Do I Need to Read Before Learning to Drive

At that place are more than than 45 one thousand thousand drivers on the roads in the United kingdom, and counting - but to be part of the social club you accept to first become your driving licence.

Acquiring your driving licence tin can be a lengthy (and expensive) process, merely at that place's no need to experience daunted.

In this comprehensive guide, nosotros answer your questions nearly learning to drive and outline all the steps you need to take to laissez passer your examination.

Footstep one: applying for your provisional driving licence

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Before you can even think about driving, some admin needs doing - y'all need to utilize for your provisional driving licence.

When tin you use for a provisional driving licence?

You can do this at any time once you're over xv years and 9 months old but it merely becomes valid when you plough 16.

What does your provisional licence permit you to do?

With a provisional licence you lot can:

• At xvi brainstorm the process of learning to ride a moped or low-cal quad bike
• At 17 begin the process of learning to bulldoze a motorcar

You lot cannot:

• Bulldoze in a motorcar without a driving instructor or someone else who fits the legal criteria

How do you apply for a provisional licence and how much does it cost?

The easiest way to utilize is through the provisional driving licence page on the official GOV UK website.

To get a conditional licence you will demand:

• To be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
• Provide a legitimate form of ID (normally a passport)
• Provide addresses for where you have lived over the last three years
• Pay £34 by credit or debit card

Your provisional licence should arrive inside a week.

At the same time, information technology's a good thought to offset reading the Highway Lawmakingand begin familiarising yourself with it in preparation for step iv, taking your theory test.

Step two: finding a good driving instructor

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Finding a good driving instructor is invaluable.

While it might be tempting to save money and inquire a friend or relative to teach you, it could be a false economic system.

An expert will accept a much ameliorate idea of what's expected from you in the test, and the ability to improve your skills over time – and save heated arguments with your friends and family in the process.

Also, a fully qualified teacher will have their own car to teach you lot in which will have dual controls.

Dual controls are where the instructor has their own clutch and brake pedals in the rider footwell, and are able to accept over or help out with the controls if they experience y'all demand it at any signal.

The most important thing when picking an teacher is choosing someone who makes you feel comfy and happy in the driver's seat, remember yous may be spending potentially 40 hours in a car together!

If you exercise choose a friend or family member they will take to be over the age of 21 and have held a licence for at least 3 years.

Where to discover a good instructor

The all-time manner of finding a good instructor is through recommendations.

If you're a young driver, you'll probably know lots of people who are learning to drive at the same time – enquire them if they'd recommend their instructor.

If you cannot discover anyone suitable on recommendation and so you tin can use the Canonical Driving Instructor page on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency'southward (DVSA) website.

This database locates all of the approved instructors local to your area, all yous demand to do is type in your post code.

How much should I pay for driving lessons?

Typically, driving instructors accuse effectually £20 to £25 per hour for pedagogy.

The boilerplate learner driver requires around 45 hours of lessons before being examination-ready, simply everyone learns at different rates.

Should I learn in a manual or an automatic?

When looking for an teacher consider what automobile they use. Is information technology a manual or an automatic?

While automatics are easier to drive, you won't legally be able to drive a manual if you pass in an automated.

Unless you've got disabilities preventing you from driving a manual, a manual licence volition offer you more flexibility in the hereafter and you lot can normally notice much cheaper manual cars for your first car.

For more information to help you cull whether you want to go transmission or automatic, read our pages advice pages:

• How to drive a transmission car
• How to drive an automatic car

Exercise I need learner driver insurance?

The average learner requires 20 hours of additional do outside of their driving lessons, then if you're practicing with family or friends to complement your lessons you lot may want to consider learner commuter insurance.

Learner commuter insurance offers flexible brusque-term encompass and can often be purchased past the mean solar day, week or month, and in some cases by the hour for learners wishing to do on a more advertisement-hoc footing.

This additional exercise will normally be done in either yours, a friend's or a parent'due south auto, pregnant you volition need to be insured as yous are backside the bike without an instructor.

You volition also need to be accompanied by a qualified driver who is appropriately insured on the vehicle you're learning in.

Get a quote

Step three: starting your driving lessons

For most people, starting their driving lessons will be the starting time time they have been in the driver's seat of a car with other cars on the road too (no Legoland doesn't count!), then information technology can feel a little daunting.

