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
Using head restraints
Your car will have head restraints in it, but do you take the time to adjust these before using the vehicle and ensuring they are set at the correct level for you? Head restraints in vehicles are...

How hazard perception scoring works
For each hazard there is a possible score of zero to five that is available. With a total of 15 hazards to find that makes a total possible score of 75 being available on the hazard test. The...

Show me tell me test
If you've not heard of the "show me tell me" test, then this is something that happens at the start of the driving practical test as opposed to on the theory test. They ask one of each of the two...

What causes accidents: pulling out
One of the most typically seen accident that happens between vehicles in and around towns and city centres is the situation where two or more roads join each other. At these there will be...

What happens after the practical test
At the end of the test, you may have had your driving instructor in the back but taking no part in the test. If not, you can call them over before you receive the feedback and result to your...

The risk of accidents - some statistics
No-one wants to think that they will be involved in an accident, but being aware that an accident could happen to you and the statistics is important. Accidents happen to ordinary people, so anyone...

Mock Driving Theory Test
Many learner drivers are in the process of finishing A-levels or at university, and so the process of exams and tests is very familiar to you. For those that tests and exams are a distant memory, a...

What is driving test theory?
Theory is something we understand when it comes to maths or science. A theory is a prediction as to why something that has usually been observed to happen does happen, and scientists use theories...

More on Motorway Driving
Signs that let you know there is a motorway ahead are rectangular, and they have a green background. This shows that they are information signs on a primary road. The part with the reference...

Oil in your car and oil pressure
Oil is not something that you might think is essential to the operation of a car, but infact it is. Oil acts as a lubricant for the moving parts such as the moving parts of the engine, and it is...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions