👉 Before You Get Started On Your Driving Test
👉 Choosing A Driving Instructor
👉 Learning To Drive With A Family Member
👉 How Much Should I Pay For Driving Lessons?
👉 Driving Tests: What Do They Include?
👉 Starting Your Driving Lessons
👉 The Car Theory Test
👉 How To Prepare For Your Theory Test
👉 The Practical Driving Test
👉 What Happens In Your Practical Driving Test?
👉 How To Prepare For Your Practical Driving Test
👉 What To Do If You Fail
👉 The Most Common Driving Mistakes
👉 Changing Your Driving Test
👉 Summary
👉 Driving test FAQs
Learning to drive and passing your driving test can be a rewarding experience. It gives you the freedom to travel and explore. If you’re approaching your driving test and are wondering what a driving test includes, read on. We’ve taken a deep dive into all things driving tests, from registering to the test itself. After reading this blog, you’ll be ready to tackle your driving test like a pro.
Make sure you have a provisional driving licence before learning to drive. You’ll need this licence when you take your test, so getting hold of it early is a must. To apply for your provisional driving licence, you need to be at least 15 years and 9 months old. You also need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, and have been living in Great Britain for at least 185 days. When you apply for a provisional licence, you’ll need an ID document and addresses that you have lived in for the last three years. It costs £34 to apply either by post or online. To apply by post, complete D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’ which is available from the DVLA form ordering service. Apply online. A provisional driving licence allows you to learn to drive, and is the first step towards becoming a qualified driver.
Getting a driving instructor is a really important part of the learning-to-drive process. When it comes to picking the perfect instructor, there’s a lot to look out for:
Take your time when looking for a driving instructor, and don’t be afraid to ask friends and family who they used. Taking your time and picking the right instructor is the best way to get on the road to being test-ready. We’ve taken a further look at picking an instructor in our piece ‘selecting a driving instructor’.
Some people opt for learning with their families instead of an instructor. This isn’t uncommon, and can have its benefits:
On the other side, learning with a family member has its drawbacks:
Learning with a family member is possible, but you do miss out on the high quality lessons an instructor can give you.
We’ve taken a deeper look at the case for and against learning with a family member or friend in a separate piece. Take a look here.
Learning to drive can be fairly expensive. The price of a lesson can vary based on where you are in the UK, with the south of UK tending to be one of the most expensive places to learn. We’ve taken a look at the cost of learning to drive based on the area you live in.
According to the RAC, driving lessons can cost anywhere from £25 to £45 for one hour. This can lead to you spending up to £2,000 to learn to drive!
Learning in a manual or an automatic won’t change your costs too much, so you’re best learning in a manual, as this will still qualify you to drive an automatic. There are lots of extra costs to learning to drive too, such as learner driver insurance, an application for a provisional licence, a car theory test and practical test. These extra costs might be scary, which is why we’ve taken a look at the best ways to get a good deal on your driving lessons.
To get more information on the cost of driving lessons, visit our blog titled ‘How much does it cost to learn to drive?’
Although we’ve addressed the costs of learning to drive a manual and an automatic, this isn’t to say you can’t drive both during your driving life. We’ve had a look at how to drive a manual car, and how to drive an automatic. The two are slightly different, so it’s best you take a quick read!
Your driving test is made up of two main parts: the theory test and the practical test. Your theory test takes place behind a desk, whereas your practical test takes place behind the wheel of a car. Your theory test is made up of two sections: a multiple-choice set of questions and a hazard perception section. To pass your theory test, you need to pass in both sections, which can be done by achieving at least 43 out of 50 on the multiple-choice and 44 out of 75 on the hazard perception. Passing your theory test can be tricky, which is why we’ve put together our top tips to pass your theory test.
Once you’ve passed your car theory test, you are ready for your practical test. Your practical test involves you driving in a car, where you will have to do the following:
We’ve broken down how to pass your practical test, with our top ten tips.
The number of lessons you will need will vary from person to person, although RAC believes the average number of hours needed is 45. The number of lessons you need will come down to how well you are moving through your development plan. The most important to thing to note is that there is no right amount of lessons. Whatever works for you is best.
If you’re looking to pass quicker than in 45 hours, you can opt for an intensive driving course. This looks to pack your learning into a consistent day-by-day process for a couple of weeks. You will likely work one-on-one, focusing specifically on your strengths and weaknesses. Take a look at our blog that covers all things intensive driving courses.
When it comes to starting your lessons, you will need to bring your provisional licence to your first lesson. After this, you only need to bring yourself! In some cases, your driving instructor might provide you with a booklet that details everything you have learnt, and you might have to bring this to lessons.
Learning to drive is for everyone. If you have a disability and are wondering how you can learn to drive, we have you covered. Take a look at our blog on learning to drive with a disability. There are plenty of driving companies that provide lessons to people with disabilities, but the most popular one is Driving Mobility. Read our blog and find out how you can learn to drive.
You have 57 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions. Then, you'll take the hazard perception test, where you watch videos and click when you see a hazard. There are 15 hazards to spot, with at least one on each clip and two in one of the clips.
To pass:
If you don't pass either section, you'll need to retake the whole test.
Your theory test pass lasts for two years. You'll need to pass it again if you want to take your practical test after two years.
Your theory test is the first step in your car journey. The test is based on information you can find in the Highway Code, the ‘Know Your Traffic Signs Book’ and the ‘Driving – The Essential Skills’ book. Make sure you are well aware of the content in these pieces, which can be best done by using a theory test app. A theory test app has lots of activities including mock tests, learning guides and hazard perception videos. We’ve had a look at the best theory test apps.
In terms of preparing for your theory test, here are our top tips. We have covered this in more detail, plus how to register for your test.
The practical driving test is the next and final step in your car learning journey. Your practical test is where you show your skills on the road. It will cost anywhere from £62 (weekdays) to £75 (evenings, weekends and bank holidays) to book your practical test, something we’ve covered in our blog ‘How much does it cost to learn to drive’.
So you’ve passed your theory! Congratulations, you’re now ready for your practical driving test. Your practical test can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, and according to the AA, you will be required to do the following:
In order to pass your driving test, you can’t get any more than 15 minors and avoid making any majors. A major usually occurs when the instructor has to step in to take control of the car.
Preparing for your practical test is key, which is why we have put together our top tips to get test ready. These tips are part of a larger piece, titled ‘top ten tips to pass your practical test’. We’ve summarised these tips for your reading below:
As mentioned, you can read about these tips in more detail via our tips to pass your driving test blog, which also breaks down the test and provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Don’t fear; if you fail your test, it isn’t the end of the road… a lot of people fail on their first try. In the 2022/23 season of driving tests, only 48.4% passed first time.
You can take as many driving tests as you’d like, you just need to wait at least ten working days since the last one. The most important thing to do if you fail is not panic; failing the first time is actually quite common and isn’t a reflection of your driving ability.
If you fail your driving test, take some time to practice the areas where you struggled. The more you drive, the more confident and skilled you'll become.
Remember: Practice makes perfect!
Believe it or not, people tend to fail their driving tests for similar reasons. We’ve covered this in a blog post that looks at the mistakes in more detail. For this piece, we’ll give you a quick summary:
Avoid these mistakes and you’re in a good place to pass your practical test.
Life happens, and sometimes you can no longer take your driving test on the date you booked.
If you need to change your driving test, you must give at least three working days' notice. You'll need to provide a valid reason for the change and supporting evidence.
Take a look at the Government page dedicated to changing your test.
Taking your driving test can be scary but remember that your instructor believes you're ready to pass. Take your time, drive safely, and trust your instincts. You can do it!
For more helpful driving tips and advice, visit our dedicated advice centre!
Looking to hit the road after your test but struggling to find a car? Visit our car marketplace and find the car for you, and apply for finance quickly and easily.