The Provisional Licence
In order to learn to drive, you must hold a provisional driving licence issued by the DVLA. You can apply for a provisional entitlement to drive a car providing you are at least 17 years old, or in the case where you receive a disability allowance you can apply at 16 years old.
You are required by law to advise the DVLA of any medical condition which may affect your ability to drive a vehicle. You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire as part of your application for a provisional licence. For further information on medical rules and requirements click here.
You can apply for your provisional driving licence by completing the D1 application form that is available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office® branches. You will also need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the fee of £50.00.
For more information about provisional licences visit the DVLA website. If you are a British resident you can apply online provided you meet the criteria. Click here to apply online.
Back to topUsing an International Licence in the UK
The following information summarises the UK regulations for International licences and may be subject to change by the DVLA and should not be relied upon in detail. Any enquiries should be directed to the DVLA website or by telephone on 0870 240 0009.
Holders of a licence issued within the European Community
If you hold a valid community licence and you are visiting Great Britain, you can drive any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid, providing that the vehicle you wish to drive is covered by the categories shown on your licence. If you have been resident in Great Britain and for more than 3 years then you can apply to exchange your licence for a British one at any time.
Holders of a licence from all other Countries
Provided your full licence remains valid, you can drive a car in Great Britain for up to 12 months from the time you become resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test passed before the 12 month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period you are not subject to provisional licence conditions, e.g. displaying L-plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorway driving. After 12 months you will be subject to the normal conditions of a provisional entitlement if you have not passed the UK driving test.
The UK Driving Test
To be able to sit a driving test in the United Kingdom you must already hold a UK provisional licence. You must also complete a theory test at one of the Driving
Standards Agency theory test centres around the UK. To find your nearest DSA theory test centre click here.
Once you have successfully completed your theory test, you can then apply to take your practical test at a local centre. Most test centres have a waiting period of around 6 to 8 weeks for driving tests
Many are now able to offer weekend tests although the price and demand for them is higher, so you should expect to wait a little longer. From April 2008 the weekday practical test costs £56.50 and £67 at weekends and weekday evenings (summer only).
The driving test will normally take place at the scheduled time, however occasionally the test is cancelled if an examiner is ill or unavailable, or if weather or traffic conditions will not allow for it. Tests are not conducted in poor light or in the dark. If the centre cancels the test for any reason candidates will normally be prioritised and booked for the next available time.
The standard of driving required in order to pass the test is relatively high compared with many other countries with the current national average for candidates passing the test at just 43%.
The main reason for this low pass rate is that candidates who present for a driving test have often not had enough practical instruction. The DSA advise that pupils who pass the test have had an average of 45 hours professional training with an instructor plus 22 hours of private practice.
Candidates are allowed to commit up to 15 minor driving offences but must not commit any serious or dangerous faults. Most candidates fail for committing either a serious or dangerous driving fault or some for displaying the same minor driving fault repeatedly.
Like with any life skill pupils will learn at different rates, driving is multi disciplinary and pupils will be better at learning some skills than others. Although there are many reasons while candidates do fail tests, there are essentially only three things that are needed to pass:
- the knowledge
- the aptitude
- and the correct attitude.
With Ltest School of Motoring we offer a Pass Guarantee which gives pupils a much greater chance of passing the test first time. Our aim is to maintain a standard of 2 out of every 3 pupils passing at their first attempt
We do this by making sure that pupils present when they are ready for the test and not before. We reckon that our average pupil normally takes between 35 and 40 hours of tuition, a little less than the DSA average.
Changes to the UK Driving Test
In May 2008 the Department of Transport, Headed by Ruth Kelly MP announced a major review and consultation of Learner Driving would take place. A number of proposals have been made however no announcement of changes to the driving test have currently been made. Changes are likely to include:
- A new foundation course, to be piloted in schools and colleges in Scotland from Autumn 2008, leading to a qualification on safe road use being offered across Great Britain;
- A more focused and thorough learning process before the driving test, which focuses not just on vehicle control but also the wider skills needed to be a safe driver, from driving in difficult conditions (for example at night or in poor weather) to learning to predict and respond to other road users' intentions;
- A new training syllabus to ensure learners understand what is required of them to become a responsible driver, enable them to undertake structured and efficient learning and accurately assess when they are ready to pass their driving test;
- An improved driving test which requires the driver to demonstrate independent driving skills and clear understanding of different situations on the road, with the option of modular assessment;
- New opportunities to take extra training post test; working with the insurance industry and employers in the driving for work sector to develop new courses and qualifications to be taken after the driving test that could lead to lower insurance premiums and a better chance of securing a career in the driving for work sector;
- A star-rating system for driving instructors so that learners can make an informed choice based on pass rates and the level of training instructors have undergone;
- A review of driving instructor training and testing to ensure they provide a quality service and are focussed on those areas of driving performance that are closely linked to safe driving.
For more information on these proposals and to have your say visit: www.learningtodrive.dsa.gov.uk/pages/home
Manual or Automatic?
When you start to learn to drive you will normally have the option of choosing between a vehicle with manual transmission (gears) or an automatic.
