Being nervous is normal
Almost every learner is nervous before their first lesson. Instructors expect it, and it is not something you need to hide or apologise for. It is worth saying out loud at the start, because a good instructor will adjust the pace accordingly.
Nothing is going to be sprung on you. You will not be sent into heavy traffic on day one.
What to bring
- Your UK provisional driving licence
- Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive
- Comfortable, flat shoes. Thick soles, heels and heavy boots make pedal feel much harder
Getting picked up
MSM includes pick-up and drop-off with every lesson, so your instructor will collect you from home, work or college and drop you back afterwards at no extra cost. There is no need to make your own way anywhere.
The first few minutes
Your instructor will drive you to a quiet area to start, usually a residential street with light traffic. You will have a quick chat about your experience, whether you have driven before at all, and what you want to get out of your lessons.
The cockpit drill
Before you move, you will be shown how to set the car up for yourself. This is often taught as DSSSM: doors, seat, steering, seatbelt, mirrors. Getting your seating position and mirrors right sounds basic but it affects everything that follows, so it is worth doing properly rather than rushing.
You will also be shown the controls: pedals, indicators, handbrake, and in a manual, the gears and clutch.
Actually driving
Yes, you will drive on your first lesson. Most first lessons cover moving off safely, driving in a straight line at low speed, and stopping under control. In a manual you will spend time on clutch control and finding the biting point.
You will probably stall. Every manual learner does. It is not a sign of anything.
Dual controls mean the instructor can brake or steer if needed, so you are never in a position where a mistake becomes dangerous. That safety net is the whole reason first lessons work.
What your instructor will not do
Shout at you. Sigh at you. Compare you to other learners. Expect you to already know things. Push you onto busy roads before you are ready.
If an instructor does any of that, they are a bad instructor, not a normal one. You are allowed to change.
Before the next one
Your instructor will give you a quick summary of how it went and what to work on. If you have access to a car and a supervising driver, even short amounts of private practice between lessons make a noticeable difference. There is more on that in our guide to how many lessons you will need.
It is also worth starting your theory test preparation early rather than leaving it until you are close to test standard. See our theory test guide.
Book your first lesson
Call or WhatsApp 07472 000811. Tell us you are a complete beginner if you are. It genuinely helps us plan the lesson.