Information for New or Prospective customers
Findley's Driving School will provide you with as thoroughly a professional a service as you will find elsewhere
Findley's is a driving school that sets and expects high standards. You will receive professional tuition tailored to your individual requirements. In return we expect you to do three things for us
- Turn up,
- Listen closely to your instructor,
- Try your best.
The remainder is up to us. You are expected to make mistakes so do not worry about it. Your professional instructor is there to put them right.
Your first driving lesson
What to bring with you
Please make sure that you bring both parts of your driving licence with you on your first driving lesson as we need to check both the photocard and paper licence.
You do not need to bring your driving licence every lesson.
What will happen on your first driving lesson
If you have previous driving experience then your instructor will discuss with you what you have done and driving environments that you feel comfortable with. They will then wish to see your driving standard themselves so that a professional assessment can be made as to where and at what level your tuition should begin.
Approximately half of our pupils have previously received driving lessons from other instructors. I am happy to say that they remain with us until they pass their practical tests. Must be doing something right ...
If this will be your first lesson then your instructor will drive you to a quiet area, introduce themselves and check your licence. An explanation of the course that you are undertaking and how the marking scheme works follows. Use of the 'Driving Knowledge Base' between lessons will be encouraged so that you can continue to learn away from the tuition vehicle.
You will be shown the controls of the vehicle and told how to operate them properly. Driving plans will be discussed, followed by the correct procedures for moving off and stopping.
You will now move the car for the first time. Under full instruction of course. After some practice has taken place your first lesson will be recorded onto your marking record sheet, your next lesson booked, and you will be taken home.
Pickup from and drop off to anywhere reasonable.
If you could arrange to be picked up from and dropped off at the same locations each lesson it would help your instructor to plan their day.
It is understood that not all pupils will wish to be picked up from their home address. It is not a problem to arrange pick ups from home, work, college, or anywhere else that is within a reasonable distance. With Findley;s it is your convenience that comes first.
All that we ask is reasonable notice. If you can let us know on the lesson before that you will need picking up somewhere different that is great. If not, as much notice as you can would be appreciated. If you leave it to the day of the lesson it may be too late. Remember, our instructors mobile telephones are switched off.
If you are to be picked up from your normal location but wish to be dropped off somewhere else then please ask your instructor at the beginning of the lesson. If they are not asked otherwise your instructor will automatically plan a lesson that ends at your normal location. It may be too inconvenient if asked at this point to take you elsewhere.
Legal Requirements.
Occasionally a new pupil will ask us to waiver seeing their licence until the next lesson for whatever reason - The answer is always a polite no thank you.
We have a legal duty to check that you can produce both parts of a valid photo card provisional licence on your first lesson. Failure to do so will lead to the automatic cancellation of the lesson. Sorry, but if you cannot produce a valid licence then the car is not insured for you to drive it.
If you do not have a provisional driving licence yet then these are your options:
- The application forms are available from the post office. Applications usually take about two weeks though it is dependent upon demand. You may receive your licence virtually by return of post or it could be three weeks.
- You can apply for your provisional licence online at your own convenience. Applications for licences online are likely to arrive quicker because you are cutting the postal element from the initial application and also the payment is transacted in real time rather than by cheque.
Your eyesight will have to be checked on your first lesson. To do this you will be asked to read a number plate at approximately sixty seven feet.
With Findley's driving school your instructor only wants you to do two things for them while you are learning to drive. Listen to the information that they give to you and try your best to apply it. Your instructor will not mind in the slightest if you struggle or do not understand something. It is their job to find a way of explaining it to you that you do understand.
Free for You!
Please use the link below to view the benefits of training with Findley's driving School that really are 'free for you'.
Free for you