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If you're considering learning to drive and achieving a full UK driving licence, then take it from all of us here at Auto Express that it's something we highly recommend. Not only does it\u00a0open doors which lead to awesome road trips, exciting B road jaunts and a life-long love affair with cars, but perhaps more importantly, it also makes you more attractive to employers and presents you with a level of freedom no other mode of transport can match.<\/p>\n
Even if you are unsure as to whether or not to under take the challenge of learning to drive, we strongly advise you to try it, as the worst case scenario is that you don\u2019t enjoy it and stop. In the best case, you\u2019ll have miles and miles of fun!<\/p>\n
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Top 10 best learner driver cars 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBut the question remains, how to go about learning to drive in the UK? Fortunately, that is exactly where this guide comes in. To make things relatively easy, the path involved in getting from a provisional driving licence to passing your test and pootling down the road all by yourself is fairly well defined. That being said, there are several vital points and procedures that you as a driver need to be aware of along the way, so be sure to read the details below carefully.<\/p>\n
Scroll down the page for our complete guide to\u00a0getting a UK driving licence and\u00a0learning to drive a car. If you need further information in any particular area, we\u2019ve added extra links to the relevant pages.<\/p>\n
The first step on the road to a full UK driving licence is applying for your provisional driving licence. You have to live in Great Britain (there\u2019s a different service in Northern Ireland) and you have to be at least 15 years, nine months old. If you want to drive a car, you\u2019ll need to be at least 17 before you can do so on UK roads.<\/p>\n
There are, however, exceptions to the age limit. You can get a provisional licence and take your car driving test at 16 if you receive the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) that\u2019s made to long-term sick or disabled people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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16-year-olds can also drive some specially-classified lightweight cars with a provisional licence. These \u2018light-quadricycles\u2019 must weigh under 350kg and have a top speed of under 28mph. They\u2019re classified with mopeds and can be driven with a provisional licence after taking the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) that you need to ride a scooter or motorcycle.<\/p>\n
To get your provisional driving licence you must meet the minimum age and eyesight requirements and live in Great Britain. You can then complete the application form, either online or by ordering a hard copy from the DVLA, provide proof of identity and pay the fee. Do all that and your provisional licence will be sent to you in the post.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a provisional driving licence under your belt, you\u2019re free to start learning to drive a car on public roads, but there are strings attached.<\/p>\n
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You must be accompanied at all times by a full licence holder who is over 21, qualified to drive the vehicle you\u2019re driving and has held their licence for three years. You\u2019ll need to display L-plates (D-plates in Wales) and you can\u2019t drive on motorways.<\/p>\n
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Cheapest cars to insure in the UK 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMost learners do a mixture of paid-for driving lessons with a qualified instructor and informal practice with a member of their family or a friend who meets the criteria above. There\u2019s no minimum amount of practice you have to do before taking your driving test, so in theory you could apply for it straight away – but it\u2019s better to get evaluated by an instructor before wasting money on a test appointment you may not be ready for.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
What you will definitely need to do before taking your practical driving test is take and pass your theory test. All you need to take the theory test is your provisional licence, enough cash to cover the fee and a decent grasp of the Highway Code.<\/p>\n
You can book the theory test online or over the phone and it takes the form of a set of 50 multiple choice questions followed by a 75-point hazard perception test. There are free online tests where you can practice both parts of the theory test, but you\u2019ll have to go to the test centre to take the real one and if you fail you have to wait at least three working days before taking it again. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Anyone who has taken the Government\u2019s Safer Road User Award can take a special abridged version of the theory test. It costs a bit less and only has 35 questions instead of the usual 50. They still have to do the hazard perception test, which involves watching 14 video clips of road scenes on a computer screen and identifying hazards. If you pass, you\u2019ll get a theory test pass certificate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now we come to the crunch, the practical driving test. At this point you\u2019re just one hurdle, guarded by a clipboard-wielding examiner, away from a life on the open roads.<\/p>\n
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The history of the driving test <\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo book your driving test you need to have passed your theory test. Then it\u2019s just a matter of supplying your driving licence number and paying the fee. On the day of your test, you\u2019ll need both parts of your provisional driving licence and your theory test pass certificate.<\/p>\n
No matter how skilled you are behind the wheel, the driving test can still be a daunting prospect. The secret is to prepare properly, know what to expect and, if at all possible, try to relax.<\/p>\n
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The practical driving test kicks off with an eyesight check where you\u2019re required to read a car number plate from 20 metres away. Then it\u2019s the two \u2018show me, tell me\u2019 questions relating to vehicle safety and only then do you get behind the wheel.<\/p>\n
The driving ability assessment includes various manoeuvres that your examiner will ask you to perform. It will usually include a hill start, an angled start from behind a parked car and normal braking tests. You\u2019ll usually also be asked to perform either a reverse around a corner, a turn in the road or a reverse park.<\/p>\n
Once that\u2019s out of the way, it\u2019s onto 20 minutes of independent driving by following either directions from a sat nav or road signs.\u00a0The examiner will tell you which you have to follow, and set up the\u00a0sat nav up for you.\u00a0It doesn\u2019t matter if you get lost or go the wrong way, the key is to drive well and safely. \u00a0<\/p>\n
If you make fewer than 15 driving faults and no serious faults over the course of your whole driving test, you\u2019ll pass. Your driving examiner will give you a pass certificate and ask you if you\u2019d like your full licence sent to you automatically in the post.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to wait for the licence to arrive though. You can start driving on your own straight away.<\/p>\n
If you fail, you\u2019ll need to wait at least 10 working days before you can take another test but we hope that doesn\u2019t happen. Good luck from the team at Auto Express!<\/p>\n
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Everything you need to know about learning to drive, getting your driving licence and choosing your first car…<\/em><\/p>\nLearning to drive<\/h3>\n
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Passing your driving test<\/h3>\n