Just the right instructor will easily guide you through it and will start you lot off on very repose roads.

For the showtime lesson they will almost likely bulldoze you somewhere where they know there won't exist too much traffic.

How many lessons should I have?

The average learner needs 20 hours of practise to pass the driving test, in improver to 45 hours of driving lessons.

This is only an average though and shouldn't be something y'all feel you lot have to compare yourself to.

Some take fewer and some accept longer to feel comfortable and ready to take their test - the important thing is to take the examination when y'all are ready, not being the first 1 out of your friends to laissez passer.

Your teacher will let you know when you are set, but about of the time you lot volition feel information technology too - when the time comes you can both come to the conclusion together and so discuss how best to prepare for your test.

Should I take an intensive form?

Intensive courses (otherwise known as the poorly named 'crash class') volition give you the best adventure of passing your driving examination in the shortest amount of time.

These are normally flexible courses of extended one-on-i tuition with the aim of passing you in equally little fourth dimension every bit possible.

They typically work to your schedule with an teacher devising a lesson plan or offering you lot a range of pre-designed plans suited to your upkeep and availability.

Notice out more about intensive driving courses and whether they're right for you.

Pros	Cons
Can teach people to drive in as little as a calendar week from complete novice	Some people may feel rushed and aren't comfortable learning in this blazon of surround
Within the package, most costs for intensive courses will cover everything, including your theory and practical tests	They do involve a high initial cost outlay
They are perfect if you are in a rush or on a tight schedule, for example when trying to pass earlier leaving for uni or starting a task	You need to ensure you take a free block of time to complete - most people have other commitments like piece of work or college to consider
Many courses offer a free retest should you in fact fail the practical examination	Some people feel pressured to pass under these constraints which affects their ability to perform to the best of their abilities
Are usually flexible and will piece of work to your schedule	Practice not offering as much flexibility equally planning your weekly lessons yourself
Some offer residential intensive courses, to ensure in that location are no distractions to provide complete focus on learning to drive	They are hard piece of work and require a swell deal of focus, commitment and dedication

What should I take with me on my first lesson?

For your first lesson yous will need:

• Your provisional licence
• A positive, can-practise attitude ☺

Six driving lesson tips

Starting your driving lessons is an heady time, but to really brand the well-nigh of them and maximise your value for coin follow our 6 driving lesson tips.

• Before you start

  Before your starting time driving lesson, go familiar with The Highway Code.

  This will requite you a skilful understanding of the rules of the road before you get backside the wheel.

  And most importantly before your kickoff lesson - get a good nighttime's sleep and make sure you are fresh and ready to learn when your instructor arrives.

• Wear the correct footwear

  It's easier to control the pedals wearing comfortable shoes. Heavy boots can arrive hard to perfect driving techniques and heels will get scuffed and give you less control. Choose sparse, narrow shoes to give you the necessary 'feel' on the pedals.

• Practice betwixt lessons

  The average learner needs xx hours of exercise to pass the driving test, in addition to 45 hours of driving lessons. Once y'all've started learning, ask your teacher for advice about when y'all are prepare to start practising betwixt lessons.

  You tin can practice driving between lessons while accompanied by anyone who is over 21 years old and has held a total British driving licence for at least iii years, but both of you lot must be insured to drive the vehicle you're in.

  You can get curt term learner driver insurance encompass here.

  Call up to go on things simple – if, for instance, you haven't even so been taught how to tackle roundabouts by your teacher, attempt to avoid roundabouts during your practice drives.

• Longer and more than frequent lessons get you lot at that place faster

  Information technology is recommended that y'all book a minimum of one ii-hour lesson per week when you start learning to drive.

  As you progress yous may find that two or more lessons a week suit yous better. Your instructor will offering the best guidance on the right stride for yous.

• Mock tests are great!

  Your instructor will almost likely suggest this, but if they don't, inquire to employ i of your lessons leading up to your exam to do a mock/practise driving test.

  This will get you lot used to the idea of taking a test and ready you for what to await on the actual day.

  Doing two or three mocks volition not just make yous vastly more than prepared for the existent exam simply will put you at ease when you get there as well.

• Study for the theory test while you learn to drive

  Studying theory and practice at the same time makes learning both easier.

  Theory gives lots of hints on the all-time fashion of driving and their importance tin be underlined when on the road.

  When you're not practising the practical side of driving, swot for your theory exam.

  Read the Highway Code and take mock tests online.

Learning to bulldoze with a disability

If y'all have a inability, learn with a driving school that that can cater to your needs.

Specialist driving schools offer purposely adjusted cars and trained instructors to aid disabled learner-drivers.

Find out more about driving with a disability.

Pace four: taking the theory examination

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Once you've been learning to bulldoze for a little while, your instructor will probably recommend you lot volume your theory test.

Yous volition complete this alongside your practical lessons, and so you will accept to study in your own time betwixt lessons.

Don't worry though, we will offer tips to help yous practice for this exam in the sections below.

How to volume your driving theory test and how much volition information technology cost?

• You can volume your theory test either:
  • Online, through the book your theory test department of the official GOV Uk website
  • Or over the telephone using a credit or debit card on the number 0300 200 1122
• Information technology costs £23 and there is normally a waiting time of a week or two
• You lot'll have to visit your local theory test centre to take your theory test
• To find your local centre type your postcode into the GOV U.k. website – most medium-sized towns accept a middle

What the driving theory examination consists of

A multiple choice examination

The get-go role of the theory test is a computer-based multiple-selection test consisting of fifty questions on the Highway Code.

You'll have 57 minutes to consummate it, and need to become 43 right to pass.

Make sure yous've prepared, as you would an exam, and you should stand up a very good chance of passing.

A hazard perception test

One time yous've completed the theory examination, you'll have to take a chance perception examination.

This uses 14 video clips, and you lot'll have to click the mouse whenever yous spot a hazard developing.

There are 15 hazards to spot, with at least one on each clip and ii in 1 of the clips. The take a chance clips are silent.

When yous spot a hazard developing you lot can click either the left or right mouse button.

The earlier you spot it the more points you volition get. You tin score between cipher and v with a maximum of 75 (i.e.. 15 hazards 10 5) and to pass y'all need a score of 44.

Yous'll find out straight abroad whether you've passed – and once you take, you'll be able to take your practical test.

How to practice for your driving theory test

In that location are a number of different ways to practise for your driving theory test. From sites to apps we take outlined the best resources beneath so you can observe the right tools to suit you.

Free services

Y'all can take complimentary driving theory mock tests here:

• The Regime site
• Safe Driving For Life
• Toptests
• Theory test online
• The DVLA site

You can also castor up on your route signs knowledge on our very own route signs quiz page.

Paid for services

There is also an official DVSA learning zone you can utilise to tutor you through the exam.

The learning zone offers tips, practice exams, hazard perception tests with an online simulator and the ability to chart your progress.

It is available on all devices, including smartphone, tablet and desktop calculator. Prices are:

• £15 for ane month
• £20 for three months
• £xxx for one yr

Apps

The Official DVSA Theory Examination Kit for Motorcar Drivers, 4.5 stars, £4.99

Android                    Iphone

Driving Theory Examination Genius Britain, 5 stars, Free

Android                    Iphone

Footstep five: taking your applied exam

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Yous've had plenty of lessons, passed your theory examination and your instructor thinks you're ready to take your practical test, allow'south offset with the booking.

How to book the practical driving exam and how much does information technology toll?

This is an eight-step online process which only takes 5 to ten minutes.

The steps you lot will exist guided through ensure you will notice your nearest local examination centre and the earliest available time slot, there is unremarkably upwards to a four week waiting list but this can increment depending on how busy the appointments system is.

Before clicking on the link beneath and starting your booking process yous volition need the following items:

• Your United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland driving licence number (found on your provisional licence)
• A credit or debit menu - it costs £62 on weekdays and £75 on weekends
• Your driving instructor's personal reference number - this is to bank check if they're bachelor should you wish them to nourish the test with you - which is ofttimes recommended

Y'all tin book your practical exam online hither on the Government'south portal, just click the 'starting time now' button.

There is besides an option on the GOV page to wait for driving test cancellations, this will allow you to potentially book an earlier appointment if someone else cancels their appointment before yours.

There is no alert organisation for this and then if you lot are eagerly awaiting the chance to book one of these 'cancellation appointments' you volition need to bank check their availability regularly, we suggest daily.

