Friday 29 November 2013

No man (or woman) is an island!

One of England’s greatest poets once wrote of our need to communicate and connect with others. He tells us not to isolate ourselves and cut ourselves off from the rest of humanity. We could consider the deep philosophy attached to this sentiment, or we can take it a bit more literally and get the map out! Airports are full of people jetting all over the world, on journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. We salute your sense of adventure, but we do have to ask – have you thought about finding yourself in Europe, behind the wheel of your car. The Dover to Calais sea crossing, and Eurotunnel, is the gateway to Europe. Once in Calais, you can be in Bruges, the Belgian chocolate capital, within two short hours. The battlefields of World War I are within easy reach of the French coast, so taking time to make a visit before next year’s centenary commemorations can be achieved. If you want to go further, Paris and EuroDisney are a couple of hours from Calais – without any airline baggage restrictions. Easy access to Europe is just one of the best things about living in the South East. Germany’s Black Forest, the Swiss Alps, the Seven Hills of Rome, Athens! These places are all accessible by car in mainland Europe. With a thick wallet, a strong heart and a fistful of visas, you can drive all the way to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast… It’s not about driving all the way around the globe, but it does go to show how powerful the ability to drive can be. As another of our great writers, Will Shakespeare, wrote ‘The world is one’s oyster’, it can help open up infinite possibilities! Give the world to someone you love this Christmas. Give them the Drive2Pass Christmas Offer.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Cheaper Car Insurance Infomation

Choosing car insurance after learning to drive

Having a car on the road, as we all know, costs a lot of money when you take into consideration petrol, road tax, mot tests, maintenance and of course, insurance. The sky-high premiums charged to young drivers has seen the number of those people learning to drive drop by 19% since 2005.Whereas there’s little you can do about most of those costs, there may be significant measures you can take in regards to your car insurance and keeping your premiums down.



Pass Plus
Car Insurance is not optional, so if you want to drive, it’s something that you will have to face sooner or later. The first big step you can take is obtain your Pass Plus certification, which can take as little as 6 hours to complete with an accredited driving instructor. A good selection of insurance companies recognise Pass Plus as an indicator that you have the extra experience and less like likely to have an accident, making you less of an insurance liability and therefore cheaper to insure. Not all companies give a discount for this, so it’s important to check when getting insured. For those that do, you can expect a reduction in the region of 30% as a reward for your efforts.


Don’t ‘soup up’ up your car
A key factor in your insurance company deciding your category is the performance of your vehicle. If it has been modified with low-profile alloy wheels and a spoiler etc, then you can expect your premiums to rise to ‘eye-watering’ levels.  


Telematic car insurance
Although you will be required to pay a relatively high cost at the start of your policy, telematic insurance rewards safe driving. According to the AA, a small ‘black box’ GPS device is fitted in your car to record how the car is driven. Factors like speed and cornering are measured to give you a score which may lead to a reduced premium if you drive safely. The advantage is that you pay a premium that’s based on your driving record, rather than the record of all young drivers.


Improve your car's security
Another of the major factors used in calculating your premiums is your car’s overall security. For example, where the vehicle is kept overnight. If it’s kept in a garage, that is better than if it’s kept out on a busy road. Others details include security measures such as alarms/immobilisers, glass etching and removing valuables from your car.


Limited hours policy
Not the sexiest policy around, but when needs must a measure that could result in a reduction of up to 40% is to take out a limited hours policy. A policy aimed at 17 to 25 year olds, it asks that you don’t drive your car between the hours of 11pm and 5am, a time when it is much less likely you’ll be out and about anyway.
Again, check with your insurer to see if this is an option when getting quotes.

You really can change your driving landscape with these different approaches. It could be the difference between you driving and not being able to drive at all. If you would like to take driving lessons with a company who cares, then opt for Drive2Pass Driving Schools covering many areas in London.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Pass your Manoeuvres for your Driving Test

How to Pass your Manoeuvres for your Driving Test?

Most people find driving test as one of the most daunting experiences in their lives. The good news for nervous drivers in the country is that they can actually seek help from different driving schools for a series of courses in National Standards for Driving and Riding. Many driving schools in the country provide confidence boosting lessons in driving both manual and automatic car. With these confidence boosting lessons, one can expect that he can have what it takes to be a responsible and better driver or rider. The driving confidence boosting lessons that most driving schools in the country provides include training for drivers of automatic car, dual controlled car, light vans, motorcycles, and buses.

