I am booked in for Class 2 training. The biggest vehicle I’ve driving for any amount of time is a little Ford Transit Connect. My training is 14 hours and then I have the test. Compressed down this equates to one and a half days’ driving. Is this really enough to get to test stage? I had a discount but it still works out at £71.50ph so am feeling a bit nervous about commiting that kind of money to a course which to a newbie seems unrealistic, but the school I’m going with has a good rep so I have decided to put my trust in them but I thought I’d come here for a bit of reassurance, or otherwise!! Can you go from zero to test in 14 hours?
wanderingstar:
I am booked in for Class 2 training. The biggest vehicle I’ve driving for any amount of time is a little Ford Transit Connect. My training is 14 hours and then I have the test. Compressed down this equates to one and a half days’ driving. Is this really enough to get to test stage? I had a discount but it still works out at £71.50ph so am feeling a bit nervous about commiting that kind of money to a course which to a newbie seems unrealistic, but the school I’m going with has a good rep so I have decided to put my trust in them but I thought I’d come here for a bit of reassurance, or otherwise!! Can you go from zero to test in 14 hours?
Sounds perfectly normal bud! Both the 14 hours and your apprehension…
Plenty of us here passed with only that much training, and while driving ability is a factor, so is confidence!
If you look through a lot of the post on here of people that failed, it wasn’t their driving ability that let them down, it was nerves…
Best of luck pal, and try to be positive! 
I had 10 hrs training and 2 hour test and passed no problem! 14 hours sounds about right if a trainer thinks your up to it
Many have done that but if over 2 days then I would be concerned !
Be confident in yourself and you’ll be fine.
I was in same boat as you in that the biggest thing I’d driven was a transit. I passed cat c with 14 hours and then passed c+e with 14 hours.
If you can control the nerves they’ll work in your favour ie make your driving sharper and make you more alert than you normally would be.
Best of luck
Dave
Thanks everyone!!! No it’s over four days 
Maybe I should ask for an assessment drive just to boost my confidence.
Moonpigdan:
Be confident in yourself and you’ll be fine.
I was in same boat as you in that the biggest thing I’d driven was a transit. I passed cat c with 14 hours and then passed c+e with 14 hours.
If you can control the nerves they’ll work in your favour ie make your driving sharper and make you more alert than you normally would be.
Best of luck
Dave
Great advice - thanks. That was my next question - I’d like to go straight on and do Class 1. Does it make sense to do that or is it better to go out and do some professional Class 2 driving first to prep you for Class 1 training?
Some will say go straight for Class 1, but personally I think working on Class 2 for a while helped me pass Class 1 first time.
It probable depends on how work shy you are, as a lot of Class 2 jobs are hard graft!
wanderingstar:
Thanks everyone!!! No it’s over four days
You haven’t even had an assessment? And you have been told that time frame already with out being sat in the thing yet?
If so I wouldn’t build your hopes up!
wanderingstar:
Thanks everyone!!! No it’s over four days
How does the trainer know how long you need if you haven’t had an assessment■■?
I just rang the trainer to ask if an assessment was normal before arranging training and they said no it’s not. I am completely new to the industry so I really don’t know what is normal and what isn’t.
wanderingstar:
I just rang the trainer to ask if an assessment was normal before arranging training and they said no it’s not. I am completely new to the industry so I really don’t know what is normal and what isn’t.
Arrange an assessment to see how you get on, as this will allow the trainer to assess you, but more importantly, for you to assess them!!!
Do you like or get on with them?
Do they seem professional?
What is their kit/trucks like?
Where do they do their reversing maneuvers? (It can be miles away somewhere…)
How much are their retest fee’s? (these can range wildly)
What is their pass rate?
Will you be able to get DCPC credits during your training? (Only applies if you passed car test before 1997)
etc…
Do not just ring around and go for the cheapest price, you will probably end up regretting it!!!
Evil8Beezle:
wanderingstar:
I just rang the trainer to ask if an assessment was normal before arranging training and they said no it’s not. I am completely new to the industry so I really don’t know what is normal and what isn’t.Arrange an assessment to see how you get on, as this will allow the trainer to assess you, but more importantly, for you to assess them!!!
Do you like or get on with them?
Do they seem professional?
What is their kit/trucks like?
Where do they do their reversing maneuvers? (It can be miles away somewhere…)
How much are their retest fee’s? (these can range wildly)
What is their pass rate?
Will you be able to get DCPC credits during your training? (Only applies if you passed car test before 1997)
etc…Do not just ring around and go for the cheapest price, you will probably end up regretting it!!!
Thank you very much for this advice. The school had an open day a few months back and I was impressed with the site and got to drive a couple of trucks up and down the yard with some instructors who were both extremely polite and friendly. Everything looked spick and span. You do the reversing tests on site and they claim a pass rate of 75%. I also kept in touch with a driver I met there who had recently passed with them and he spoke highly of them. The only down side is they charge for coffee lol.
Which training company have you gone with?
I wouldn’t worry too much about assessment drives or anything else, they say they can train you to standard in that time so take their word for it, not those who have only only just passed the test themselves!! Listen to the instructor, he knows what he’s doing.
Once you’ve passed your C then ask the instructor how he feels bout you going straight to C+E, pus consider your own feelings aboutit.
I did mine quite a few years ago, had to do both, but did my C+E as soon as I got my licence back from DVLA, passed both 1st time, and would personally say it’s the best way if your circumstances allow it.
NickW88:
Which training company have you gone with?
Oh come on Nick, you must know who’s school that sounds like! 
skorpio:
I wouldn’t worry too much about assessment drives or anything else, they say they can train you to standard in that time so take their word for it, not those who have only only just passed the test themselves!! Listen to the instructor, he knows what he’s doing.
WTF? - The instructor is possibly the school owner. Do you really think you can trust his word as unbiased? 
And your “experience” is based on what??
skorpio:
And your “experience” is based on what??
Logic, which I’m failing to see in your argument…
If it’s the driving school it sounds like then 14 hours wwill be perfectly adequate for your driving instruction. I learnt with only ever haven driven a car in 14 hours for class 2 then 6 months later 14 hours for class 1.
All the best with your journey
Michael