Passing your test in a manual car will allow you to operate both manual and automatic vehicles. Passing the test in automatic will limit your licence to this category. Most vehicles sold in the UK are manual and normally cost less to buy and maintain than an automatic. However, learning to drive a manual car can take longer than learning in an automatic. An average student will take around 40 hours in a manual car but around 30 hours in an automatic
When making your decision you should consider your ability to coordinate and control the use of the gears in a manual vehicle. Some learners who struggle with these skills (including people diagnosed with dyspraxia) may choose to learn in an automatic as an easier option.
Automatic lessons are generally a little bit more expensive than manual lessons and therefore the cost saving may not be as great as the time saved. Automatic pupils have exactly the same test as in a manual vehicle and pass rates are invariably the same.
For more information on driving and dyspraxia click here.
At Ltest we will normally be able to offer you the choice of either manual or automatic through our partnership network. For more information call us on 0800 0432 801.
How long will it take me?
Learning to drive is a 'life skill' and the amount of time it takes to complete your training can vary depending upon:
- The number of hours tuition you take each week
- Your age
- Your previous on-road experience
- Your aptitude (ability to learn the skills required to pass the test)
- Your knowledge of the rules of the road (Highway Code)
- Your attitude and confidence level
- Your driving instructor
An average pupil of 19 years old requires between 35 and 40 hours of tuition before presenting for the test. Some pupils require a little less and some a little more, but you can be sure that a pupil who takes a test before they are ready will fail. Pupils who take a course of lessons and listen to the advice of their instructor are much more likely to pass at their first attempt.
We also recommend that you practice with the help of a friend or family member if this option is available to you. Learners can now apply for their own insurance policy for weekly, monthly or annual periods.
How can I reduce the time taken to learn?
You can reduce the number of hours tuition required by taking regular lessons each week. We recommend that most pupils take between 1 ½ and 4 hours of tuition a week in 1 ½ or 2 hour blocks. An average pupil taking around 2 hours tuition each week will normally be able to complete their training in around 18 weeks, by increasing to two lessons a week you can complete your training in around 9 weeks.
At Ltest School of Motoring our philosophy is about learning good driving habits that will serve pupils long after they have completed their lessons and passed their driving test. This is where the correct driver attitude is so important. We take an active role in trying to reduce the chances of new drivers being involved in accidents by offering a free in-school presentation and encouraging pupils to continue their learning through initiatives like the Pass Plus course.
How much will it cost me?
The cost of driving lessons varies slightly between different driving schools. In 2007 the average price for a one hour lesson was £21 outside of London or £23 in London. Some schools that charge a lower hourly rate may cut costs by offering you a trainee instructor, or by piggybacking your lesson with another pupil. They may also have an older or less reliable vehicle.
Generally paying a cheaper hourly rate will not guarantee that you end up paying less. It is always best to find an instructor that is recommended and that you find easy to get along with. You are more likely to make quicker progress with a fully qualified instructor and therefore you will end up needing fewer driving lessons.
According to the Department of Transport, an average student will spend around £1500 on learning to drive. We reckon our students spend on average between £350 and £750 on lessons depending upon their ability and with our Pass Guarantee they can save over £200 in extra lessons and test fees!
Choosing an Instructor
When choosing an instructor you can choose either a PDI or ADI. At Ltest we only use ADIs to offer training to our students.
PDIs hold a pink licence and ADIs hold a green licence which must be on display in the training vehicle during lessons.
PDIs or trainee instructors
Trainees will have completed an advanced theory and practical driving test to a higher standard than required by learner drivers.
Trainees will have less experience of offering driving lessons and as a result training may take longer. Some trainees may already offer a high standard of tuition but this will not have been assessed by the governing body, the Driving Standards Agency.
ADIs or approved instructors
An approved instructor will have successfully completed a test of their ability to instruct. ADIs will be either a grade 4, 5 or 6. The higher the grade the better the quality of instruction offered. You can find out about an instructor's grade from the DSA.
At Ltest School of Motoring we only work with approved instructors who achieve good results for their pupils. We encourage continued development and ongoing training after qualifying. We also review our own instructors' lesson delivery normally every 6 months. All of our instructors have been CRB checked.
However, we believe that the best way to choose your instructor is by recommendation. All our instructors build up their own reputation and receive incentives for generating their own pupils by recommendation.
When choosing an instructor with Ltest School of Motoring you can be assured of the highest standard of tuition and professionalism. We use track records to keep track of progress throughout the training process and always gear pupils towards passing the test first time.
Training with the help of a family member
You may also choose to learn with the help of a family member or a friend as well as taking lessons with an instructor. UK law requires that anyone accompanying a learner driver must be at least 21 years old and have held a full UK licence for a minimum of 3 years.
We advise that if you are the parent of someone learning to drive that you seek the advice of the driving instructor before offering help. As an experienced driver we all too easily forget the range of skills that are used when driving. Training should always be structured and any help offered should reinforce the lessons being offered by the instructor rather than simply allowing a learner to drive in new situations with which they are unfamiliar.
By reinforcing learned skills in this way you are more likely to improve a learner's confidence. Learners will be less stressed and make fewer driving faults.
You should also consider purchasing "Practical Sessions - A guide to accompanying a learner driver" which is available from most bookshops.
The Provisional Licence
