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The Group operates a “Skill for Life” programme which costs £200 for cars and £215 for bikes (but subject to review periodically) and includes the following:
From time to time limited promotions may be available, we’ll let you know about any current ones when you enquire. At times we are able to offer discounts for new or inexperienced drivers and riders but we can only give these discounts whilst we have funds, see below for more information.
You can sign up for a “Skill For Life” car course right now, by contacting the Secretary to find out more (07707 035518)
Broadly similar arrangements apply for guidance in preparation for the Advanced Motorcycling Test although the costs are slightly different – have a look at the motorcycle page for more details.
No person who has a conviction pending, including those related to Fixed Penalty Notices can take the test until any potential case has been completed.
After passing the test you automatically become a full member of both the IAM and the Dumfries Group. You will be invited to maintain your membership of the IAM and Dumfries Group annually. For 2024 the annual costs are:
Fees are subject to periodic review.
Drivers who have passed the Advanced Test have a significantly lower accident rate (as much as 50 – 70% better than average) this may allow you to benefit from a range of discounted insurances.
As a member of both organisations you will receive the IAM’s ‘Advanced Driving’ magazine and the Dumfries Group’s magazine ‘Advance’, each published three times a year. These publications cover a variety of driving and riding topics of national and local interest. Additionally membership gives you access to national and local discount schemes.
As for the test, I was informed in advance that there would be more than one other person in the car with me; the Examiner was to be observed by no less a person then IAM’s Chief Examiner for Scotland. No pressure, then!
On the day itself the weather could not have been worse. It had already been raining on and off for weeks, but on this particular day I could have taken the test in a canoe.
I met the test Examiner and the Chief Examiner in a car park in Dumfries with the rain still hammering down. It remained pretty much like that throughout the test. Nevertheless, I kept my cool and just made the best of it. To my surprise, I felt remarkably relaxed, despite the weather conditions and the presence of the ‘Chief’ in the back seat; to be honest, I forgot he was there!
By the end of the test we were back at the car park where the Examiner wasted no time in informing me that I had passed. He briefly discussed the errors I had made during the drive and I was surprised how few there seemed to be.
Now that I am a member of IAM I am determined not only to maintain my standard of driving but to improve upon it. The opportunity to develop my driving skills in this way has been great for me; I would thoroughly recommend the IAM Skills For Life programme to anyone considering doing it. – Kevin
