Everything You Need To Know About Learning To Drive A Car In The UK
Most people want to learn to drive a car at some point in their lives.
The aim of this lens is to pass on some (hopefully!) helpful advice to anyone wanting to find out more about what's involved in learning to drive a car in the UK.
We run Clearway Driver Training, a driving school in the south of England and have helped hundreds of people pass the UK driving test (details of the services we provide can be found on our main website or click here to contact us).
Learner Drivers - Table of Contents
- Getting A Driving Licence
- Lost, Stolen Or Damaged Driving Licence
- Driving Lessons
- Automatic Or Manual Car?
- How Much Does Learning To Drive Cost?
- How To Choose A Driving Instructor
- How Many Driving Lessons Will I Need?
- Taking Your Theory Test
- Learner Driver Shop
- Taking Your Practical Driving Test
- Learner Driver Advice
- View From The Learner's Seat!
- Learner Driver News
- Useful Links For Learner Drivers
- Driving Lessons Videos
- Learner Driver Comments & Questions
- About Clearway Driver Training
Getting A Driving Licence
You're not allowed to drive on public roads without one!
Everyone who wants to learn to drive on the public road needs to have a suitable licence. For most people, this will be a UK provisional driving licence.You will need to be in possession of a valid signed driving licence before you drive on public roads.
Young Drivers
You may apply for your provisional licence up to two months before your 17th birthday. Just follow the instructions below.
Disabled Drivers
If you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate, you are able to take driving lessons from the age of 16 and may apply for your licence up to three months before your 16th birthday.
Applying For A Provisional Driving Licence
A provisional licence currently costs £50.00.
You can apply for your first provisional driving licence for a car, moped or motorcycle on the DirectGov website
Alternatively, you can apply in person or by post. Simply complete the D1 application form that is available from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) form ordering service or Post Office branches.
Foreign Licence Holders
If you already hold a driving licence issued in another country, there are some quite complex rules as to whether you are able to drive in the UK. For full details on these rules, please see DirectGov-Driving In GB On A Foreign Licence
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Lost, Stolen Or Damaged Driving Licence
You must also report changes in your circumstances that affect your driving licence
You must replace your driving licence if it has been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed.Both the photocard and paper counterpart constitute your driving licence and they should ideally be kept together.
You should take good care of your driving licence as it is an important document and is widely acceptable as proof of identity - losing or throwing away the paper part of your driving licence could easily leave you vulnerable to identity fraud
YOU MUST PRODUCE BOTH THE PAPER AND PHOTOCARD PARTS OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE WHEN YOU TAKE BOTH THE THEORY AND PRACTICAL DRIVING TESTS - IF YOU DO NOT PRODUCE BOTH PARTS OF YOUR LICENCE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE EITHER TEST AND YOU WILL LOSE THE FEE YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE TEST
You can apply for a replacement driving licence online, by telephone or by post.
Fee For A Replacement Driving Licence
The fee for a duplicate driving licence is £17.50
How To Apply For A Replacement Driving Licence
The DVLA accepts the following forms of payment for online or phone applications; Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard and Maestro.
Apply for a replacement driving licence online
Telephone - 0870 240 0009 (Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.30 pm or Saturday 8.00 am - 5.30 pm)
For full details of how to apply for a replacement driving licence, please see DirectGov-Duplicate driving licence, replacing if lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed
You must also report any changes affecting your driving licence to the DVLA such as change of address, change of name etc - for more details, please see DirectGov - Change of name and address on your driving licence
Driving Lessons
You'll need some driving lessons...but who should you have them with?
So you have your provisional licence and you are now wanting to start learning how to drive.You have several options as to how to go about learning:
You could learn with a friend or family member
This person, however, must be over the age of 21 and must have held (and still hold) a full licence for three years for the class of vehicle you wish to drive. Be aware, however, that this person may well not have the experience, knowledge or training to be able to teach you all of the skills required to pass a driving test, let alone to become a safe driver.
As a learner driver you must display 'L' plates ('L' or 'D' plates in Wales) in a visible and prominent position on the front and rear of the vehicle you are driving.
Also, the vehicle will need to be insured for you to drive as a learner driver.
Advantages
1.Lessons will not cost you much, if anything - The accompanying driver is not allowed to charge you for their tuition.
2.You can learn in your own car.
3.Flexibility for times of lessons - You are not restricted to booking up lessons in advance with an instructor.
Disadvantages
1.You will have to pay the insurance costs to allow you to drive the car as a learner. This may cost quite a lot.
2.You will almost certainly not have dual controls in the vehicle meaning that your accompanying driver cannot help if you get into difficulties.
3.Bad habits passed on - Your accompanying driver may not practice good driving habits and cause you to learn the incorrect way to do things. This could cost you dearly on your test.
4.Your accompanying driver may well not be aware of current practice or be up-to-date with current legislation.
5.Lack of experience - If you are struggling with a particular skill, your accompanying driver is unlikely to have the experience necessary to adapt their teaching to overcome the problem.
6.Can lead to rows - Mistakes may lead to disagreements which can cause friction in families and friendships.
You could take sessions on a driving simulator
This is a computer simulation of driving that uses actual car components to simulate the experience of driving. However, the simulators are unable to provide any tactile feedback to the user and most people find that actual on-road driving lessons are more beneficial and better value.
Advantages
1.Simulator Sessions are cheaper than on-road driving lessons.
2.You can start on the simulator long before you reach seventeen.
3.You can learn the basics before taking lessons.
4.Mistakes don't matter.
5.A good way to gain confidence before starting on-road lessons.
Disadvantages
1.The simulator cannot tailor its teaching to your individual needs.
2.The simulator is very basic and cannot teach you more complicated techniques or skills.
3.The controls have no "feel" and do not really give the same experience as driving a real car on the road.
4.A driving simulator cannot ever teach you all you need to know and you will need to get on road eventually.
5.The simulators are few and far between.
You could take lessons with a Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or Potential Driving Instructor (PDI)
ADIs are all trained and tested to rigourous standards and are better equipped than anyone to teach you the relevant skills needed to pass your driving test and, more importantly, to become a safe driver for life.
In order to qualify as an ADI, driving instructors need to pass three separate exams. An ADI will display a green badge in the windscreen of their tuition vehicle.
Some trainee instructors elect to obtain a short-term trainee licence in order to gain experience whilst they study for the third exam. These instructors are known as PDIs and display a pink badge in the windscreen of their tuition vehicle. It is important to note that a PDI has not yet passed the third exam which is a test of their instructional ability.
If you are paying someone to teach you to drive, they must be approved and registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Only a PDI or ADI are allowed to offer driving instruction for money.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) check the standards of all ADIs on a regular basis
Advantages
1.You can have confidence that your instructor is up-to-date on all aspects of driving.
2.Your instructor will tailor their tuition to suit you as an individual.
3.Your instructor will use a dual-controlled car so that he/she can help you if you get into difficulties.
4.Most tuition vehicles are modern, well-maintained and equipped with numerous safety features.
5.You can be sure that the tuition vehicle is suitably insured
6.Your instructor will be able to advise you what training aids to use, when you are ready to take your theory and practical tests and how best to practice with a suitable accompanying driver if this is possible.
Disadvantages
1.Learning with an ADI or PDI will cost you more money than the other two options. However, this is offset by the increased likelihood of you becoming a safer driver and passing your test sooner.
2.Learning with an ADI or PDI is less flexible as you have to fit-in with their diary and commitments to other pupils.
3.Learing with a PDI could leave you needing to change instructor if they do not pass their final exam before their short-term pink licence expires. They cannot then carry on teaching.
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Automatic Or Manual Car?
Which to choose...
What's the difference?Well, very simply put these are the differences;
A manual car has gears and three foot pedals, including the clutch that is operated with the left foot. You have to change up and down the gears yourself. If you pass your driving test in a manual transmission car, your driving licence will permit you to drive both manual and automatic transmission vehicles.
An automatic car has an automatic gearbox that changes the gears for you and only two foot pedals which are operated with the right foot. This makes learning in an automatic a popular choice by learners who find it difficult to get used to the gears and clutch when driving a manual car or for older or disabled learner drivers. If you pass the practical driving test in an automatic car you will not be licensed to drive a manual. If you pass in a manual you can drive both legally.
