Driving Tests

[Howardws]

I took my test four times before I passed in 1963, mainly because I didn’t have proper lessons until after the third failure. I think that turning up in a driving school car always helps as well. The car was a new Ford Anglia, somewhat different to the 1937 Morris 8 tourer that my friend and I owned between us. I seem to remember that my instructor was the most expensive in Southampton but he had the best record of passes. I think he charged £1-5s-0d per hour but I may be wrong.

[MartinR]

I started riding my mother's moped at 16, got my first bike at 18.  Passed my bike test (first time) on 28/10/75, aged 19.  I booked 12 lessons with BSM, then added a further 6 because I didn't feel I was up to standard (no chance to practice) and passed first time on 12/5/77.  Not in Kent though, bike in Middlesbrough and car in Durham.

[johnfilmer]

I had my first lesson on my 17th birthday, 5th February 1968. Wright’s Of Sittingbourne gave me 12 lessons in their brand new Ford Escorts. Passed first time, six weeks later, in Gillingham.


I did have the benefit of having passed my motorbike test about a week before my birthday, and many months of riding on L plates beforehand. So hazard perception and general road awareness were already there, as well as basic clutch and gear operations.


The Austin 7 Special bought a week later was “interesting “ in comparison to the Escort.

[Invicta Alec]

I passed my driving test on the 4th of July 1968 (second attempt). I remember the date easily as I think of it as my "Independence Day". I've therefore held a licence for coming up to 53 years this summer.


My lessons were given to me by the "Sevenoaks School of Motoring" and in that year the cars being used were Mark 1 Ford Cortinas.

What did you pass in?

Alec.