A driving lessons checklist has four stages: before your first lesson (a valid provisional licence, a pick-up point and a booked slot), the skills to tick off during lessons, the checks before you book your practical test, and what to bring on test day. Here is each stage as Drive With Issy, an automatic driving school in Leamington Spa and Warwick, works through it.
Written and reviewed by Issy, Fully Qualified DSA-Approved Driving Instructor at Drive With Issy. Issy has over four years of driving-instruction experience and has helped more than 500 learners across the Leamington Spa and Warwick area.
What do I need before my first driving lesson?
You need to be 17 or older and hold a valid provisional driving licence on the day of your first lesson. If you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can begin a year earlier. You do not need to have passed your theory test.
Your before-the-first-lesson checklist:
- A valid provisional licence. You apply through GOV.UK, which shows the current fee. You also need it to book your theory test.
- Your postcode checked. Drive With Issy covers Leamington Spa, Warwick and the surrounding Warwickshire area, subject to postcode availability. Enter your postcode on the website or call +44 7812 390153.
- A booked slot. Book online through Book Lesson or by phone. Evening and weekend slots are available.
- A pick-up point. This is a mobile driving school, so you are collected from home, school or work. You never travel to the business address.
- Glasses or lenses, if you need them to drive. Wear them for every lesson, as you will for the test.
- A look at the prices. Current lesson prices, blocks and packages are on the price list.
The full detail on age, licences and medical questions is in our guide how old do I need to be to start driving lessons.
What happens on the first lesson?
Your first lesson starts with an assessment. Issy looks at your current level and any previous experience and sets a personalised starting point, so a complete beginner and someone who has driven abroad do not start in the same place.
You learn in a fully electric automatic Hyundai Kona, and on your first lesson you receive PDFs and videos to supplement your lessons. From then on, the learner app lets you view your progress, book appointments and use learning resources.
All tuition is automatic. If you pass your test in the Kona, you will hold an automatic licence.
Which driving skills should I tick off during my lessons?
Use this as your skills checklist. These are the areas lessons work towards before Issy recommends you for the practical test, and they are built around your own weak points rather than a fixed syllabus:
| Skill | You can tick it off when you can… |
|---|---|
| Control | Move off, stop and steer smoothly and safely in the automatic Kona |
| Observation | Check mirrors and blind spots at the right moments without being reminded |
| Junctions and roundabouts | Approach, judge gaps and choose lanes confidently, including on busier local roads |
| Manoeuvres | Carry out manoeuvres under control, with good all-round observation |
| Hazard awareness | Spot developing hazards early and respond in good time |
| Independent driving | Follow directions or road signs while still making safe decisions |
| Show me, tell me | Answer the vehicle safety questions the examiner asks |
Learning in an automatic removes clutch control and gear changes, but it does not remove the need to develop observation, judgement, positioning and hazard awareness. Automatic learners still need proper preparation. The vehicle safety questions are listed on our Show Me Tell Me page.
How many lessons will it take to tick everything off?
There is no fixed or mandatory minimum. DVSA guidance points to around 45 hours of professional tuition plus roughly 20 hours of private practice as a general benchmark, but readiness, not hours, decides when you take your test. Read more in how many driving lessons will I need before my test.
Can I practise with family or friends between lessons?
Yes. Practice away from lessons is not essential, but learners who gain experience of different situations and conditions before their practical test generally perform better. Check these before you go out with a friend or family member:
- They are over 21 and have held their licence for over three years.
- They are qualified to drive the type of vehicle you are learning in, so they must hold a manual licence to supervise you in a manual car.
- L plates are visible on the front and rear of the car.
What should I check before booking my practical test?
Before you book, you should be driving consistently, safely and independently without constant prompting, and you must have passed your theory test. Your before-booking checklist:
- Theory test passed. You need the pass certificate number to book, and it expires after two years. Our theory test guide explains both parts.
- Every skill on the list above ticked off, lesson after lesson, not just on one good drive.
- Your instructor’s view. Drive With Issy will not recommend a learner for the practical test until they are ready, and that includes the intensive driving course, which is not run as a crash course.
- Your test centre known. Three centres cover most of Warwickshire for car tests: Warwick (Wedgnock House), Coventry and Nuneaton, with Rugby covering the east of the county.
You book your practical test yourself on GOV.UK. Our guide how will I know when I am ready for my driving test goes through the signs in detail.
What do I need to bring on test day?
Bring your provisional driving licence, your theory test pass details, and your glasses or lenses if you need them for the 20 metre number plate check. Aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
- Provisional driving licence
- Theory test pass details
- Glasses or lenses, if you need them
- For Warwick, the postcode CV34 5AP in your sat nav rather than the centre’s name
The test includes a period of independent driving, a manoeuvre and two show me, tell me questions. You can take the test in the Drive With Issy car: the price list includes a test day fee for using the tuition car, and the instructor will drive you home afterwards. Directions to the Warwick centre are in how to get to Warwick driving test centre.
What comes after I pass?
Once you hold your full licence, Pass Plus and refresher lessons are available. Refresher lessons also suit drivers returning after a long break and holders of international or European licences who need to get used to UK roads, rules and test expectations.
Driving lessons checklist: common questions
Do I need to pass my theory test before my first lesson?
No. You need a valid provisional licence to start lessons, and you can learn to drive while you revise. You must pass your theory test before you can book your practical test.
I am nervous about driving. Is there anything extra to add to the checklist?
No extra paperwork, but tell Issy when you book. Lessons are patient, gradual and built around your confidence, and feeling nervous is not the same as not being ready. As one learner wrote in a Google review: “Issy is a great instructor. He explained everything very patiently and learning with him was very easy.” – Adina Joita.
Do you teach manual as well as automatic?
No. All tuition is automatic, in a fully electric Hyundai Kona.
Is a pass guaranteed if I complete the checklist?
No pass is promised. Being recommended for the test means you are driving at the standard the test asks for; the goal is safe, independent driving.
Do you cover my area?
Drive With Issy covers Leamington Spa, Warwick and the surrounding Warwickshire area, subject to postcode availability. Enter your postcode on the website or call to check.
Ready to start your checklist?
Once your provisional licence is in place, you are ready for your first lesson. Call Issy on +44 7812 390153, email hello@drivewithissy.co.uk or book a lesson online.