Here's a link to some useful info for those who are not too sure of what's involved in driving automatic vehicles - Driving An Automatic Car
Most people learn to drive in a manual car.
There are far more driving instructors who teach in manual cars than teach in automatic cars, so it may be more difficult to find an instructor and lessons in an automatic car tend to be more expensive.
Altough it may seem far easier to not have to worry about gears and a clutch pedal, in reality, most people have few problems mastering them and after you pass your driving test, there is a much wider range of vehicles available than if your restrict yourself to automatic.
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How Much Does Learning To Drive Cost?
Some things you can't avoid paying for and some things may turn out more expensive than you thought...here's some good advice...
How much does learning to drive cost?You may as well ask "How long is a piece of string?" :D
There's no simple answer and no magic formula to work it out...it depends on lots of things!
The overall cost of learning to drive will vary from one person to another. Variables include whether you fail your Theory or Practical tests and have to take them again, what area of the country you live in as driving lesson prices vary throughout the country, how many lessons you need, whether you can get any private practice, etc.
Here's some of the most important things you should take into account;
Driving licence
Everyone who wants to learn to drive legally in the UK MUST have a valid provisional driving licence. The current cost of a UK provisional licence is £50.00. As this is a fee payable to a Government department it's not negotiable and it's unavoidable. Once you pass your test though, your provisional licence is upgraded to a full licence for no further cost.
Test Fees
Also unavoidable and non-negotiable are the costs of the two statutory tests. Currently the Theory Test costs £30.00 and the Practical Test costs £56.50 on weekdays during the daytime, or £67.00 weekday evenings and weekends (see Driving Test fees for full info)
Insurance
If you don't take lessons with a driving instructor, you need to ensure that the vehicle you are using is properly insured for you to learn in it, which may entail some cost.
Driving lesson prices
If you take lessons from a driving instructor, the fees charged for lessons vary throughout the country and from instructor to instructor. Many instructors will give some kind of discount to those paying in advance and block booking a course of lessons rather than paying as you go. Some will also give other discounts such as discounted introductory lessons or discounts for students or those in certain types of low income professions etc. Discounts are entirely at the discretion of the individual instructor or driving school, so it's usually worth asking whether any discounts are offered.
Sometimes however, you'll come across driving lessons offered for well below the average lesson rate in an area. If you're on a budget, this may seem like the answer to your prayers, but offers along the lines of "5 Lessons For £25" may well turn out to be much less of a bargain than they seem at first sight...price is only one factor you should consider when choosing a driving instructor...(see the section - How To Choose A Driving Instructor for more advice on what else to look for.)
How Many Lessons
The Driving Standards Agency guideline states that "Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private practice..." (see the section further down the page - How Many Driving Lessons Will I Need? for more details.)
Remember...both the Theory Test and the Practical Driving Test are very challenging and require a significant amount of preparation. Don't under-estimate what is involved...thorough preparation and a realistic approach to the cost, timescale, complexity and your own level of competence is far more cost effective than inadequate preparation and/or taking the tests before you are ready
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How To Choose A Driving Instructor
Detailed information on how to choose a driving instructor, how to tell if a driving instructor is registered or illegal, how to tell the difference between a qualified driving instructor and a trainee, what is the difference between an ADI and a PDI etc
Back To TopClick on the link below for more information about how to choose a driving instructor or driving school
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How To Choose A Driving Instructor
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Everyone has heard horror stories about "Driving Instructors From Hell". Instructors who shout at their pupils or belittle them...instructors who spend half the lesson on their mobile phone...instructors who turn up late or not at all...instructors...
How Many Driving Lessons Will I Need?
Remember...everyone is different...
On their website, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) state "Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private practice. Learners who prepare this way, with a combination of plenty of professional training and plenty of practice, do better in the test."In reality, everyone is different and learns at their own pace. The above information should only be used as a guide. Some people will need longer and some people need less.
Your instructor will be able to advise you how many hours tuition overall you are likely to need as your lessons progress.
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Taking Your Theory Test
Detailed information about what's involved in the Theory Test, how to prepare for the Theory Test, how to book a Theory Test, where you can take a Theory Test etc
Back To TopIf you are a learner driver you must take and pass your theory test before you book your practical test.
