Gus Caledonian LDT

09/03/2026

Congratulations Blair on a superb drive in Hamilton, that's a well deserved licence picked up , brilliant... good luck with everything and hopefully see you out on tbe roads.. 👏👏🚗

06/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Am5a4smi6/

DRIVING YOURSELF TO YOUR DRIVING TEST?

We see this far too often !

Yes. This actually happens.

A learner driver arrived at their driving test centre driving the car themselves.

No supervisor.
No L plates.

Unfortunately, things did not improve from there.

The learner then failed the driving test and made another very poor decision…

They drove away from the test centre alone.

A learner licence does not allow you to drive unsupervised. Not to the test. Not from the test. Not anywhere.

Police stopped the vehicle shortly afterwards.

The car was seized and the learner driver was reported for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

It is a harsh lesson, but an important one.

A provisional licence allows you to drive only when the legal conditions are met.

That means:

🚗 Displaying L plates
👤 Being supervised by a qualified driver
📋 Being properly insured

Passing your test is what gives you the freedom to drive alone.

Until that moment, the rules still apply.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring

05/03/2026

A bit late with the post but congratulations Tania on a fantastic drive in Hamilton to pick up a well deserved licence, controlled those nerves brilliantly ! Good luck with the car and everything else and I'll be seeing you around no doubt... thanks again now.. 🚗🚗

02/02/2026

Big congratulations to Mark, passing his test at the 1st time of asking in Hamilton this morning with an almost faultless drive.. made it look easy and very well deserved ! Good luck with the car and I'll be seeing you about no doubt.. all tbe best..🚗🚗

29/01/2026

Congratulations Abbie, a fantastic drive in in Hamilton yesterday and a 1st time pass at that ! Good luck with car hunting and I'll be seeing you on the roads no doubt . All tbe best now. 🚗🚗🚗

22/01/2026

Congratulations Ashley McLeod.. a near faultless drive yesterday in Hamilton and licence in the bag ! Superb.. good luck with the car and I'll see you around no doubt ...thanks again .🚗🚗

17/01/2026

BEWARE ! FAKE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR CONVICTED OF FRAUD AFTER CHARGING LEARNERS WITHOUT A LICENCE

A married mother-of-three who posed as a fully qualified driving instructor has been convicted of fraud after charging learners thousands of pounds for lessons she was no longer legally allowed to give — despite helping dozens pass their driving tests.

Joanne Sharples, 40, styled herself online as a passionate, patient and understanding teacher, promoting her services to nervous learners across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. But a court heard she continued taking payment for lessons long after her trainee instructor status had expired.

Sharples initially operated lawfully as a trainee instructor and even hired her own dual-control vehicle while completing her training. However, her trainee licence ceased in February 2024 when she failed to pass the final required exams. From that point on, she was no longer entitled to charge for driving tuition.

Despite this, Sharples carried on teaching for a further nine months, continuing to accept money from learners in the Manchester, Irlam and Warrington areas. The fraud only came to light when one learner became suspicious and contacted the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

An investigation revealed that six identified students were left out of pocket by amounts ranging from £668 to £1,300, with Sharples fraudulently taking a total of £6,464. Prosecutors told the court that this amounted to an abuse of trust carried out over a sustained period.

Although there is no legal requirement for learners to take lessons from a qualified instructor, it is a criminal offence to accept payment for driving tuition without being either an approved driving instructor or a licensed trainee working under a driving school.

Sharples admitted fraud by false representation relating to two male and four female learners between February and November 2024. She appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court, where magistrates heard she had never been in trouble before and had no previous convictions.

The court was told that Sharples had helped nearly 50 learners pass their driving tests over time, including her own son, and that many of those successes occurred while she was legally entitled to teach as a trainee. However, the offence related specifically to lessons given after her licence had lapsed.

Prosecutor Andrew Stewardson, acting for the DVSA, said the case involved high culpability because Sharples knowingly continued to charge for lessons she was not authorised to provide, describing it as an abuse of a position of power and trust.

In mitigation, her defence said Sharples was extremely remorseful and had suffered significant anxiety after being exposed. The court heard she became frightened to leave her house, struggled within her local community and wanted to repay every penny taken.

Her lawyer said the offending was financially motivated but driven by pressure rather than greed, explaining that Sharples owed money linked to the hire of the teaching vehicle and felt trapped after failing her final qualification.

Magistrates opted not to impose an immediate custodial sentence. Instead, Sharples was handed a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to repay the full £6,464 within six months.

The DVSA said the case formed part of a wider crackdown on illegal driving instructors, warning that unqualified individuals who charge for lessons put learners and other road users at risk and can face imprisonment.

Officials urged learner drivers and parents to check an instructor’s credentials and report concerns, stressing that approved instructors play a vital role in road safety.

For Sharples, the conviction marks the end of her brief teaching career — and a costly reminder that even well-intentioned deception can still amount to serious fraud under the law.

19/12/2025

Big congratulations to Chelsea , a 1st time pass at Hamilton yesterday with only a couple faults to speak of... brilliant ! Will be seeing you out n about.. thanks again. 🎅🎅🚗

18/12/2025

A great drive from Rhys yesterday in Hamilton... 1st time pass too ! Will be seeing you out there on the roads . All the best. 🎅🚗

17/12/2025

Congratulations Eve on a superb 1st time pass in Hamilton yesterday.. made it look easy ..🚗 all the hard work paying off ! Good luck with the new car and I'll be seeing you out n about no doubt.. all the besr.. 🚗🚗

03/12/2025

Congratulations Gabby, great drive yesterday in Hamilton and a well deserved licence picked up.. good luck with the new car and I'll be seeing you on the roads no doubt ! All the best..🚗🚗

23/11/2025