at the end of your session. Andrew’s Driving School does not operate this way. While piggy backing isn’t always negative—it can help you get used to driving in front of someone unfamiliar—it’s not ideal on your very first lesson, when most learners are naturally a little nervous.

The Cockpit Drill: Your First Task

Once you’re parked in a safe area, your instructor will introduce you to the cockpit drill. This is the routine all drivers use to make sure the car is set up correctly before moving off. At Andrew’s Driving School, we call it DSSSM:

• Doors – Are they properly shut?
• Seat – Adjust so you can reach pedals comfortably
• Steering – Proper grip and distance from the wheel
• Seatbelt – Fastened securely
• Mirrors – Adjust all mirrors to give you full visibility

Your instructor will guide you through each step and give you plenty of time to feel confident. The cockpit drill usually takes no more than 10 minutes, and then it’s on to the exciting part—driving!

Driving on Your First Lesson

You’ll definitely get behind the wheel during your first session. To begin with, you’ll practise moving off smoothly and bringing the car to a safe stop. You’ll repeat this a few times until it feels more natural.

Many learners are surprised at how quickly they build confidence. If you get the hang of things early, you may even progress to taking some simple left turns and possibly driving around a block. Don’t worry if it takes longer—everyone learns at their own pace, and your instructor will always make sure you feel safe and supported.
That said, if you don’t get the chance to do any actual driving on your first lesson, it may be worth considering another instructor. A good first lesson should always give you some hands-on experience behind the wheel.

Learning the Controls

Next, you’ll be introduced to the main vehicle controls:

Major Controls:
Clutch – Found on the left, used for changing gears

• Brake – Middle pedal, stops the car
• Accelerator – Right pedal, controls speed
• Gear stick – Changes driving modes (1st, 2nd, etc.)
• Handbrake – Keeps the car stationary when parked

Minor Controls:

• Indicators
• Headlights
• Wipers
• Hazard lights
• Heater & demister

Don’t worry about memorising everything—your instructor will demonstrate and explain how each works.

Moving Off and Stopping: The First Drive

Now comes the exciting part—you’ll start driving.

But not to worry, it’s all broken down into easy steps using the POM routine:

• Prepare – Clutch in, select 1st gear, find the biting point
• Observe – Check mirrors, blind spots, and surroundings
• Move – Release the handbrake and ease off the clutch gently while applying gas

You’ll also learn how to stop the car smoothly using the MSPSL routine:

• Mirror
• Signal
• Position
• Speed
• Look

All your early driving will be done at low speed in a safe location until you’re comfortable.

Dual Controls: Extra Safety While You Learn

All Andrew’s Driving School cars are fitted with He-man dual controls. This means your instructor can use the clutch or brake if needed, giving you an added layer of safety. If anything goes wrong, your instructor can step in instantly—so you’re never alone.

Most reputable driving schools use dual controls for added safety, and all our cars are fitted with them.

In manual cars, dual controls include a brake and clutch; in automatics, it’s just a brake. They’re there purely as a safety backup, and your instructor will always let you know if they’ve had to step in. This allows you to focus on learning with confidence, knowing support is there if you need it.

How Long Is the First Lesson?

A standard first driving lesson is 1.5 to 2 hours long. This gives enough time to:

• Learn the cockpit drill
• Understand and test the main controls
• Practice moving off and stopping several times
• Build confidence behind the wheel

You may also go over basic steering techniques, using mirrors, and simple turns.

What to Bring to Your First Lesson

Here’s a quick checklist:

✅Provisional driving licence

✅Comfortable shoes (flat-soled, no heels or flip-flops)

✅ Glasses or contacts if you need them

✅ Water bottle (optional, but helpful on warm days)

✅ Your lesson confirmation (if booked online)

Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Lesson

• Be ready on time – Being ready for your instructor will help you get the most out of the first lesson
• Ask questions – There’s no such thing as a silly question
• Stay calm – Nerves are normal; your instructor is trained to help
• Take notes – Some learners find it helpful to jot down what they learned after the session
• Use recap worksheets – At Andrew’s, we offer downloadable PDF resources within our learner driver guide so you can review your lesson at home.

What Happens After the First Lesson?

After your first driving lesson, your instructor will talk through what went well and what needs more practice. This helps structure your learning plan for the coming weeks.

You’ll also start covering more complex topics like:

• Turning left and right at junctions
• Emerging into traffic
• Hill starts
• Basic reversing techniques

And before long, you’ll be driving with confidence on open roads.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This!

The best first lesson is one where you feel safe, supported, and motivated to keep learning. It’s all about starting simple, building at your own pace, and focusing on steady progress.

Remember—every driver was once a beginner. You’re not expected to get everything right straight away, and learning is all about taking it one step at a time. With patience, practice, and the right guidance, your confidence will grow quickly.

Your driving journey starts here—believe in yourself, and you’ll get there.

If you’re ready to take that first step, contact a driving instructor who’s local to you and get going. And if you’re in Anglesey, Rhyl, Wrexham, Telford, or Barnsley—call us today and we’ll help get you started.

Tips for Choosing a Good Driving School or Instructor

✅ Check for dual controls – most reputable schools use them for added safety.

✅ Look for good reviews – recommendations from friends or online feedback can be really helpful.
✅ Check their badge – Fully qualified instructors display a green badge, while trainee instructors display a pink badge. Both are allowed to teach, but a green badge shows the instructor has passed all the required exams.

✅ Ask about their teaching style – a good instructor will adapt to your pace and explain things clearly.

✅ Make sure they’re approved (ADI or PDI) – Approved Driving Instructors are registered and meet professional standards.

✅ Find someone you feel comfortable with – learning is much easier when you’re relaxed with your instructor.

If you are not in one of the areas that we cover you can easily find an approved driving instructor at https://www.gov.uk/find-driving-schools-and-lessons

Areas we cover Manual Lessons

Abergele |  Amlwch | Bangor | Barnsley | Colwyn Bay | Conwy | Denbigh | Holyhead | Holywell |  Llandudno  | Prestatyn | Rhyl | Shrewsbury | Wrexham | Telford

How to drive guides

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