I am due to take my BC driving test on the North Shore, December 15th and just wanted to ask, if you take the test in an automatic and pass, you are not allowed to drive a stick, as in the UK ?

Also, I do not actually have my own car. Will the driving school allow you to use their's or, can you hire a car for the test ? Although, I guess, the insurance will be expensive

I have had a driving licence in the UK for 33 years and have a car, motorbike and large goods vehicle licence. I have driven in Canada on and off over the years. One driving school I looked at had a 3 hour driving instruction for approx $200. As the cost of the test is $51 and finances are tight, I could have 4 go's at a test and hopefully pass and save some money.

What do people think about taking the test, without any prior instruction ?

Thanks
Roger

No, if you pass in an auto you can drive a manual.

Use the driving school's. It will be difficult to get a rental car to take a test because of the insurance. Some examiners will not take a test in a rental car unless you can prove it is properly insured.

A lesson was a good idea for me. You can be a very competent driver but if you don't do the things the examiner is looking for (particularly the shoulder checks) you could fail. A driving instructor will also take you along a few likely test routes and point out the likely pitfalls.

Thanks Jonboye for the useful advice.

good luck rog.... i have my test the day before your's, but in Point Grey.

i had a license in Blighty, but to get used to driving 'on the wrong side' and turning on red lights, etc i have sorted myself with an hour's tuition each week.

Tis good to 'get your eye in', but also the ICBC are really keen to get you to pass.... as such, it seems common place for instructors to take you on the actual route you will be examined on. this is useful as the examiner (so i hear) is likely to place more weight on your ability to notice 'school zone' signs and the like, than anything else. so you can basically gain a peak at the answers before your big day so to speak. works for me.

Thanks for the encouragement paolosmythe and good luck to you as well.

I am going to have some instruction before the test. I know by taking some instruction I will be prepared for what is in the actual driving test, but just out of interest, can anyone who has taken the test recently, advise the kind of things that will be in the test ?

Will there be questions on signs for instance or has that been covered in the knowledge test ? I understand there is parallel parking and driving on the highway ?

Thanks
Roger

I asked my local school what they recommended, and it added up to $450, for three hours of lessons plus 45 mins before the test and the hire of their car for the test. That just seems an excessive amount of money to pay to me.

I'd really prefer to take my test in my truck, as I've got used to driving in it, and like the driving position (in my husband's Golf I feel like I'm very very close to the road in comparison). Of course manouvering is more difficult, and I really wouldn't personally even think about parallel parking (it's a half ton with a long bed, so seeing what's behind is a little tricky). I've never really driven a car (took my test years and years ago but never drove in the UK).

I don't suppose there are any driving schools that use trucks?

Plus anyone taken the test in their own car - are there the same issues about the working order of the car (my husband once failed his test because the brake lights failed on his car - a fault that never happened again and the garage couldn't find)?

nooka - i dunno what the driving school market is like near you, but i guess in vancouver it is more competitive..... i found a heap of regulated instructors who do $35 per hour rates. and this includes the loan of the motor for the exam which is usually about 45 minutes.

many places charge even less if you do package deals.

one thing about the use of your own car, is the examiner might be more inclined to test your appraisal of the safety of your vehicle before setting off; this isn't a concern as much as just another module of knowledge to bare in mind. of course such things are seldom applied to a vehicle from a school.

as for what is on the examined drive itself..... i am prepping for all case scenarios.... but i hear that if you give no cause for concern, you will just go for a drive thru some school zones, main intersections, highways and then a 'reverse stall park'.

no emergency stops, parallel parks, sign identification etc. some do not even ask you to perform the 'hazard perception commentary'!

but it all depends on the examiner, how you do and how they feel that day

prepare for the worst.

Yes that always seems the best approach. When I took my test in the UK I had to do a real emergency stop (dog ran out in front of the car) in the first five mins. The rest of my test only lasted 10 mins, and I 'm sure that was why.

I took mine in august. It was 25 mins long and I didn't do any manoeuvres apart from parking at the end. This is despite the examiner telling me it was going to be 40mins and that I'd have to parallel parking and 3 point turns. I assumed I'd failed when we went back so quick without doing the stuff

I would say the following should be looked out for

1 - Shoulder check at every turn or lane change. Make it obvious
2 - Come to a full stop at stop signs, don't roll them.
3 - Keep your wheels straight when waiting to turn left.
4 - Watch your speed. Breaking the speed limit is an instant fail I'm told.

I was also asked what the hand signals for turning and stopping were at the start; so best brush up on them before.

Nooka - we had an hour lesson each, just to know the test route a little and ensure we had no glaring issues that needed addressing. We took our tests in a truck, and it was very straightforward. Parallel parking wasn't tested, just reversal into a space at the test centre.

Anybody able to recommend a driving school in Downtown Vancouver and who would allow use of their car ?

Thanks
Roger

At the risk of repeating myself, don't go to Westend Driving School.

If you are taking it on the north shore, go to north shore driving school. I used them and I thought they were good. They will pick you up from the sea bus, so it's hardly a big deal to get there from downtown.

Hi Alan2005, was the driving school you used on the North Shore NSDS ?

Thanks
Roger

This school wouldn't be affiliated with 'West Coast' driving school would it?

I have been using West Coast and I am less than confident in the qualiy of their instruction;

examples....

lesson 1 = one method for parllel parking; lesson 2 = a completely different method. i was left to suss it out for myself given past experience and so...

the instructor needed to have a quick drive (ie swap seats with me) so as to recall how to reverse stall park

and the best.... his slamming on the brakes mid intersection because he spotted a car approaching at the last second even though i'd seen it from half a block away. we then had to sheepishly reverse out of the intersection instead of carrying on our way!!!!?

http://www.letsdrivesmart.com/pb/wp_..._86f4105e.html

In my experience professional, affordable and I used the driving school car.

Good luck