FRESH STARTERS

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING DRIVING LESSONS

image of a gear knob, driving school

To drive on a public road, you must be at least 17 years of age. Certain driving schools do offer driving lessons conducted on private land. In this situation, you can start learning to drive at a younger age than 17.

You will need to apply for your provisional driving licence.
The current fee for a provisional driving licence is £34 (2015) and can be applied for in two ways;
ONLINE
The easiest way is to apply on-line. By visiting the official gov.uk website, you can apply for your licence providing you are:
  • Residential in Great Britain
  • Are no younger than 3 months before your 17th birthday
  • Can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
  • Are currently not prevented from driving due to a conviction or health
  • Hold a valid form of identification, for example a UK passport
  • Are able to produce evidence of residence for the previous 3 years

  • BY POST
    Most post offices will be able to provide you with D1 application form for provisional driving licence, Complte it and send to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD. Once you have received your provisional driving licence, you are allowed to start learning to drive.

    Your theory test can be booked and taken once you receive your provisional driving licence.
    Normally there is waiting time for approximately two weeks when booking the theory test.

    1. The driving theory test has two parts:
    2. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS and HAZARD PERCEPTION.

    1. 1. MULITPLE CHOICE
    2. To prepare for theory test you should learn the material mentioned below

      • THE HIGH WAY CODE
        The high way code is essential reading for every driver.
        Most of the rules in the HIGH WAY code are essential. Any driver that disobeys these rules would be committing criminal offence. Which means they might be fined, given penalty points on their driving licence, or be disqualified from driving. In some more serious cases they could even be sent to prison.

      • THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS
        DVSA Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, produces books for learner drivers. The books provide everything a learner driver needs to learn about driving.

    1. 2. HAZARD PERCEPTION
    2. The hazard perception test is part of the theory test and is taken at the same time as the theory test, 15 minutes are allowed to take this part of the test. The objective is to identify 15 hazards on 14 (1 minute long) video clips that will be played, one of the video clips will have two hazards.
      DVSA has developed a training DVD for the hazard perception test called ‘The Official Guide to Hazard Perception’. You can buy the DVD from most high street books shops.

    Once you receive your provisional licence you can start learning to drive with anyone who:
  • Is 21 years or older
  • Is qualified to drive the type of vehicle you are going to learn in
  • Have head a full driving licence for minimum of 3 years
  • You need to make sure that you are covered on the insurance policy as learner driver
  • You must display L plates on the car while learning to drive
  • Plates MUST conform to legal specifications and MUST be clearly visible to others from in front of the vehicle and from behind.