Learning to drive with a family member or friend

Attaching a learner’s plate to a vehicle is a proud milestone for many drivers who are just starting their lessons. Racking up practice hours behind the wheel is an essential aspect of passing your driving test, but it can be stressful and expensive.

Who can sit with a learner driver?

In this article, we’ll take a look at who can supervise a learner driver and the rules of learning to drive with family and friends.

Who can teach a learner driver?

According to the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), a learner driver requires an average of 47 hours of formal driving tuition and a further 22 hours of additional practice with friends or family.

This means it’s encouraged to get in the car with a parent or friend for private driving lessons. Doing this will help build confidence and become more familiar with operating a vehicle on public roads.

Who can supervise a learner driver?

The majority of learner drivers probably do not own cars, so it’s likely you’ll be practising in a vehicle that belongs to the person supervising you. This could be a parent, sibling, friend or anyone else close.

There is no criteria for what their relationship is to you, but the person supervising you must meet the following legal requirements before letting you behind the wheel:

• Be at least 21 years old (please note to get Tempcover’s learner driver insurance, the person supervising you must be aged over 25)
• Hold a valid UK, Northern Ireland or European Union driving licence
• Held the licence for at least three years
• Be qualified to drive the same vehicle you want to learn in (i.e., manual shift)
• Not currently be banned from driving

If you’re lucky enough to be learning to drive in your own car, the same rules will still apply to the person supervising you. You can read Tempcover’s guide to learner driver rules to find out more.

Do learner drivers need insurance?

It is essential to have the correct insurance when learning to drive and when teaching someone to drive. If you are learning to drive in someone else’s vehicle, carefully check the policy wording as many policies do not automatically cover unnamed additional drivers.

In this case, you need to purchase your own learner driver car insurance policy. It is no secret that it can be very costly for a learner driver to commit to an annual policy, when all you really need is something flexible that covers you as and when you need it.

This is where temporary learner insurance adds real value, as you can select cover that’s flexible to suit your schedule and budget. Policies start from just 12 hours right up to 28 days, so you’re bound to find a policy best suited to your needs.

With fully comprehensive cover on every learner policy, you’ll have complete peace of mind while you hone your driving skills.

What happens if learners drive without insurance?

Driving without the correct insurance is illegal. Penalties include:

• An unlimited fine
• A driving ban
• Up to 8 penalty points on your provisional licence It’s important to ensure you have the correct insurance in place before getting behind the wheel.

Other rules for driving with a learner

Learner drivers that do not have the correct supervision when behind the wheel can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to six penalty points on their provisional licence.

The consequences of practising driving uninsured are even more severe and could result in an unlimited fine, a ban from driving or up to eight penalty points. It’s not worth the risk of driving uninsured.

Whether you’re looking for one-day learner driver insurance or cover for a week, Tempcover can fully cover you according to your own schedule and budget.

Get a learner driver insurance quote in under 2 minutes and discover the quickest ways to pass your driving test with Tempcover.