When can you learn to drive in the UK?

Ready to get in the car and start learning? Whether you’re still at school or have just finished college, you might be waiting for the green light.

We know it’s hard not to feel impatient when your friends start driving before you do! As exciting as learning to drive might be, the rules surrounding when you can learn to drive are in place for a reason. Here’s everything you need to know before you get behind the wheel for the first time.

At what age can you learn to drive?

In the UK, you can start driving a car at 17 years old.

This includes the day of your birthday, so you won’t need to wait a single day longer!

How old do you have to be to get a provisional licence?

Even if you’ve turned 17, you need a provisional licence before you can legally take your first driving lesson. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides them for cars, motorbikes, mopeds and other vehicles.

If you’d like to be prepared, you can apply for your first provisional driving licence before you turn 17. There are some requirements:

• You must be at least 15 years and nine months old.
• If you don’t permanently live in Britain, you must be able to prove that you have permission to live there for at least 185 days.
• You need good eyesight: you must be able to read a car number plate from 20 meters away.

Can you take driving lessons at 16?

No. Young people in the UK must wait until they’re 17 years old before learning to drive. This includes taking lessons with an instructor and learning privately with family and friends.

If you work on a farm, you may be able to drive agricultural vehicles at 16 years old. You can legally apply for provisional tractor entitlement and take a tractor test.

What makes you eligible to learn to drive at 16 in the UK?

In England and Wales, you can learn to drive a car at 16 years old if any of the following apply:

You’ve applied for or have already received the Personal Independence Payment – specifically, the higher rate of the mobility component.

You’ve received the higher rate of the Disability Living Allowance for children since before you turned 16.

What are the rules for new learner drivers?

If you’re 17 years old and you have a provisional driving licence, you can start learning to drive! There are just a few rules to keep you safe on the roads, which we’ve explained below.

1. Supervision

Many new learners choose to take their lessons with a driving instructor but this is not a legal requirement. You can practise driving with family and friends but there are some rules surrounding who can teach you to drive. The person teaching or supervising you must be:

• Over 21 years old,
• Fully qualified to drive the type of car you’re learning in, and
• A full driving licence holder for at least three years.

While you only have a provisional driving licence, you cannot drive alone on public roads.

2. Insurance

You do need insurance when you’re learning to drive. This still applies if a family member is already covered on the vehicle too.

Before you practise in someone else’s car, you must make sure that:

• You’re covered by the owner’s insurance as a learner driver, or
• You take out your own individual learner driver insurance on the vehicle.

If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could be banned from driving, get an unlimited fine, and get up to eight penalty points on your licence. It’s not worth rushing the process. Be patient and wait for the time when you can learn to drive legally.

3. Using L Plates

It’s also a legal requirement to put an L plate on the front and rear of your vehicle. This ensures that other drivers recognise you as a learner driver, which improves your safety.

You can buy L plates from most hardware shops and larger fuel stations too. Many are magnetic but some are adhesive. They must have a red L on a clear white background and they need to be the right size too.

When will I be able to drive on my own?

You can only drive a car without supervision when:

• You’re at least 17 years old.
• You’ve passed your practical driving test.
• You passed your theory test within the last two years.

Do I need to pass the theory test to learn to drive?

No. You can start learning to drive before you’ve taken your theory test.

However, you can’t take your practical driving test until you have passed your theory test. Many learners like to complete it as early as they can and you can book online with the DVSA. You can take your theory test from the date of your 17th birthday.

Get covered with Learner Insurance from Tempcover

If you’re impatiently waiting to start your driving lessons, it’s worth getting organised now. Luckily, you can secure your learner driver insurance up to a month in advance of the date you’d like the policy to start.

You can get a quote online to secure the most suitable policy. If you’d like to find out more about what to expect when you can learn to drive, we’re here to help. Please feel free to get in touch and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.