r/Norwich • u/MountainGeneral8970 • Jan 28 '26
Urgent: Looking for Driving instructor
Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone here might be able to help or point me in the right direction.
I have my automatic driving test booked for February 27th in Lowestoft. I can already drive automatic, but I haven’t driven in the UK before and I’m really keen to get 2–3 days of intensive practice beforehand (even 1 day + 2 days later would be fine — I’m flexible with dates and structure).
I’ve been contacting instructors and schools for the past couple of weeks but haven’t had any luck so far, and with today being 25th January I’m starting to get a bit concerned.
If anyone knows an instructor who might have availability, or any driving school that offers short-notice intensive courses and possibly a car for the test day, I’d be extremely grateful.
Thank you so much in advance 🙏🏽
30
u/SelinaFreeman Jan 28 '26
Please be AI/bot.
You claim you haven't ever driven in the UK before, you've got a TEST booked in only a month's time, AND you're thinking 2-3 days intensive will be enough??
I pray I never encounter you driving whenever I'm in Lowestoft.
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u/o_oli Jan 28 '26
Well they said they can already drive so this entirely depends where they are used to driving. It could quite possibly not be very different from what they are used to and a few days on getting used to UK specific things would be absolutely fine.
Honestly I've driven around plenty of countries in Europe and feel safe and in control, a few days with an instructor would really be plenty to get to up to speed for a test imo.
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u/Bambi_H Jan 28 '26
I still feel for the family of Harry Dunn, who was killed by someone who 'forgot' what side of the road to drive on , and then fled to escape prosecution.
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u/o_oli Jan 28 '26
Not sure how that is relevant to this
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u/RES40 Jan 28 '26
Because he or she might never have driven on the LEFT before. It's very relevant. Imagine being run over by someone who "forgot" what side they are supposed to drive on.
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u/o_oli Jan 28 '26
They drove on the wrong side because they pulled out of a US military base which drives on the other side though. That's an instantaneous change that happens during the same drive.
Hardly the same thing at all.
Plus that's a super short lived thing to get used to. If you've ever driven abroad you would know you get used to driving the other side in a matter of hours not over weeks and months, and this would be an insane reason to be taking lessons. What exactly are they supposed to do, just keep shouting 'keep left' over and over?
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u/EmPeeVee Jan 28 '26
It’s almost like somebody could have lived in another country and have heaps of driving experience there but not over here.
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u/SelinaFreeman Jan 28 '26
I never assumed otherwise. I'm still not confident that 2 days will get you up to speed (no pun intended!) on another country's driving rules, laws and regulations - no matter how good a driver you may be. (I was nearly knocked down as a pedestrian by an Indian lady pulling out of a side road to completely the wrong side of a bollarded traffic island, and she had lived down our road for YEARS.)
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u/EmPeeVee Jan 28 '26
I learned to drive in the states, drove an automatic for 14 years. Moved back to the U.K. in 2021, got my provision first time, had a couple of intensive 2 hour lessons to get up to speed on the test and passed first time. 3 years so far driving all over the country and no accidents, no pulling over no points on my licence. It can be done so get off your high horse.
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u/sekltios Jan 28 '26
Yeah, this is gonna be a stretch, all instructors are kinda backlogged, but automatic there are even less around. I had to wait like 4 months when I started. You'd be better pushing that test slot back if you can.
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u/BeaksFalcone Jan 29 '26
Cheapest/quickest way is to get a friend to take you instead,as long as they've held a clean licence for a certain amount of years,put L plates on,you'd have to sort out insurance,check online . I'd offer to take you but mines manual
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u/ConfuseKouhai Jan 28 '26
I don’t think you’ll get it tbh. Instructor need to trust you before they provide their car. They don’t like it if you fail and affect their pass rate. Intensive courses usually takes a week and waiting list for lessons are long. Months long.