A driving lesson is when anticipation sets in. The first driving lesson is when a certain tension, or even unease, gets mixed into that anticipation. It does not have to be that way: this article tells you what awaits you on the day and how to prepare for it properly.
👉 Here you can book the right instructor for your first driving lesson.
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What happens in the first driving lesson
Automatic or manual? Measured across the 82 driving schools on todrive.ch that teach both, 98 % charge the same for either gearbox. The licence is the real difference: with a manual one you may drive both, with an automatic one only automatic.
Automatic or manual: which is better to learn on
The first lesson is essentially about getting to know the car and developing a feel for it. There is no fixed sequence, no checklist as such. Your Fahrlehrer:in (driving instructor) will of course adapt the content of the first lesson to what you already know. If you have never sat behind a wheel, they may start you off with gentle steering and gear-changing exercises on quiet side roads, and will certainly not throw you into heavy traffic.
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Before your first drive
Before you really get going, the technical side of the car is explained to you first. That includes the dials and warning lights on the dashboard, the control stalks, the lights and the wipers. Then your instructor shows you the adjustments you have to make before driving. That includes setting the seat correctly, so that you can reach everything comfortably and have a good view. Once the seat is right, you adjust the mirrors. Here too your instructor shows you how to set the interior and wing mirrors properly so that you can keep a proper eye on the traffic. Then off you go!
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Your first drive
Pulling away for the first time. Changing gear and working the clutch for the first time. That probably also answers the question of whether you will actually drive in your first lesson. Yes – so enjoy it.
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Do not stress yourself before the first lesson
Whatever happens, the very first driving lesson is without doubt one of the more striking moments on the road to a driving licence. For a long time before it you sat in the passenger seat and followed every movement and every action attentively. But taking the wheel yourself and moving through hectic traffic as the driver is something else. Indicating, clutch, gears, braking, right of way, watching the signs and signals, ideally all at the same time, can wear you out and demoralise you quite thoroughly.
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You are not alone
Do not stress yourself; you are neither the first nor the last person to struggle with these feelings. You are not sitting in the car on your own: next to you is an experienced instructor trained for exactly this, who can step in at any moment and who knows your emotional state inside out. Every driving instructor is also a little bit of a therapist.
Still nervous? Watch this video about the first driving lesson. It is not a Swiss driving school, but the first lesson in Germany is the same.
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Preparing for the first driving lesson
You do not have to prepare for your first lesson. Of course you can go and do a few laps of an empty car park beforehand. But that does not help much. Better to follow these tips for the first lesson:
- Talk to your instructor about your fears, so that they know what to take into account and can reassure you if need be.
- Do not worry, your instructor will not expect anything impossible of you. So there is no reason for concern.
- Try to be as rested and stress-free as possible. That way you are mentally more present and can take in more information.
- Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes, so that you have enough freedom of movement and enough feel for the pedals.
- Make sure you have eaten and drunk enough, but not too much. Hungry or thirsty you cannot concentrate; eat too much and you get sleepy.
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The first driving lesson in an automatic
The first lesson stays fundamentally the same whether you drive an automatic or a manual car. Obviously you do not have to learn to change gear and work a clutch if you cover your first metres in an automatic. The preparation, that is, getting to know the vehicle, is the same either way.
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How much does the first driving lesson cost?
The first lesson costs the same as the ones that follow, so between 80 and 120 francs. Occasionally you will find offers or discounts for the first one. But that varies from instructor to instructor.
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How long does the first driving lesson last?
Just as with the price, there is no special rule for the length of the first lesson. So it lasts 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the instructor. If you have booked a double lesson to start with, it simply lasts twice as long.
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Experience report: the first driving lesson
Being nervous before the first lesson is completely normal. You do not really know what to expect. «A drive into the unknown», so to speak. To give you more confidence and to pick up some valuable tips, do read the experience report about the first driving lesson in Switzerland.
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Pulling away in your first lesson
In the first lesson you are already driving the car. Here is how to pull away properly with a clutch in your first driving lesson. Why is pulling away so hard when it looks so easy? It comes down to coordination. Pulling away as such is not difficult. What is difficult is watching the traffic while changing gear and steering at the same time. In a lesson you also have your instructor’s voice telling you what to improve.
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What do I have to bring to the first driving lesson?
The instructor brings the car. You should bring the following to the first lesson:
- A valid Lernfahrausweis (learner’s permit)
- Normal shoes and comfortable clothes
- Glasses or contact lenses if you wear them
- Money to pay the driving school
- Motivation
The most important thing by far is to have your Lernfahrausweis with you.
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Why do the first lesson with a driving school or an instructor?
A professional can answer your questions far better and, above all, shows you everything you need to know correctly from the ground up. That is the easiest way to pass the car test. After lessons with a driving school or an instructor, it makes a great deal of sense to consolidate what you have learned in private practice drives.
Compare driving schools near you with the Swiss driving school comparison.
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The essentials in short
So, once again: you have no reason whatsoever to be afraid of your first driving lesson. It is a big step towards your licence, but one on which you always have a guardian beside you who guides and accompanies you professionally and individually. Every driver you meet on your debut drive stood in exactly the same place at some point in their life. Do not forget that.