When is the best time to book a driving test?

In that location's plenty of discussion about when y'all should book a examination to give yourself the best risk of success depending on the flavour, the day of the week and even the fourth dimension of solar day.

But what's the truth?

In terms of flavour, taking your examination in winter plainly means more chance of icy roads or snowfall, so you might want to wait until the weather warms up a piddling.

Taking your test on a weekday may mean navigating rush-hour and school-run traffic, but recollect that Sabbatum tests are more than expensive.

Generally speaking, you lot have more than chance of passing a exam exterior of rush hour every bit in that location are fewer cars on the road and less congestion – significant less likelihood of existence distracted by those around you.

If this sounds like you, try and book a slot in the middle of the morning or afternoon, or in summer after the evening rush 60 minutes.

Inevitably, the all-time driving test slot depends on you.

If you experience confident about driving on wintry roads during the morning rush hour, and so you may be fine booking your examination for and then.

So, remember carefully and choose what'due south all-time for you lot.

What do you demand to take with you for your driving examination?

You'll demand to bring your:

• Theory test pass certificate
• Provisional driving licence

How long does the test concluding?

The driving examination lasts around 40 minutes.

What does the driving examination involve?

There are five steps to your applied driving test.

Changes to the driving test were made in December 2017, these have been reflected beneath.

Five parts of the driving test

• Sight check

  First, you'll be asked to read a number plate of a random car from 20 metres away to bank check your eyesight.

  If you cannot practise this you cannot take your exam.

• Show me tell me questions

  And then your examiner will ask you 2 'tell me' questions nearly vehicle checks you should acquit out before driving, such as: 'tell me how you would check that the headlights and tail lights are working', before you lot go far the car

  Subsequently in the test, while you lot are driving, your examiner will ask you a 'show me' question, such as: 'show me how to demist your windscreen'.

  Here is a full listing of the possible show me tell me questions.

• Full general driving power

  Yous'll drive in diverse road and traffic weather, but non on motorways.

  The examiner will give you lot directions that you should follow. Driving test routes aren't published, so yous tin can't check them before your test.

  You'll also be asked to safely pull over and safely pull away during this part of the test, this may include:

  • Normal stops at the side of the road
  • Pulling out from behind a parked vehicle
  • A hill start

  You lot might also be asked to carry out an emergency cease.

• Reversing your vehicle

  The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:

  • Parallel-park at the side of the road
  • Park in a bay – either driving in and reversing out or reversing and driving out (your examiner will tell y'all which to exercise)
  • Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, contrary for two car lengths and rejoin the traffic

• Independent driving

  For this section roughly a fifth of drivers taking their exam will be asked to drive for about 20 minutes past post-obit either:

  • Traffic signs
  • A series of verbal directions
  • A combination of both

  You lot are not allowed to use a sat nav.

  The majority volition be asked to follow directions using a sat nav, withal.

  The driver will have to follow directions for around 20 minutes. Although, if yous practise become confused, yous can ask the examiner for confirmation of where yous're going.

  If you make a mistake and drive in the incorrect direction, you will not be penalised unless yous make a fault while doing so.

Y'all won't find out how you lot've done until you get back to the examination centre, when the examiner will discuss his/her observations with you.

You'll and so be given a pass or neglect certificate.

How many minors and majors can I get?

You can make up to fifteen minors faults and pass your driving test, however, i major fault volition authorize for an instant neglect.

15 driving exam tips

Can I bulldoze home from the examination centre if I pass?

You can drive immediately after you pass your exam, as long equally you are correctly insured for the automobile yous want to bulldoze.

Your learner commuter insurance will stop as soon every bit you have passed, and so you'll need to have out a total almanac auto insurance policy if you lot wish to bulldoze away from the exam centre.

As a showtime time driver your insurance will likely be quite expensive, Black Box car insurance can help yous relieve money as it rewards safe driving, and tin can help to bring downwards your future premiums.

You'll also want complete peace of listen if your vehicle breaks down. Luckily the RAC has a broad range of breakdown embrace packages available, which will requite y'all comprehend at dwelling and at the roadside every bit standard.

Driving test FAQs

• Later passing my exam, how long until I get my full licence?

