• You are a resident of Great Britain

• You meet the minimum age requirement

• Your eyesight is of the required standard

• You are not currently prevented from driving for any reason

 

Once you have received your provisional licence, you can start taking practical driving lessons.

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What to Expect on Your First Driving Lesson

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Firstly - Your licence: for your first driving lesson the main thing you NEED to remember is to bring with you your photocard driving licence. Your Driving Instructor will ask you for this document and will need to see it before he/she is legally allowed to give you any driving lessons.

Secondly - the eye test: your Driving Instructor must ensure that your eyesight is at least meeting the minimum Driving Standards Agency eyesight standards, this means being able to read a vehicle number plate in good daylight (with your corrective lenses if you wear them) from 20.5 metres away. Your Driving Instructor will ask you to read a nearby vehicle registration plate before the driving lesson can go any further.  Getting behind the wheel for the first time might seem quite daunting. Your instructor, however, will set you at ease. 
 

Do not worry – no-one is expecting you to drive off onto a busy road the first time you get behind the wheel!

 

Your first lesson will be concerned mainly with introducing you to the controls of the car – what all those levers, buttons, and flashing lights do, plus why & when to use them. 

Your instructor will make sure that you are in a quiet out of the way bit of road before you actually have to do anything at all. 

Initially, you'll probably get to have a go at getting the car moving. Just a few yards down the road and then to a stop. You will not be expected to be changing gears, steering and handling the traffic lights whilst engaging in light-hearted chat. Your instructor will introduce the various controls of the car in easy to manage stages. Over time, you will come to use all of the controls in tandem with each other.

 

Safety First!

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In case the thought of being in control of half a tonne of speeding metal is a little bit nerve wracking, your car will be fitted with dual controls. This means that the instructor has a set of pedals on their side of the car that they can use to take over or help you out if you are struggling. If it looks like you’ve lost control for a moment, they can bring the car to a stop quickly and safely, and give you time to recover your poise.

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Theory Test

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Once you have your Provisional Licence you can book the “Theory Test”.

The test is made up of two sections: a multiple choice and a hazard perception. Both of these sections need to be passed in order for you to get a theory test pass certificate.

You are not able to book a Practical Test date until you have passed the Theory Test.

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For more information regarding the theory test please go to: Theory Test Pro

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The Practical Test

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Once your driving has reached a suitable level, you will want to book a driving test. Availability of driving tests can vary by a number of months depending on the test centre you choose. I will of course be advising you on an on-going basis when the time is right for you to apply.

 

For more information regarding the practical test please go to the official site: Practical Driving Test