Driving lessons and learning to drive

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1. Overview

You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you바카라 사이트™re 15 years and 9 months old.

You can usually start driving a car when you바카라 사이트™re 17.

The rules are different if you have a disability or long-term health condition.

Check which vehicles you can learn to drive.

Rules for learning to drive

You must have a provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland when you바카라 사이트™re learning to drive or ride.

You must be supervised when you바카라 사이트™re learning to drive a car. This can be by a driving instructor or someone else who meets the rules, for example family or friends.

The car you learn in must display 바카라 사이트˜L바카라 사이트™ plates.

You can drive at any time, day and night.

You can only drive on motorways if all of the following apply:

  • you바카라 사이트™re driving in England, Scotland or Wales
  • you바카라 사이트™re with an approved driving instructor
  • the car is fitted with dual controls

Speed limits

In England, Scotland and Wales the speed limits when driving with 바카라 사이트˜L바카라 사이트™ plates are the same as when you바카라 사이트™ve passed your test.

In Northern Ireland the speed limit is 45 miles per hour when you바카라 사이트™re learning to drive a car.

2. Taking driving lessons

Anyone you pay to teach you to drive must be either:

  • a qualified and approved driving instructor (ADI)
  • a trainee driving instructor

You can find your nearest driving instructors.

There are different rules in for choosing an instructor.

Instructors set their own prices for driving lessons - there바카라 사이트™s no minimum or maximum cost.

Check your instructor바카라 사이트™s badge

Instructors have to display a badge in their windscreen to prove they바카라 사이트™re registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). They display:

  • a green badge if they바카라 사이트™re a qualified driving instructor
  • a pink badge if they바카라 사이트™re a trainee

You can report someone to DVSA if they charge for driving lessons and are not a qualified driving instructor or trainee.

Driving lessons

There바카라 사이트™s no minimum number of lessons you must have or hours you must practise driving.

How many lessons you need will depend on how quickly you learn. You can download a form to record your progress with your instructor.

You can complain about a driving instructor if you바카라 사이트™re not happy with their service or behaviour.

3. Practising with family or friends

You can practise driving with family or friends. Anyone you practise your driving with (without paying them) must:

  • be over 21
  • be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to learn in, for example they must have a manual car licence if they바카라 사이트™re supervising you in a manual car
  • have had their full driving licence for 3 years (from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein)

You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points on your provisional licence if you drive without the right supervision.

It바카라 사이트™s illegal for:

  • your friend or family member to use a mobile phone while supervising you
  • you to drive on the motorway when practising with family or friends

Insurance

You need your own insurance as a learner driver if you바카라 사이트™re practising in a car you own. Your family member or friend will usually be covered on this.

If you바카라 사이트™re practising in someone else바카라 사이트™s car, you need to either:

  • make sure you바카라 사이트™re covered by the car owner바카라 사이트™s insurance policy as a learner driver
  • take out your own insurance policy that covers you driving in the car as a learner driver

Some insurance companies require the person supervising you to be over 25 years old.

You can get an unlimited fine, be banned from driving and get up to 8 penalty points for driving without insurance.

Recording your practice

You can download a form to record any practice you do without your driving instructor.

4. Using 'L' and 'P' plates

You must put an L plate on the front and back of your vehicle so they can be seen easily.

In Wales, you can use a D plate instead.

An L plate or D plate must:

  • have a red L or D on a white background
  • be the right size

You can get up to 6 penalty points if you do not display an L plate or if it바카라 사이트™s not the right size.

You should take L plates off your vehicle when it바카라 사이트™s not being used by a learner.

P plates

You can display green 바카라 사이트˜probationary바카라 사이트™ P plates to show that you바카라 사이트™ve just passed your driving test. You do not have to display them. You can leave them on your vehicle for as long as you like.

In Northern Ireland you must use for one year after you pass your test.