  One time you've passed, y'all (or your examiner) can arrange to transport off your provisional (green) licence to the DVLA, who will then upgrade it to a full (pinkish) driving licence.

  This process tin can take upwards to three weeks in total, although you don't have to await until you've received your new licence to start driving – you can drive straight away every bit long as your car is taxed and insured!

  If you haven't received your licence inside iii weeks, contact the DVLA.

• How long until I can drive subsequently passing my driving exam?

  If you've but passed your exam, you lot'll be pleased to know you are legally able to bulldoze home from the test center should you cull to, every bit long every bit your car is taxed and correctly insured.

  That said, following the adrenaline rush of actually passing your exam, you may prefer being driven abode past your examiner and so you're not also distracted on the journeying home.

• Can I change my driving exam?

  Aye, you can – simply use the Gov.uk tool to motion your driving examination date. You can also utilize this tool to find an before exam engagement (also known equally a cancellation appointment).

  You lot'll need your driving licence number and driving exam reference number (or theory test pass document number), which will be on the letter you received when you passed your theory test.

• How many times can I alter my driving test date?

  Using the Gov.united kingdom tool, yous can reschedule your driving test up to 6 times. Any more than than that and you'll need to abolish your test completely and re-book it.

• How tin I pass my driving examination quickly?

  There is no sure-fire short-cut to passing your driving test – y'all merely need to build up the experience and confidence behind the bike to bear witness to an examiner that you lot're good plenty to pass your test.

  However, if yous want to quicken the process you might want to consider taking an intensive driving course, which includes a high number of lessons over a short flow of fourth dimension – oftentimes a couple of weeks or even a few days.
  For more than information on intensive driving courses and to find whether they're right for you, read our complete guide.

• Subsequently passing my driving exam, when can I drive on a state highway?

  Straight away – at that place are no restrictions on motorway driving for newly qualified motorists.

  If y'all're not feeling confident nigh driving on motorways yet, fifty-fifty though you've passed your test, you lot may desire to consider a Laissez passer Plus grade.

  However, learner drivers are now allowed to drive on motorways so you tin can get some practice in while you're still learning.

• How long after failing my driving test exercise I have to await before taking it over again?

  If you fail your driving exam, you tin book some other one directly away. However, you will take to pay over again, and you tin merely cull a engagement at least ten working days away from the original test date.

• Why do I keep failing my driving exam?

  At that place could be a number of reasons you keep failing your exam, from bad luck with congestion to a simple mistake when making a manoeuvre. Just it'south important you identify what you're weakest on and work on that.

  It might sound simple, merely when it comes to driving, practice actually does make perfect. Then, go out behind the bike and practice until you experience comfortable driving along roads used in the examination road and undertaking all the manoeuvres.

  If you get nervous in a test situation, practising on the test route can assistance, as can getting used to driving with people other than your instructor or examiner, such as a family member who is legally appropriate.

• Is it easier to pass an automatic driving test?

  That depends on your ability in an automatic car. Driving an automatic may seem simpler as you don't accept to worry about changing gears only you however demand to be well-versed in all aspects of the practical test to stand up a risk of passing.

  Remember too that if you pass in an automatic motorcar, you won't and then exist qualified to drive a transmission.

• Is a driving test hard?

  Driving tests are designed to ensure learner drivers take the skills and knowledge to be able to drive without whatever outside instruction or management, so they're supposed to be rigorous.

  There are plenty of variables in a test state of affairs – from congestion and traffic to weather and fretfulness – so the best way to brand things every bit easy as possible is to do alee of time to ensure you lot're as prepared as you can exist.

• Does driving get easier?

  The more yous practice a certain skill, the better and more confident you go – and driving is no different. And so the all-time fashion to make driving seem easier is to get behind the bike and do as much as you can.

• What happens if you fail your driving test iii times?

  At that place is no set limit on the corporeality of times you can attempt your driving exam, so if you've failed iii times, yous can choose to continue trying if you want to and tin can afford information technology.

• How many people pass their driving test first time?

  According to stats from the DVSA, but 47% of drivers passed their examination on the first attempt, significant you're more likely to fail the first time circular. So, don't go too disheartened if you have to have more than ane try at passing.

Do I Need to Read Before Learning to Drive

Source: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/how-to-pass-your-driving-test/

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