However, the most difficult part in driving lessons is passing your manoeuvres for the test. Most examiners failed to pass their driving tests as they are nervous drivers. There is nothing to be nervous about taking manoeuvres during manual driving, or driving a dual controlled car. Below are some tips that you can ponder in order to pass your manoeuvres for your driving test.
  • Research
It can be an advantage if you do some research about the area where you will take the test. This way, you can have access to road, traffic, pedestrian facilities, and traffic in the area. Taking a peep on the test routes will provide you a better picture of what can happen during the test. You can use Goggle Maps to take a look at the test centre and locate the awkward areas of the road such as curves, one way systems, tricky junctions, and complicated roundabouts. You can even practice in the area with the help of a professional driving instructor.
  • Concentrate
High level of concentration is essential in taking manoeuvres for your driving test. You will be driving the car without a professional driving instructor by your side. The rules for driving tests in the country have changed, and you will be required to perform approximately 10-15 minutes of driving independently. During these minutes, you will follow a series of directions, traffic signs, and combination of both. Whether you are driving a manual or an automatic car, confidence is highly needed.
  • Observation
Observation is a critical aspect not only in taking your manoeuvres for your driving test but also in real life driving. A thing that you need to do correctly is to check your mirrors at the side and rear. Failing to observe from time to time will fail you during the test or before you even get your car out your garage. If you are on a dual controlled car, it is a good idea to check your blind spot.
Observation play a vital role in making manoeuvres as you can make driving errors such as parking in the kerb or catching people out of your view. Performing observation and checking your mirrors several times before doing the manoeuvres will make your examiner feel confident that you can be a responsible driver.

  • Stay Positive, Confident, and Relaxed
Most people who are taking up driving tests fail because they are nervous drivers. Theirs is no reason to be nervous about taking manoeuvres. Taking a deep breath and relaxing will make you feel confident that you will pass the manoeuvres right before you sit inside the car. Stepping inside the car thinking that you will pass the test will provide you with a better result. However, you have to remember that being over confident and reckless can also cause you to fail the driving test.
  • Study You Car
Most people do not realize that knowing the car that they drive during the test is essential in making better manoeuvres. This is due to the fact that not all cars are the same. People who are used to manual driving will find it hard to make better manoeuvres than those who are driving automatic car or dual controlled car. Days before you take the exam, you have to make sure you that you ask your examiner the type of car that you are about to drive so you can practice.

These tips on how to pass your manoeuvres for your driving test seem to be easily said than done. However, driving is not a thing that you can learn in an overnight process or days of practice. It is a skill that requires a lot of lessons and practice.


Many driving courses in the country provide the combination of both theory and actual lessons. People who are want to become a skilled and responsible driver need to take driving lessons if they want to achieve their goals. Whether you are used to manual driving or driving an automatic car, taking confidence boosting lessons is highly essential. Remember that your examiner will only let you pass the test if you are a responsible driver as one mistake in the road can cause loss of life.

Monday 23 September 2013

Learn to Drive Tips

Learn to drive

There is lots of information about what you should do and how you should do it, with regards to going to a driving school and getting professional tuition. But what about when you just want to jump in your car with L plates on (and a driver over 21 with a full car licence with 3 years’ experience under their belt of course!) and get out on the road to get valuable experience. It is definitely recommended that you combine this with professional tuition, so that any bad habits that are picked up are highlighted by your instructor.

Who should I drive with?
Anyone you practice your driving with (without paying them) must be over 21, they must be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to learn in, e.g. they must have a manual car licence if they’re supervising you in a manual car and they must have had their driving licence for 3 years. Although this is the legal requirement, it’s important that you feel relaxed and not under pressure when you get behind the wheel, so try and make sure that the person with you is normally calm in the car and has lots of patience.

Keep a log
It can be very useful to keep a log of your driving to pinpoint any points of focus for your instructor to work on with you. If you don’t note it down and forget what you are struggling with, then it will take much longer to get better at it.

Safe driving
When not under the watchful supervision of an instructor, it is easy to let standards slip, but try to obey the same standards even when with a relative or a friend.
i) Try not to turn the radio on as it may distract you
ii) Take time to adjust to different vehicles. There can be big differences between different models and makes of car such as power steering, car size etc.
iii) Try and drive in all the different driving conditions. In the dry, in the wet, and night-time driving are just a few to speak of.

Getting on the road
When you are satisfied that you have accomplished all the necessary precautions before getting behind the wheel, then make sure you;
i) clearly display front and rear L plates, making sure that you don’t obscure either registration plates on the car.
ii) do not use a mobile phone whilst driving.
iii) don’t drive under the influence of prescription drugs. Read all the bumf that goes with medication, so that you are sure you can drive whilst taking them.
iv) only drive vehicles that are stated on your learner licence
v) It goes without saying, but do not drink ANY alcohol prior to driving...just in case. No one can accurately tell whether they are over the limit without a breathalyser and if you are stopped, pleading ignorance as a learner driver will not cut any ice.


When you get out there, be confident, be legal and above all, be safe.
If you would like to learn to drive with us, please visit http://drivingschoolhillingdon.co.uk/#/the-cars/4572823753

Monday 9 September 2013

What is Pass Plus, how does it effect me?

