What To Expect On Your First Driving Lesson

So you’ve passed your Learners Test, attained your learner’s permit, and now you’re ready to hit the road. While the next step - actually getting behind the wheel - is exciting, it can also be daunting for a first-timer.  

To calm those nerves, we let you in on what to expect from your first driving lesson: from how to prepare and what to bring, to the skills, tips and tricks you’ll pick up during the hour.   

How To Prepare For Your First Lesson

Before you get on the road, it’s important that you put your best foot forward: 

Rest Up 

Getting in 7-9 hours of sleep ahead of your first lesson will help you stay alert, energetic and ready for any challenges that pop up during your first session. Plus, research suggests that sleep aids memory retention as you learn new skills like how to drive. 

Fuel Up 

In the same vein, make sure you’re well hydrated and fed before going into your lesson. There’s nothing more distracting than a grumbling tummy! 

Dress Up 

Finally, dress appropriately. Ensure you have comfortable clothing on and that your footwear is appropriate. Avoid thongs or anything that could slip off and obstruct the pedals. 

Study Up

While your instructor will deep dive on the controls in your vehicle and how to master them, you can also prepare by getting familiar with your own vehicle. If you’re driving a manual, get familiar with the clutch pedal, gear stick, accelerator pedal and brake pedal. 

What To Bring To The Lesson 

When it comes to your lesson, it’s a good idea to travel light and just bring along the essentials. 

You are required by law to bring your learner’s permit every time you drive, so make sure you have that on hand, together with your logbook (if you are under 25 years old). 

If you need to bring your phone, make sure you’ve switched it to silent mode to minimise distractions or turned it off altogether. Remember that using a mobile device whilst driving is an offence and may result in you losing your learner drivers licence. 

What Happens in Your First Lesson? 

Now we can take a look at what to expect for your first driving lesson. Hopefully, knowing this settles the nerves and puts your mind at ease as you head into it: 

1. You’ll Get Picked Up 

Your driving instructor will pick you up at the location you specified in your EzLicence booking.  When you're using the instructor's car, they will have the learner plates and signage already displayed, so there’s no need to bring your own. 

2. Your Instructor Will Introduce You To The Car 

Once you’re in the car, your instructor will take you through the basics. They’ll show you the dashboard and driving controls, and talk you through the basics of how to operate the vehicle. 

3. You’ll Learn How To Adjust Your Mirrors, Seat and Steering Wheel For Your Comfort 

You’ll spend some time adjusting your side and rearview mirrors, your seat and steering wheel. Make sure you’re in a position where you can easily access all controls and see the car’s immediate surroundings. 

What You’ll Learn During Your Lesson 

As well as this, you’ll learn some basic hard skills. 

1. The Basics: Car Controls 

Once they’ve picked you up, your instructor will likely drive you to a quiet road or car park where you’ll get into the driver’s seat. Here, they’ll explain your basic car controls like your accelerator and brakes, steering, indicators and windshield wipers.

If you’re a slightly more experienced driver, you can ask your instructor to skip this step. 

2. Driving 

In your first driving lesson, you won’t be forced to do anything you’re not comfortable or familiar with. 

If it’s still early days, for example, your first lesson may look like driving a few laps around an empty parking lot at low speed. You won’t even need to drive in traffic if you’re not up for it yet! 

But for those who are relatively more experienced or farther along the driving journey, it might involve more advanced maneuvers such as learning how to park front-on or reverse into a spot. Either way, your driver will always be there to guide you through the lesson with clear instructions, feedback and road safety tips. 

Don’t forget, if you’ve taken your driving instructor’s car, they’ll also have access to dual controls, so on the rare occasion that you run into a tricky situation, they’ll be able to hit the brakes to avoid danger. 

After The Lesson 

After your lesson, your instructor will share some feedback on how they think you went: what you did well and what to keep working on until the next lesson. 

If you can, keep notes of your instructor’s feedback so that you’re clear on what you need to practice and make the most out of your time on the road. 

Your instructor will also fill out and sign your logbook for you. NSW, QLD and the ACT have the 3-for-1 rule, where 1 hour with a qualified driving instructor translates to 3 hours in your logbook.   

Get Geared Up And Ready To Go With EzLicence 

Ready to put the pedal to the metal? EzLicence offers hassle-free driving lessons to get you from learner to pro in no time. Browse instructors by rating, car, area and reviews using our easy-to-use online booking system, and make changes to your bookings whenever you need to. Book in for your first driving lesson today. 

FAQs

How Much Do Driving Lessons Cost? 

In Australia, driving lessons generally cost around $81/hour. At EzLicence, we offer packaged pricing to get you the best value based on the number of hours you need. Prices may vary from suburb to suburb and depending on the duration of your lessons. 

How Many Driving Lessons Do I Need? 

As a general rule of thumb, new drivers taking the practical driving test need: 

• 10 – 15 hours: New learners (beginners) 
• 7 – 10 hours: New learners (some experience)
• 3 – 6 hours: Overseas licence holders 
• 4 – 7 hours: Refresher drivers require 

Do I Need Driving Lessons With An Instructor? 

While you’re not legally required to take driving lessons with an instructor, there are countless benefits. Besides helping you ramp up your logbook hours more quickly, qualified driving instructors are instrumental in instilling safe driving habits and teaching defensive driving techniques. 

What If I Make A Mistake? 

As a learner, it’s completely normal to make mistakes - whether that’s turning on the windscreen wiper when you meant to indicate, or hitting the brakes instead of the accelerator. The important thing is to take a deep breath and carry on calmly. Keep a mental note of these mistakes to avoid them happening, but don’t focus on them and worry too much. Remember, whether it's your first time or your 10th, you're allowed to make mistakes.