The Drive With Lilu Collective

05/05/2026

HOW TO SWAP YOUR DRIVING TEST (SIMPLE GUIDE)

⚠️⚠️From 12th May 2026 ⚠️⚠️

You can swap your driving test with another learner if you both already have tests booked and want each other’s slot.

Important rules:

- You can only swap your own test (instructors cannot do it for you)
- You must both agree to swap the exact date, time and test centre
- It counts as 1 of your 2 allowed test changes
- You must request the swap at least 10 working days before the earliest test

Location rules (from June 2026):
You can only swap with someone who is booked at:

- the same test centre
- one of the 3 nearest test centres
- or the centre you originally booked

You must both:

- still have at least 1 change left
- have the same type of test (weekday with weekday, weekend with weekend, etc.)
- check your instructor is available for the new date

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How to swap:

- You must do it by phone only (not online)
- Call DVSA: 0300 200 1122
- Both learners must be available to take the call

During the call:

1. One person calls DVSA
2. You give your details and confirm you agree
3. DVSA contacts the other learner
4. They confirm they agree
5. DVSA completes the swap

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Before calling, make sure you have:

- Your driving licence number
- Your test booking reference
- The other learner’s booking reference

Important:

- Do NOT share personal details with strangers
- DVSA will NEVER ask for full card details

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After swapping:

- You will take the other person’s test slot
- Your booking reference stays the same
- You won’t get a confirmation email straight away

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Final note:
Only swap tests if you are genuinely ready. Don’t rush into an earlier test date without speaking to your instructor first.

04/05/2026

A lot of learners get to a point where they feel test ready because the car control is there. They can move off, change gears, steer nicely, and it all feels smooth. And don’t get me wrong, that matters.

But that’s not what makes you a safe driver.

What I’m looking for isn’t just how well you handle the car. I’m watching how well you read the road.

Can you spot a hazard early
A junction coming up
A blind bend
A pedestrian who might step out

Then once you’ve seen it, do you actually take in what’s around you
What’s behind you
What’s approaching
What space you’ve got

Because whatever you do next doesn’t just affect you. It affects everyone around you. If you brake late, turn suddenly, or hesitate, the cars behind you have to react to that.

So then comes the important bit. What’s your plan

Are you slowing down early
Are you positioning properly
Are you creating space

And finally, are you showing it clearly

Using your speed
Your position
Your signals when needed
That’s the difference

That’s the bit that turns someone from a learner who can drive… into a driver who actually understands what they’re doing

If you can get that under your belt, you’re not just test ready. You’re ahead of most people on the road.

01/04/2026

IMPORTANT UPDATE
There’s been a DVSA update via email to instructors across Nottingham…
Trials are apparently going ahead at Colwick Driving Test Centre from May, with around 1 in 4 tests including:
• Timed manoeuvres (approx 2 minutes 40 seconds)
• Possible return of turn in the road
Being trialled over a 4-month period…
So pupils… we need to get the stopwatch out on lessons!

What are your thoughts on this?

23/03/2026

🚨🚨🚨🚨

17/03/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE – DRIVING TEST BOOKINGS (2026 CHANGES)

There are some important changes coming to the way driving tests are booked and managed. Please read carefully as this will affect all pupils.

📅 From 31 March 2026
Learners can only change their driving test twice.

📅 From 12 May 2026
Only the learner driver will be able to:
• book their test
• change it
• swap it
• cancel it

Driving instructors will no longer be able to manage bookings on your behalf.

📅 From 9 June 2026
You will only be able to move your test to nearby test centres.

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What this means for you:

• You are fully responsible for managing your own test booking
• Cancellation apps and third-party booking services will no longer be allowed
• You must make sure your test works with my availability before booking

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⚠️ Important:

If you would like me to take you to your test, you must:
• check my availability first
• use my ADI number when booking (where applicable)
• be fully prepared and test-ready

If I am not available, or you are not ready, you may need to:
• rearrange your test
• use another instructor
• or attend in your own vehicle

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These changes are designed to make the system fairer, but they also mean you need to take more responsibility for your booking.

If you’re unsure about anything, please ask before making any changes.

16/03/2026

https://www.totaldrive.app/a/enquiry_form.php?17167278746972

For anyone wishing to enquire about driving lessons with me, please follow the link and submit your info direct to my email.

Please note I currently offer Manual Gearbox only and cover the Colwick Test Centre for driving tests.

11/03/2026

Ellie survived interrogation by the Poleese today… somehow. 😂🚔
Proud of her for taking the lesson seriously underneath all the giggles!

28/02/2026

Do you know what to look for when choosing a driving instructor?

🚗 Approved driving instructors (ADIs) and trainee driving instructors must display a certificate in the windscreen of their vehicle when they are providing paid instruction.

They display:
🟢 a green certificate if they’re a fully qualified driving instructor
🩷 a pink certificate if they’re a trainee and are going through the qualification process

Find a registered driving instructor here: https://ow.ly/F7QJ50Yc7Wm

28/02/2026

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRakJHmA/

How GOOD are your driving lessons? Is it time to find a better instructor??

127 likes, 12 comments. “Things to look out for on driving lessons”

14/02/2026

To the Test Centre and Beyond!

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The DWL Collective isn’t just a name — it’s a little driving rebellion, built by me (Lisa, but everyone calls me Lilu) and a crew of learners who were never here for conveyor-belt driving school nonsense.

Whether you’re a total natural, a nervous wreck, or your brain works a bit differently (ADHD, anxiety, quirky as hell — welcome aboard), every lesson is shaped around you.
Your pace. Your progress. Your car.

Here, you’ll get straight talk, real support, and lessons that actually feel human. Awkward moments get normalised, confidence gets built properly, and every win — big or small — gets celebrated.

I’m passionate about what I do, and I’ll push you when you need it — especially on the days you’re doubting yourself. I don’t clock in and drift through lessons; we check in, talk honestly about progress, and make sure every hour behind the wheel genuinely counts.

If you’re up for honesty, banter, and a coach who’s firmly in your corner, you’re in the right place.

Still thinking about it? Legends don’t wait. Book in, join the mayhem, and let’s make the test centre a little less boring.

Lilu
Founder & your biggest cheerleader 🚗✨