Before Learning to Drive

The minimum age at which you are allowed to learn to drive a car on public roads is 17. As you probably know, you are not allowed to drive legally on your own until you pass your test. This means whilst learning to drive you will always be accompanied by a qualified driver, and that person must be over 21 and have a full British driving licence that they must have held for three years or more.

You will probably learn to drive in a dual control car with a qualified instructor, this means that the car is set up especially for learner drivers and so that if it is required the instructor can press their own set of brakes to slow the car down for instance.

You must first have a provisional driving licence before you are allowed to learn to drive. There is an application form available for this and you can apply online from the DirectGov website.

There is a minimum standard for eyesight for drivers, and so you should ensure that your eyes are up to the level. If you wear glasses or similar then of course you must ensure that you wear them whilst you are driving.

There are also rules about the vehicle that you are going to drive: it must be taxed and the tax disc must be clearly displayed on the windscreen (nearside corner). Also it must be insured for you to be able to drive and learn to drive in that particular vehicle. Should the vehicle be three years old or more then you will need to ensure that it has an MOT cetificate and finally there must be fixed L-plates on the front and rear so that other drivers are alerted to the fact that the car contains a learner driver (you!)

Related Articles...

driving theory test
Skidding: what to do if you skid
No-one wants to skid, because skidding is a hazard that can lead to potential damage for you and other road users; in other words it is a dangerous situation to be in. However sometimes it...

The day of the theory test
On the day of the theory test you may well feel nervous. As with any test or examination of any kind this is of course natural as everybody is anxious to do their best and to pass the...

Rules for learner drivers
The minimum ages and restrictions vary from one type of vehicle to another. When you are learning to drive, you must ensure that the vehicle you are learning to drive in is roadworthy and also...

Driving Theory Test
Until relatively recently in driving history, there was no theory test. From the time the first person passed a driving test in the UK in 1935 through to 1996, there was no separate theory test. ...

Your driving licence: getting it back
As the New Drivers Act article outlines, if you get six penalty points or more in the first two years of having a licence, then it is revoked and you have to retake both tests: the theory and the...

Road conditions: dealing with fog
Fogs and mists are much more common at some times of the year than others. Particularly in the mornings and in the Autumn time of the year, fog can be commonplace, but whenever it occurs it is...

Insurance for learner drivers
If you wish to learn to drive and you ever plan to use a private car then you need to ensure the car you are going to use has the appropriate cover. There are various levels of cover, the...

The ABC of dealing with casualties
The ABC refers to how to treat casualties if you are involved in an accident but not injured, or indeed if you are at the scene where an accident occurs. The A refers to the word airway. This...

Reading or hearing difficulties and the theory test
If you have some sort of reading difficulty, which might be but is not limited to dyslexia, then do not panic. You can get the questions read to you in English or Welsh (or indeed if you want the...

When to use hazard warning lamps
Hazard warning lamps, are by their nature, lamps that you should not use routinely. However it is important to know when is the correct time to use them, and how to switch them on. They are...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions