Are you ready to drive?
Being able to drive is a fantastic skill: it can give you the freedom to go where you want, when you want.
Learning to drive checklist
To learn to drive a car, you must:
- be 17 years old.*
- hold a provisional licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
- be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away (with glasses or contact lenses if you need them, as long as you always wear them when you’re driving).
- make sure any vehicle you drive is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured.
- display L plates on the front and rear of your vehicle (L or D plates in Wales)..
L Plates
- be accompanied by a qualified driver who is over 21 and has held a full British car driving licence for at least 3 years.
- Remember: the rules of the road apply to learners as well as fully-qualified drivers. Provisional licence holders can still be fined and given penalty points for breaking the law.
*16 years old if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Learning to drive
Learning to be a safe and confident driver
Good driving is not just about learning the rules of the road: your skill and attitude are important too.
A good driver:
- is responsible
- shows excellent concentration
- anticipates and responds to hazards
- is patient and considerate with other road users
- is confident, but not over confident
- keeps improving by learning from experience
Better driving
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Next steps
So you've got your provisional driving licence.
Here are the recommended steps you’ll need to take to start learning to drive.