Lindy Knight

In monsoon conditions, a massive congratulations to Lindy Knight who passed brilliantly with a challenging drive. Lindy never have up and chose the worst day to pass. Well done again Lindy, stay safe out there and enjoy the new licence. Look forward to seeing you for Pass Plus — with Al Fox and Steve Jackson at DSA Driving Test Centre Musselburgh.

Top 10 cars for new drivers under £10K by Compass Pro Drive

At Compass Pro Drive our driving instructors are often asked by our customers or parents of our customers to advise on what cars we would recommend for new drivers.

If you’re looking for a car for when you’ve passed your test, and you WILL pass your test then you’ll probably be looking for a car that’s just right for a new driver. You want something trustworthy and safe, you can do complicated and interesting once you’re a more confident driver. Right now you’re looking for reliability, security and something stylish.

Our top 10 cars for new drivers:

Citroen C3- cheap insurance, low road tax, efficient engine, good spec

A Citroen C3 is cheap and affordable to run, and to make it an even more attractive option, it has cheap insurance and low road tax. It’s comfortable inside and stylish and for what you’re paying, this offers affordable comfort and quality.

Citroen C1-cost effective running costs, cheap insurance, reasonable purchase price

Another Citroen, the C1 is another car for under £10k that’s modern, stylish and reliable. You can have a 3 or 5 door model - it comes with great steering, so it’s good for the town or city whenever you go shopping. A great car that’s economical and fun to drive.

Toyota Aygo – cheap road tax, nimble, durable

The Toyota Aygo is a car that’s cheap to buy and economical to run - expect to pay between £8.500k and £10.250k. It’s a low roofed car with a strong roof and stylish interior. It’s easy to drive and offers a comfortable ride and comes with a good chassis with five speeds and if you’re looking for durability as well as comfort and a car that’s easy to drive, then the Toyota Aygo might be the car for you.

Toyota Yaris – efficient engine, good visibility

A comfortable car with an efficient engine and good visibility but does come a little more expensive than the rest, unless you buy second hand. Expect to pay a little more than £10k. This model is a little bigger but it’s still a good car to drive regardless of its increase in size. It makes driving in town a stress free affair, which is exactly what you’re looking for when you’ve just passed your test.

 Vauxhall Corsa- reliable, spacious, popular

The Vauxhall Corsa is a great little car and it’s extremely popular. It’s still a good looking car with stylish interiors and comes with good steering and is an ideal car for the new driver, helping you to develop more confidence. A reliable care with plenty of room, the Corsa will always give you a good drive.

Ford Ka-reliable engine, cheap road tax, simple

This is a car that was extremely popular when it first came out in the 1990s and is still good for the city run and easy parking. It’s compact, with not as much space as the Corsa or the Citroen, but if a small car is what you’re looking for then this is it. Economically this is a good buy with a reliable engine and cheap road tax.

Peugeot 207- a different badged c3, high spec, and new cars redesigned bottom up

The Peugeot 207 comes in many guises, as a hatchback, an estate or a coupe cabriolet. There are different engines to choose from, with either petrol or diesel. It’s an excellent value car, newly designed from the bottom up and selling at a reasonable price.

Renault Clio- high spec, and new cars redesigned bottom up

The Renault Clio is a stylish car that’s reliable with plenty of space, good interior style with plenty of room. This is a new style and it’s certainly an improvement and now available in 5 door design only. The styling is certainly impressive, and it’ll get you around town in no time, with a well-designed engine that works just as well on rugged roads as in the countryside. It’s easy to park and makes an excellent first time car. With good steering and excellent suspension, the new Clio is worthy of the investment.

VW Polo- great build quality, highly efficient engine and good performance, solid

This is a great quality car with a highly efficient engine and offers excellent performance. This is a car that can take you through town and country with brand new petrol engines and some swanky new technology inside. It’s nicely styled and offers great comfort for both driver and passenger. It’s a little more costly than those listed here and like the Toyota Yaris it’s over £10k, so if you want to invest in a VW Polo it’ll cost you a little more.

Hyundai i20- 5 year unlimited warranty, good engine range, cheap road tax and good for insurance

The Hyundai is nicely priced and you can get one starting from just under £10k, it comes with a 5 year unlimited warranty, a good range of engines to choose from, with cheap road tax and good insurance. There’s good quality styling and it’s a practical, reliable and attractive car. It comes with a small engine, and it’s reliable for town and country driving.

So there you have it, if you’re looking for a car to start your driving with, then we’ve chosen our top 10 for you and hopefully, taken the hard work out of it. Good luck!

