Accompanying Drivers to Attend Test Debriefs

Accompanying drivers whether ADI or unqualified supervising driver will be required to sit in on all car Practical Tests and the test debrief from October next year as part of the DSA's Learning to Drive Consultation.
Other Key Proposals to be introduced over several years include
The continued roll out across Great Britain of the

New Pre Driver Safe Qualification in Safe Road Use.

Introduction of a partial credit for the theory test for car drivers awarded the new pre driver qualification in safe road use.

Introduction of case studies into the theory test for learner car drivers and moped/motorcycle riders with the next refresh of the question bank.

The trial of a new 3D Hazard Perception Test.

We Teach You Learn You Pass

Since we started back in 1997 1st TOP GEAR Driving School has become one of the leading Driving Schools throughout the Portsmouth to Petersfield, Gosport, Fareham, Lee On Solent over to Emsworth and Chichester areas.
We pride ourselves on our High Pass Rates and the recommendations we have received. Check out our FACE BOOK link on our website.
Our Automatic Driving Instructors and Manual Driving Instructors have worked hard to maintain our quality reputation with a Higher than National Average Pass Rate.

You to can join in our success at 1st Top Gear Driving School by calling 02392 798999 or Text your Name to 07817947654.
www.1sttopgear.co.uk

Vehicle Discount Scheme

How to take advantage of the vehicle discount scheme

Contact your local dealer to see if they have joined the vehicle discount scheme. They will check that your vehicle and the new vehicle you want to buy both meet the rules of the scheme. When the sale is agreed, the dealer will sort out the paperwork and arrange for your vehicle to be scrapped.

The discount is deducted from the price you pay for the new vehicle and will be shown on your invoice when you take delivery of your new vehicle.

The rules of the vehicle discount scheme

The vehicle you trade in and the new vehicle you want to buy must meet certain conditions for you to be able to get the discount.

Your vehicle

The vehicle you are trading in must:

• be a car or small van weighing up to 3,500 kilograms (kg)
• be first registered in the United Kingdom (UK) on or before 31 August 1999
• be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in your name
• have been registered to you continuously for 12 calendar months before the order date of the new vehicle
• have a UK address on the registration certificate (V5C)
• have a current MOT test certificate before date of order for the new vehicle

The new vehicle

The new vehicle you want to buy must be:

• a car or small van weighing up to 3,500 kg
• first registered in the UK on or after mid May 2009
• declared new at first registration in the UK with no former keepers

Government Scrappage Scheme starts.

From today consumers can drive off with a £2,000 discount on a new car, under the government's scheme to scrap their old banger for a new model.

"Thirty-eight companies have signed up - all the major UK car manufacturers and a number of other companies"

Peter Mandelson

The £300m scrappage scheme, announced in last month's Budget, is intended to boost consumer confidence and kick-start demand for new cars.

Motorists will be spoilt for choice with 38 manufacturers taking part in the scheme covering all the major brands.

The manufacturers who have signed up to take part are: Allied Vehicles, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Daihatsu, FIAT, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, London Taxis International, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, MG Motor, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Perodua, Peugeot, Porsche, Proton, Renault, Rolls Royce, SAAB, SECMA UK, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo, Koelliker UK Ltd, Iveco Ltd, Chrysler, Renault Trucks UK Ltd.

The £2,000 grant is made up of £1,000 from government with matched funding from vehicle manufacturers. The scheme will operate until March 2010 or until the government funding has been exhausted

DSA Release

DSA to tailor car test service according to demand

The Driving Standards Agency is to tailor the way out-of-hours tests are offered.

A new, flexible approach means that from 17 May, appointments for the practical car test outside normal hours will be offered where overall demand is high at individual test centres but not at those where it isn't.

Appointments classed as out-of-hours are those offered at the weekend and, during the summer, weekday early mornings and evenings.

DSA Chief Executive, Rosemary Thew, said: "These changes will ensure that our examiners' time is focused on where it is needed most and that we make the best use of our resources.

"We will keep the situation under constant review and offer testing outside normal hours to provide extra capacity where it is needed."

New Drivers Act

Under the New Drivers Act your driving licence will be revoked if you build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing your first driving test. You’ll need to reapply for your driving licence as a learner driver and resit your driving test.

Penalty points gained before passing your driving test

Any penalty points you gain before passing your first driving test are taken into account. However, having six or more doesn’t mean your licence will be revoked straight after you pass your test.

Gaining further points after passing your test, taking your total to six or more, will mean your licence will be revoked.

Who’s affected by the New Drivers Act

The act applies to all drivers from, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the European Community and European Economic Area, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Gibraltar.

Drivers from designated countries

The act applies to you if you have exchanged a driving licence from a designated country for a British licence and pass a further driving test in this country.

The designated countries are: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

Getting your full driving licence back

To get your full driving licence back you must first reapply for a provisional driving licence.

You’ll also need to pass the theory and practical driving tests again and claim your test pass.

Pass the theory and practical driving tests

You’ll need to pay for and resit the theory and practical driving tests.

Claim your test pass

After passing your driving test, you’ll need to exchange your provisional driving licence for a full one.

Your driving entitlement for other vehicles

Any other entitlements you had on you driving licence, such as lorry or bus, will only be restored after the approval of a traffic commissioner in the area you live.

The traffic commissioner may request you retake a driving test for those vehicles.After passing your retest

After Passing your Retest

It’s important to remember that passing a retest doesn’t remove the penalty points from your driving licence. The penalty points remain valid.

Appealing against the withdrawal of your driving licence

You can only appeal against the conviction that led to you getting the six penalty points. Contact the convicting court for advice on how to appeal.

Choosing a Driving Instructor.

If you are paying someone to teach you to drive, they must be approved and registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Only a registered approved driving instructor (ADI) can charge money for teaching you to drive.

Recent surveys indicate that nine in ten learners who passed both theory and practical tests first time were taught by an instructor. A fully qualified approved driving instructor (ADI) must display a green certificate on the windscreen of the car while teaching you. Some trainee driving instructors are granted a licence so they can gain experience before their qualifying examination. In this case, the trainee driving instructor must display a pink certificate on the windscreen.

DSA is responsible for maintaining and checking the standards of all approved driving instructors (ADI), who to qualify must:

• have held a full driving licence for at least four years
• pass a much tougher theory test than the one learner drivers take
• pass a strict driving test
• reach and keep up a high standard of instruction. The standard of tuition given by the ADI is regularly checked by a supervising examiner from DSA
• be registered with DSA
  
• display an ADI identification certificate on the windscreen of the tuition vehicle.
  

  You should take advice from your ADI on:

  • all aspects of driving
  • what books to read
  • when to take your test
  • how to practice

  DSA, as a government agency, is not allowed to recommend an instructor. We suggest that you ask friends and relatives to recommend someone they know. You could also look in a local business directory for ADIs in your area. Try and choose an instructor who:

  • has a good reputation
  • is reliable and punctual
  • has a car that suits you

Uk Licence Holders

UK licence holders

You will need to take a theory test if you want a licence for a new category of vehicle, for example, if you have a car licence and you want a motorcycle licence you will need to take a theory test.

If, however, you want to upgrade within a vehicle category you will not normally need to take a theory test, for example, if you have a full automatic car licence and you want a manual car licence you will not have to take a theory test.

It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct licence for the vehicle you are driving. If you are unsure if you need to take a theory test please contact the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).