Click on the link below for more information about the Theory Test
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UK Driving Theory and Hazard Perception Test
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Since July 1996, all UK learner drivers have had to pass a theory test before being allowed to take their practical test. In 2002, a hazard perception element was added to the existing multiple choice element and you must now take and pass both of t...
Learner Driver Shop
Buy learning to drive theory and practical test training materials online...
Taking Your Practical Driving Test
Detailed information about what is involved in the driving test, how to prepare for the driving test, how to book a driving test, where you can take a driving test etc
Back To TopThe practical driving test is a test of ability to drive a car without assistance from an instructor or accompanying driver.
Click on the link below for more information about the UK driving test
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UK Practical Driving Test (Cars)
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The practical driving test is a test of ability to drive a car without assistance from an instructor or accompanying driver. It covers a range of situations and road conditions and involves demonstrating ability to manoeuvre the car safely in both fo...
Learner Driver Advice
"How-To" Learn To Drive A Car Information
Back To TopClick on the links below for more information about the stated topics
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Becoming A Driving Instructor In The United Kingdom
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We've all seen the glossy TV adverts with smiling driving instructors, nice shiny cars and the promises of earning lots of money and having the freedom to work the hours you choose. All you need is a driving licence and to complete their training c...
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UK Practical Driving Test (Cars)
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The practical driving test is a test of ability to drive a car without assistance from an instructor or accompanying driver. It covers a range of situations and road conditions and involves demonstrating ability to manoeuvre the car safely in both fo...
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UK Driving Theory and Hazard Perception Test
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Since July 1996, all UK learner drivers have had to pass a theory test before being allowed to take their practical test. In 2002, a hazard perception element was added to the existing multiple choice element and you must now take and pass both of t...
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How To Choose A Driving Instructor
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Everyone has heard horror stories about "Driving Instructors From Hell". Instructors who shout at their pupils or belittle them...instructors who spend half the lesson on their mobile phone...instructors who turn up late or not at all...instructors...
View From The Learner's Seat!
An excellent blog written by a learner driver...
Michelle Kendall is a uni student - she's also currently learning to drive. She writes a regular blog about her experiences and observations about driving...well worth a read!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLearner Driver News
My blog!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byUseful Links For Learner Drivers
Websites with useful information and online help for those learning to drive in the UK
- Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
- The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) handles all matters to do with your driving test. This includes the booking of theory and practical tests and the regulation of driving instructors. On the DSA website, you can book theory and practical tests and find a wealth of information about driving and the learning process
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) handles registration of vehicles and drivers and is the Agency you will need to apply to for your provisional driving licence. Once you have your own car, they will also be the Agency who administer the Registration Document (V5) and Road Fund Licence of the vehicle.
- Motoring : Directgov
- Information and services about car drivers, motorcyclists, driving licences, driving tests, towing a caravan or trailer, medical rules and online services
- The Highway Code : Directgov - Travel and transport
- Read the official 2007 edition of The Highway Code
- UK Department for Transport | THINK! Road Safety - Welcome to the THINK! web site
- The Govenment's Think! Road Safety website contains information and news on the latest campaigns and road safety advice. The Think! magazine may be read on this site.
- Driver Training Today - driver training community with UK driving schools directory, ADI chat room and learner drivers forum.
- Driving schools directory, information for learners and and active forums.
- LearnerTalk - Learner Drivers Forum
- LearnerTalk is a community forum for Learner Drivers to chat about the UK Theory Test, Hazard Perception and Driving Test
- 2Pass for driving direction, driving schools and driving test preparation.
- Driving direction and driving school information for your driving test & beyond.
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Driving Lessons Videos
.....Clearway Driver Training do not guarantee, endorse or recommend any information, products or services available via any 3rd party sites and any links to external sites are provided for information purposes only...
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Learner Driver Comments & Questions
Amy comments or questions about any aspect of learning to drive in the UK? Ask below and we'll do our best to help...
Messages will be vetted by an administrator before appearing below
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CDT
Hi Louise Posted March 13, 2008 |
louise
my i am learning to drive in a manual car, my partner has a automatic liecence can he take me out
Posted March 13, 2008
About Clearway Driver Training
We run a driving school in the south of England. Here's all about us...
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