How to Choose a Driving Instructor

If you’re about to embark on driving lessons, perhaps for the first time, you may have some questions you need answering.

So we thought of all the questions you might want to ask your local driving instructor and provided some comprehensive answers:

Why should I learn with your driving school?

Here at Compass ProDrive we provide a calm, positive and fun learning environment where your development and comfort is our priority, so when you learn with us, we’ll do everything in our power to make you feel relaxed and confident during each lesson, that way, you’ll learn much more.

How long should it take from lesson 1 to test?

On average, according to DVSA statistics, a novice driver from start to finish takes about 46 hours with an instructor, and 22 hours out and about with lessons taken with a full licence holder with a minimum of 3 years holding a full UK licence. So it’s really not that long!

Can I do anything to speed up the process?

Yes you can, there are a couple of options:-

You can have your lessons condensed into a shorter period to build on previous lesson

or -

Go out with a parent or an experienced driver with a 3 year old full UK licence. This can help you along as you learn and can be an added extra to what your instructor has already been teaching you during lessons. You can put into practice what you’ve learnt with your instructor and this can really help.

Please note it is essential that you follow the criteria that has been set by your driving instructor to ensure continuity and safety. ( Parents – if you have any questions please feel free to the pupils instructor)

Do you have any testimonials?

Yes, here at Compass ProDrive we have testimonials from many satisfied former pupils on our website and this will highlight our successes as well as visiting our link to our Facebook page.

How do I know I'm being taught correctly?

We provide an electronic record sheet that is emailed to you after each learning milestone is met. We sit down and put in place a plan designed for you with targets that we look to meet. As such, we give you a comprehensive record which will provide you with all the information you need for revision between lessons, that way, you’ll know exactly what you need to work on to achieve success.

What is the main reason for not passing a test?

There are a multitude of reasons for not passing your driving test, but the main ones tend to be nerves, not following the correct procedures at the right time, not checking your mirrors before changing direction and speeding. However don't focus on what you could do wrong - concentrate on what you know is correct.

Why should I do pass plus lessons?

The pass plus takes what you’ve learned, then enhances it further to meet the greater demands and challenges that motorways, country roads and night driving have to offer. It builds on your basic knowledge and increases awareness. It also improves your proactive abilities. It’s recognised by insurance companies as an extra form of driver training, which in a lot of cases helps reduce insurance premiums.

Are cheaper lessons or packages a better option for me?

Booking block lessons can save you money when you’re learning to drive as individual lessons do cost more in the long run.

How much should I budget for?

On the basis that you would be looking at 46 hours, approximately £1000 excluding your test fee to the DVSA

What makes you the best option overall?

We have high pass rates – with an emphasis on developing an environment which encourages learning through fun and comfort. We use up to date learning techniques coupled with cutting edge hardware and software to enhance your learning experience.

At Compass ProDrive, we’re on your side.

Driving lessons in Edinburgh – crash course or taking it slowly?

If you don’t currently hold a driving license you may be considering taking to the road and learning to drive. There could be many reasons why you’re doing it, but you’ve decide to take the plunge and take to the steering wheel. It can be tremendous fun and once you’ve passed it can give you an independence you never had before. Perhaps you’ve driven in the past and for some reason you stopped, now you want to refresh your skills. You already know how great it is to drive and you can’t wait to get out on the open road again.

As you contemplate the delights of driving you look through the various driving schools in Edinburgh (and hopefully you will have chosen ours, Compass Prodrive, which is one reason why you’re reading this blog) and you notice how many different ways there are to take your lessons. But HOW are you going to learn to drive?

Are you going to take one or maybe two lessons per week, or fortnight, or take a crash course, which we also offer, over a period of 4 weeks? There are many advantages to taking it slowly and doing it quickly. Here we discuss what might be the advantages and disadvantages of both to help you decide, and don’t forget you can always get in touch with us to discuss it either over the phone, or you can drop us an email.

Driving over a longer period

Each of our driving lessons are pretty comprehensive and rather than intensive driving lessons you may choose to take them over a longer period of time giving you the time and energy you need to take in everything you’ve learnt. You can take it all at your own pace, after all this is your test, and you should feel happy and comfortable while you’re learning. Lessons are affordable, and naturally they cost less if you buy in bulk, but there’s no need to do that if you want to just take one lesson per week, or fortnight etc.

We’re friendly, patient and we listen and just as importantly we want you to pass your test. So we’ll listen to what you want.

Intensive Driving – is it for you?

