If you have any questions about learning to drive, please see if any of the questions below help. If you can not find the answer you are looking for, please use our contacts page to see how we can help!
Q. How old do I have to be to drive a car on the roads?
A. You must be 17 years old or older. you may drive on your 17th birthday if you have a valid provisional licence.
Q. What licence do I need?
A. You must hold a valid provisional licence photocard, (green in colour) or valid older style paper licence, please check the expiry date on this! International licence hold, please check with the DVLA (driving licence authority) for current regulations. www.dvla.gov.uk. if you wish to apply for a provisional licence, you will need to complete a D1 form, which you can get at any post office.
Q. Who can teach me to drive?
A. Anybody over the age of 21 and they must have held a FULL driving licence for AT LEAST 3 YEARS, failing to comply with this may face criminal proceedings against both the driver and the person accompanying you.
Q. Can I learn in my own car?
A. Yes you can, but the car must be insured for you to drive, the car must be roadworthy, have a valid tax disc and current MOT certificate, the car MUST also have L plates displayed on both the front and back of the car (please do not place them in the window as you cannot see and is also illegal) your accompanying driver must have an internal rear view mirror for their sole use.
Q. Do I need to have a Driving Instructor?
A. No! as mentioned above anybody can teach you to drive, the question you have to answer, who has the training?, the patience?, the skills of teaching you? the safely and legally equipped vehicle? and has the knowledge of the driving test? There are some simple skills that you will be required to demonstrate on your test, if you have not been taught them you will not pass. It is the driving instructors job to know what is required of you to pass the test.
Q. Can I pay anybody to teach me to drive?
A. No! only properly qualified Driving Instructors can charge you for your lesson under the law. Driving Instructors must pass 3 exams, these are Theory test including hazard perception, an extended driving test and a test on instructional ability. All three exams have a very high pass mark, there are many drivers who do not become Instructors due to the fact they are not good enough! However we do suggest that if you have somebody that will sit with you in your own car to practice what you have been taught with your instructor, you will be ready for your test a lot sooner than somebody who has not!
Q. How many lessons will I need?
A. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA, the people who set the driving tests) recommend that you do about 40 lessons with a driving instructor, plus plenty of private practice, We feel that every driver has different learning abilities, so it may not be necessary to have as many as 40 lessons!
Q. When will I be ready for my test?
A. Your instructor will tell you and advise you when your ready. You will need to show that you can constantly drive without any help from your instructor. Most people fail their test because they are not quite ready.
Q. What happens when I pass my test?
A. CONGRATULATIONS! is what we'd say! but remember you have got the full licence for a probationary period of 2 years, if you get more 6 points or more within 2 years you WILL have to re-take both the theory and practical driving tests AGAIN! and you will find it hard to find somebody to insure you and when you do it will be very expensive.
Q. What is PASS PLUS?
A. The pass plus scheme was introduced to newly qualified drivers, to give the even more training to make them even better and more aware drivers. You must complete a minimum of 6 hours, and achieved the required standards, the topics covered are: all weather driving, night driving, town/city driving, dual carriage way and motorway driving, and driving on rural roads. At the end of the course you will be rewarded with a certificate, when you insure your car, you could be entitled to up 25% of your insurance premium, (check with your insurance company).