Learning to drive a car
Are you thinking of learning to drive?
Before you can hop into your first car there are a few things you will need to do. You will need to get your provisional licence, you can apply for this through the DVLA 3 months before your 17th birthday.
Are you old enough to drive?
The minimum ages for driving on British roads are:
- 16 for mopeds
- 17 for tractors, small vehicles (most cars) and motorbikes
- 21 for medium/large sized vehicles, minibuses and buses
Find a driving instructor
Next, you will need to find a driving instructor. You can get anyone that is over 21 to teach you to drive, such as a parent or other family member, but the majority of the time they won’t have the confidence, experience or training to do it satisfactorily.
Learner Plates
You will also have to display L plates (L or D plates in Wales) on the front and back of the car you are learning to drive in. It is illegal not to do this.
Learn at 16
You might be lucky enough to have the chance with your driving instructor to drive on an off-road mock road circuit is provided including all typical features of basic road formats, such as junctions, crossroads, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings on a variety of gradients. You could get to grips with basic car control without the worry of real traffic around before you turn 17.