Your first driving lesson, start to finish
If you have never driven a car, this page tells you what the first hour looks like. Most people arrive nervous. That is normal, and it is planned for.
What happens in the first hour
What you have done, and what you want
Before anything moves, Stacey asks what driving you have done, what you are aiming for, and anything you are unsure or worried about. The car stays parked.
Getting familiar with it
Seat, mirrors, steering, pedals, indicators. You get used to where everything is and what it does before you have to use any of it in traffic.
Driving, at a comfortable pace
Starting, stopping, steering and slow turns on a quiet street. Short goes, repeated, rather than one long drive. There is no pressure to get anything right first time.
Hazards, car control, logbook
As you settle in, lessons start on spotting hazards, the system of car control, and working through the logbook requirements and sequences in the order they build.
Whether you are a complete beginner or you have already driven a bit with a parent, the lesson is built around you. We take it step by step and your confidence builds as we go.
A first lesson can be 60 minutes ($115) or 90 minutes ($170). Ninety minutes gives more time to settle in, but an hour is plenty for a first go. Every learner is different, and the lesson follows you, not the clock.
What to bring
- Your current South Australian learner’s permit. You cannot drive without it, and it needs to be with you, not at home.
- Flat, closed shoes. Thongs, heels and heavy boots all make the pedals harder to feel.
- Glasses or contact lenses, if your permit says you need them.
- Your logbook, if you have started one. Every lesson gets recorded in it.
What you will not be asked to do
- Drive on a main road or a highway on day one.
- Park between two cars before you can steer confidently.
- Keep going when you want to stop. Say so and the lesson pauses.
- Pretend you understood something you did not.
Nervous about driving? Start here
Some people come to lessons after a crash, after a failed test, or after years of putting it off. Some are anxious about driving generally rather than about the car. All of that is workable, and none of it is unusual.
Say so when you call. The first lesson can be shorter, quieter, or spent mostly stationary getting used to the controls. Having a female instructor matters to some learners here too.
When to book your first lesson
Mid-morning on a weekday is the quietest time on suburban streets: the school run is over and the afternoon peak has not started. Avoid booking a very first lesson straight after school, or in the dark.
Ask about a time