There are many reasons why you might be considering an intensive driving course. You may be eager to pass your test within the minimum amount of time, so you can be on the road as quickly as possible. The reasons for this could be personal, or they could be professional – perhaps you need your license for your job.

What you get with intensive driving are lessons that are taken all day every day for a set length of time. There’s an excellent pass rate for those that learn to drive in this way and it can be the perfect approach for some drivers. You learn quickly all you need by learning to drive over several hours each day, and then at the end of it you can sit your test. We’ll decide at the outset how far away we think you are from your test, and then once you’re ready you can have a mock test with us and then you sit your “real” driving test.

At the end of the day it’s entirely up to you, your lessons, your test, your driving experience. Whatever your personality or character, however quickly or slowly you like to learn – it really doesn’t matter, you choose. We’re flexible and we can work with you, our aim, our goal, is to ensure you pass your test and have a wonderful driving experience with us and as you start your new life as a fully-fledged driver.

If you are looking for driving lessons in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas have a look around our website and give us a call today to discuss what option is most suitable for you.

The Tax Disc Is No More

A very interesting piece of information with regards to the UK Tax Disc. Please take note as of 1st October 2014: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-tax-changes

Estimated Time to Pass UK Test

An interesting piece was released recently that highlights minimum DVSA requirements to pass the driving test

http://www.theaa.com/aattitude/start-learning/getting-ready/how-much-does-it-cost.jsp

Congratulations Ailsa Lingard!

Compass ProDrive want to congratulate Ailsa Lingard who today passed brilliantly her driving test at Currie. The win was celebrated with the obligatory Bolt pose. Well done Ailsa, well deserved and enjoy selling Rich's BMW to fund your new car! Remember to stay safe out there. 

2 Minors-Josh Quinn

A massive congratulations to Josh Quinn who today passed his test at Currie with an excellent drive that resulted in only 2 minors. Well done gain Josh and we look forward to seeing you for Pass Plus but in the meantime enjoy the licence and be safe out there 

Driving Examiners Strike 10th July 2014

Some news for all clients and potential clients for Compass ProDrive   

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-examiner-strike-on-thursday-10-july-candidates-urged-to-attend-tests

Congratulations to Shannon Tilley

Shannon today passed her test with flying colours at Currie. Well done again and remember to be safe out there 

Congratulations to Cece Mctaggart

A huge congratulations to Cece Mctaggart who passed her test today.

Well done Cece under tough circumstances and nows the time to enjoy the licence. 

Choosing a driving instructor in Edinburgh

Most young people go through their teenage years with a burning ambition to get behind the wheel of a car. Some never manage it at all – circumstances get in the way or maybe they, or their parents, just can’t afford the lessons. In some cases it can take a number of years into adulthood before some revisit the idea and finally take the plunge. Whenever the decision is made though there are a number of things to weigh up before booking that first lesson.

Nobody wants to spend TOO long on lessons do they?

Surely the best instructor you can afford has to be the first consideration. Well, that is true to some degree, personal recommendations and a great track record of successful passes go a long way to helping a person choose.

Learning to drive is not like shopping, you don’t pop into one driving school have a lesson then try a different one down the road and then another after that. The most likely route to a successful outcome is to choose an Edinburgh driving instructor that you get on well with and stick with them. By adopting this approach you will find you will pass quicker and become a safer and more confident driver.

It is, in some ways, a close and personal relationship that you are entering into. Your driving instructor will be guiding you, advising you and will be pointing out the errors that you make. The driving instructor needs a tactful approach and the student needs to be willing to accept criticism and praise in equal measures.

A friendly approach is certainly helpful; putting a nervous learner driver at ease right from the outset should be the aim. It can be a stressful exercise to begin with and the learner driver needs to relax into it while, at the same time, should be able to concentrate on the job in hand.

So, apart from making a personal connection with your instructor what else would you be looking for? As mentioned above, a good track record in first time passes will be a good start.

If you are looking for a driving school in Edinburgh or a driving school in West Lothian you cannot go wrong with Compass Pro Drive. We have a very high first time pass rate (72%) and can offer a range of learning packages tailored to suit students of any age. With good discounts on offer for block bookings of lessons and a door to door service from home or your business address we are without a doubt, an excellent choice.

Contact our fully trained ADI and IAM professional driving instructors today and arrange your first lesson with one of our friendly instructors. 

Well Done Kirsty Dunbar

Huge well done to Kirsty Dunbar who aced her test in Currie today with only 1 minor! Well deserved after the hard work put in. Congratulations again, enjoy the licence but remember..be safe out there