What is Pass Plus and what can it do for me?

According to the government website “Pass Plus is a practical training course that takes at least 6 hours and is for drivers to improve their skills and drive more safely”.
As many new drivers will attest to, driving up to and including your test can be a lot different to what you experience afterwards. It can be taken anytime, but to get the most out of Pass Plus, it’s recommended that you take it within the year after passing your test.

Cheaper insurance
If you are a young driver, then you will be well aware of just how much car insurance can be. As a Pass Plus certified driver, you are displaying your general driving competence and you may find that you receive a discount from your car insurer.
Current insurers offering discounts based on Pass Plus include but are not limited to;

Swinton Colonnade
Tesco Insurance
AA
Churchill
Co-op Insurance
Direct Line
Aviva
Endsleigh

What does the course cover?
The course, as said before, takes a minimum of 6 hours to complete and includes the following disciplines;

i) Town driving
ii) All-weather driving
iii) Driving out of town
iv) Night Driving
v) Driving on dual carriageways
vi) Driving on motorways

Although, all these categories are covered, some may only be in theory, as conditions such as bad weather can’t be easily replicated. Being fully prepared for every avenue and situation, will help your future as a competent and safe driver.

Is it harder to pass than the normal driving test?
The practical assessment rules are more lenient than those used in the normal driving test and many rules that would constitute a fail (such as not parking straight) do not apply. It is only required that the instructor deems you to be able to drive safely and legally.

Can any driving instructor do this?
Your instructor will have to be a Pass Plus registered approved driving instructor. Look for the logo - (insert the logo)

How much does it cost?
The cost does vary depending on where you live, the instructor or driving school that you use and how long it takes you to achieve certification, but based on you taking the standard 6 hours, then the cost will be around £140.


So, in answer to the question right at the beginning of this article “what can Pass Plus do for me?”, it can put more money in your pocket by giving you a discount off your car insurance. In addition to this, it will comprehensively prepare you for all the scenarios you are likely to encounter in your driving life. The confidence and independence gained from knowing that you can go wherever you want, whenever you want regardless of weather can be a real liberation.

Thursday 22 August 2013

10 Driving Test Tips

10 Test Tips

1. Familiarise yourself with the area on the day of the test
Although there is usually more than one possible test route, prior to taking your test, it is recommended that you take at least 30 mins to drive around the general area on the day of the test. It will familiarise you and more than likely boost your confidence that nothing will be a surprise, taking lesson with your driving instructor beforehand will help to calm any nerves.

2. Don’t give in to peer pressure - take your driving test when you’re ready
It is very easy to listen to those among us that like to tell you just how quick they picked driving up and how soon after starting they passed. It is also easy to rush in to your test as it does feel that the whole experience will end up being cheaper. If you’re not ready, then 1) you probably won’t pass and it will end up costing you more in the long run and 2) you will do nothing at all for your confidence going forward.

3. Learn the basics privately
If you have access to a vehicle and understanding relative or friend, then use the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the basic controls. That way you aren’t wasting time you’re paying for learning the fundamentals of driving. Another nice side effect is that you will boost your road sense and general confidence.

4. When you park at the test centre
Preparing the way, is the key to feeling confident. Give yourself a head start by parking before your test in a place that’s easy to leave that way you know you can do it calmly.

5. Do your homework
Just because you’ve passed your theory test, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have to know your highway code for the practical test itself. How galling would it be to fail on your knowledge when that’s one of the easiest things to prepare for. A few good driving schools will help you prepare with resources and worksheets as they want you to pass. Have a look on Amazon for a wide range of helpful books. Another helpful tip is to use post-it notes that you place around your home with important things you need to learn. You will keep seeing them often and subconsciously you will be taking them in without much effort. On the toaster, on the back of the toilet door and the mirror.

6. Do a mock test
Nothing can completely prepare you for the real thing, but the nearest thing to that is by doing a mock test. All aspects of your mock test are prepared in great detail to best replicate test conditions. Like driving the test route, it is giving you a prior knowledge of what to expect.

7. Don’t tell everyone you’re doing your test
Don’t put undue pressure on yourself on the build up to your test day. The less people that know, the less you will feel people are ‘expecting’ you to pass. And if you don’t pass, at least you don’t need to do that dreaded call but you will pass if you believe you can. Having a positive mind-set is a powerful tool. Motivate yourself with a goal. Use the post-it notes method to build your confidence. Write what you want to achieve by explaining in detail the exact specifics. e.g. “When I pass my driving test I will drive to London for my holiday with a blue ford focus 1.6 with the windows down, with my favourite music blasting out.” This picture is automatically programming your mind to succeed. Look up NLP for more information.

