Got my driving license!!

28 November 2022

I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST! I HAVE A DRIVING LICENSE NOW!!

You cannot imagine how happy I am right now! I was so nervous and anxious a few days before my practical test, that I felt like puking. I almost felt like crying when I heard the traffic inspector said 'godkänt' - that means pass. A huge relief just swept through me. 

When I registered in February 2020, I learnt how to drive manual gear again because my boyfriend's car is a manual. Then, I believed I was ready to take the driving practical test in June 2022. So, I took the theory test in Swedish (I am very proud of myself. Haha!) and I passed at the first attempt. I booked the practical test one month after the theory test just in case if I fail my theory and I need time to resit. I booked the theory and practical tests by myself as I did not register myself with any driving school. Big mistake. I thought it was sufficient to have my boyfriend as a private driving instructor and going with a driving school is so expensive, but he did not teach me some of the required syllabus. Well, I don't blame him. For him, as he can drive, so he did not think of it. Well, he has a book of all the syllabus but he did not read it. Also, I found it annoying each time he commented on my driving skills. So, it is my fault too, in a way, that he did not comment much because he did say that I get annoyed when he comments too much. Haha! I guess it is better to go with a driving school to not ruin the relationship. Anyway, I take full responsibility for my choice. So, I booked the first practical test with a manual car and I failed. I thought it was just bad luck because I booked to drive in an area that I am not familiar with. Then, I rebook a second practical two days later and I failed too. The traffic inspector said that I should consider driving an automatic gear car. I do agree but it made me feel really bad. And I cried of how lousy I was. I hated driving then and the practise drivings became such a burden for me and I dreaded each practise driving. 

For the first two practical tests, a student has an opportunity to book before other students who have failed many times. So, I lost my opportunities and I have to check Trafikverket (The Swedish Transport Administration) website very frequently to find an empty slot and I found one on 28 November just 2 days before the results of my theory test expire. Due to Corona pandemic, the results have a validity of 6 months and after September 2022, the validity is back to the normal 4 months. After the validity period expires, one has to retake the theory test. I do not want to take the theory test again. Who knows if I might fail...

Then, I decided to book myself with a driving school because I cannot afford to fail again. Each practical test costs SEK1300. As I have booked for the practical test at another Trafikverket branch, I looked for a driving school nearby that area. I read from Google that this place has good reviews. It is Nya Järfälla Trafikskola. I did a driving test (for SEK650) with a driving tutor and he said that I needed 15 lessons to break all my bad habits and set new ones. Well, I did not have enough money and time. So, I bought 10 lessons (each lesson is 50 minutes) for 1 month for SEK7800. Two lessons per week. This time with an automatic gear. Different driving schools sell different driving lesson packages. 

Total cost to take a driving license for me: SEK17.614. 

February 2020

1) Handledarkurs (tutor course) so that I can practise driving with my boyfriend - SEK400

2) Riskettan (risk 1 - compulsory) - SEK500 

3) Eyesight test - SEK100

4) Driving books from Blockett - SEK300 (not worth the investment as I did not remember what I read so I bought a driving lesson app that I saw from Instagram!)

27 November 2021

4) Ristvåan (risk 2 - compulsory - drive on slippery road) with Gillinge Driving School - SEK2390

February 2022

5) Driving lesson app Ta Körkort. If you change your phone, you need to purchase the app again. - SEK199 

March 2022

6) Driving test with Råsunda Driving School to gauge my driving skills. The instructor said that I needed 20 lessons but I bought none because I thought he just wanted my money - SEK690

June 2022

7) Theory test registration - SEK325

8) Photo for driving license - SEK80

9) Practical tests (twice so is SEK1300x2) - SEK2600

November 2022

10) Driving test with Nya Järfälla Driving School - SEK650

11) 10 driving lessons with Nya Järfälla Driving School - SEK7800

12) Practical test - SEK1300

13) Fee to make driving license card - SEK280

I am so glad I went with a driving school. 3 days (TODAY!) after my practical test I received in the mail, my driving license!