8. When parking, don’t be afraid to start again. You will not fail for trying again
There’s no time limit for manoeuvres. If after starting a parking manoeuvre, you feel that you’ve done something wrong. Reposition the vehicle to its original position and try again. The last thing you want to do is persist with the bad manoeuvre and hit a curb or worse still another vehicle. That WOULD be a fail....obviously.

9. Don’t do your driving lessons too far apart
You need to keep your experience of driving fresh. The old way of doing 1 lesson per week, will get you there, but much slower. Increasing the frequency of your lessons or time spent in charge of a vehicle will significantly improve the speed of your progress.

10. Don’t try and watch what the examiner is writing.
Watching the examiner’s clipboard to see if he’s writing not only takes your attention away from what you’re supposed to be doing i.e. driving, it will greatly affect your confidence if you see writing occur. Ironically, if the examiner feels that you aren’t driving safely because you are peering at what he/she is doing, they will mark you down...so don’t do it!

Lastly and perhaps not deserving the title of a full-blown ‘tip’, but essential all the same, make sure you take your provisional licence with you and that your eyesight is up to scratch. Either of these could result in the immediate termination of the test.


Happy driving and good luck! If your looking to learn to drive in London visit our driving school website http://drivingschool-harrow.co.uk/

Tuesday 25 June 2013

We are currently running a special offer that might be of interest

First 5 driving lessons either automatic or manual for only £99

This is a limited offer so if you are interested then get in touch soon


Drive2Pass SOM
Driving Instructor: How to Pick the Right One
Take for example, if like anyone else you are in search of a driving instructor in Wembley, Ruislip, Harrow or any location of choice, you will definitely be perplexed when it comes to making the right choice. In fact what you tend to find is brand new driving schools and instructors come out each and every day at a shocking rate. There seems to be a sudden boom in the driving instructor or teach people to drive business.
One major reason for the sudden boom in the driving instructor business category is the current economic climate. The nation is littered with job cuts here and there which has clearly given birth to many people turning to other ways to earning a living. Most of the bigger driving schools have tapped  into this as an opportunity to carry out massive marketing campaign to tell people they can make a limitless amount of money from working as a driving instructor and that it is absolutely easy to set up your own driving school business. This means an avalanche of driving schools for learners to choose from, usually leaving them perplexed and not knowing which driving instructor will effectively meet their requirements.
Let’s say you are looking for a driving instructor in Hillingdon or any location of choice; you need to be equipped with the right questions in order to select a properly trained and qualified driving instructor who will be able to customise your driving lessons in order to meet your requirements effectively.
Five helpful tips to help you pick the right driving instructor:
Affordable Driving Lessons Package
The first question asked by most learner drivers is “how much do driving lessons cost?” The thought that comes to mind  is I don’t want to pay more than usual hence the price comparison. Coupled with the first question, another crucial one to ask is “how many driving lessons will I need?” Althought people learn at their own pace, This is still very important as it will give you an idea of the approach and midset the instructor has, it will be pointless to pick a driving instructor based on their cheap driving lessons package and end up taking more lessons than you actually need.
Take your Driving Lessons at the right time
You need to have the right mindset before taking any of your driving lessons. Before booking your lessons, take a careful look at your weekly schedule to determine the ideal day and time slots. If an instructor is unable to work with your schedule, simply look elsewhere in order to avoid getting rushed which will have adverse effect on your learning curve.
Tackling Driving Phobias and Fears
It is common with new drivers to experience some degree of anxiety and fear regarding the thoughts of taking driving lessons or specific driving skills like reversing, parking in-between two cars amongst others. Before hand picking a driving Instructor, it is ideal to discuss your worries and carefully listen to his or her response. A savvy driving instructor will be a good listener, empathise with their student as well as instilling them with confidence that their fears and worries can be easily conquered. This is a good indicator for a student to know if he or she will feel comfortable around the prospective driving instructor.
Driving Instructor’s Feedback History
The last thing  a new driver wants is signing up with a driving instructor with a track record of more failure than pass from driving tests. You can carry out a quick Google search for possible feedback history as well as ask if you can get testimonials from previous students. If an instructor ignores your request or is simply reluctant to respond, that is a warning sign that you need to look elsewhere.


This is a short article one of our Driving Instructors did for a publication recently.

Saturday 22 June 2013

Welcome to our blog!

Drive 2 Pass School of Motoring will always go the extra mile to help you succeed. We have many areas covered in and around London, all are listed here for you to check out there pages and to connect with us.

We want to hear your feedback, so please use this blog and comment, we'd love to hear from you!

Our school of motoring has many lovely reviews from our past and present customers for you to view.

Here's the list of instructors in your area on social media;

Ruislip - Google Plus Page


Harrow - Google Plus Page

Uxbridge - Google Plus Page

(more being added all the time)