I’ve passed my theory and I have my practical test booked. What’s the best way to get some more practice without having to fork out for lessons with an instructor?
You can get extra practice driving someone else’s car, perhaps a car owned by a parent or a family friend. You can either do that on their insurance as a named driver or get your own short term learner driver insurance policy. The benefit of that would be that if you did have a prang and you had to make a claim you wouldn’t endanger their no claims discount.
I’ve already bought my own car. Can I get extra lessons in that?
You can get your own car insured as a learner and the policy could cost from under 65p a day*. It’s worth bearing in mind that the year, make and model of the car will all affect the premium. So if the first car is something flash, don’t be surprised if the quotes are high. Adrian Flux offer fully comprehensive learner driver insurance for vehicles up to insurance group 45, valued at less than £20,000.
Can anyone supervise me as a learner driver?
Supervising drivers must be at least 21, have held a full driving licence for a minimum of three years and meet the minimum eyesight standards. They must also ensure the car displays L plates and is safe and in road legal condition. Ultimately, someone supervising a learner driver, is deemed to be in control of the vehicle – even though they are in the passenger seat.
If I pass what happens to my learner insurance policy?
Your learner policy with Adrian Flux only lasts as long as you need it to. When you pass your test the policy will expire and you need to change to a new driver policy. But, as we will already have your details, that is a very swift and painless procedure! We offer great value new driver policies with an app to show you how much you can save by driving safely.
Where can I find out more about passing my test and getting my first motor insurance policy?
Go online and search Adrian Flux Learner Driver Hub. The Hub contains all manner of hints, tips, blogs, videos and guides about passing your test, staying safe and on the move once you get on the road, and finding the best insurance deals.
Adrian Flux offer great insurance rates for new and learner drivers. Cut costs by calling 0800 085 6491.
WELCOME
LEARNING
TO DRIVE is an exciting but nervous time for teenagers and their parents. If anything, it can be harder on mum and dad, as the chances are you’ll foot the bill for lessons, insurance and maybe even a first car. Then there’s the worry of using the family wheels for practice as your child gets to grips with the basics of driving. Even the closest parent-child relationship can be put under strain with a teenager behind the wheel and mum or dad in the passenger seat...
Any parent wants to support their child in learning to drive safely and effectively. That’s where the Learning to Drive – The Parent’s Guide comes in. We’ll show you how to help your child become a safe and responsible driver. From choosing the right instructor to making the most of practice to finding affordable insurance cover, this guide is full of practical advice.
So, good luck to you and your learner driver. Here’s to making the start of their driving career a safe and happy one.
David Motton Editor
Publisher: James Evans
Editor: David Motton
Commercial director: Richard Storrs
Art director: Caroline Creighton-Metcalf
WORTH OVER
2,473 PRIZES £51,518
BUYING... HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT FIRST CAR FOR YOUR CHILD PAGE 28
OWNING... SIMPLE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY AND AVOID HASSLE PAGE 34
6 LEARNING
Your child is about to start their driving career. We’ll help you to support them, with advice on choosing an instructor and helping with practice between lessons.
16 THE TESTS
You probably took one test when you learned to drive. Now learners must pass a theory test as well as the practical test. Here’s what you need to know...
22 INSURANCE
Insuring a young driver is expensive, but there are ways to make it more affordable. We’ll talk you through learner driver insurance and the advantages of telematics.
28 CAR BUYING
Nobody forgets their first car. Whether you and your child plan to buy new or used, we’ll help you pick a safe and reliable firsttime buy.
34 OWNING
Passing the driving tests is just the start. There’s a lot for a new driver to learn about running a car on a tight budget. We’re here to help.
LICENCE
6 6
5 5
2 THEIR PROVISIONAL LICENCE
Nobody can jump straight into a car on their 17th birthday without having a provisional licence first. Don’t wait until the big day – your child can apply long before they turn 17. It’s easy to make an online application if they have a Government Gateway ID or otherwise fill out a D1 form which can be collected from the Post Office. Turn the page for more on applying for a provisional licence.
3 FIND AN INSTRUCTOR
If you want to give your child the best chance of passing first time, you’ll want to find a really good instructor. Practising with relatives is important, but it’s no substitute for expert instruction from a professional. Turn to page 10 to find out more.
4 THEORY TEST
Before your child can take their practical test they have to pass the theory test. There are two parts, one with multiplechoice questions and one assessing their ability to spot hazards. Want to know more? Turn to page 16.
5 PRACTICAL TEST
Has your child passed the theory test? Well done, but there’s still another hoop to jump through before they have their full licence: the practical test. This takes place on the public road with an examiner in the passenger seat and will last around 40 minutes. We’ll talk you through the practical test in more detail on page 18.
6 NEXT STEPS
Passing the practical test isn’t the end of the road – it’s the beginning. Drivers never stop learning, and post-test training such as the Pass Plus scheme can really help guide young drivers through their first months on the road.
Drivers can learn on the road once they are 17, so long as they have a provisional licence
TOP TIP
Driving a car on private land can teach your child the basics of car control and introduce them to the rules of the road. But when they turn 17 and start lessons on public roads, they’ll need to build up experience before their test.
APPLYING FOR A
PROVISIONAL LICENCE
HACK EVERY LESSON GET THE MOST FROM
You’re paying a lot for an expert to teach your child to drive, so be sure they make the most of their time. Here’s how:
● REST UP
Always encourage a good night’s rest before a lesson. A big night out with their mates before a morning lesson isn’t a good idea –they need to be fully alert and sober.
● FUEL UP
Ask your learner to eat and drink before the lesson to boost their energy levels and keep them high.
● GO LONG
When you book lessons, think about 90-minute or two-hour sessions. Your child will have more time to get into a rhythm than if the lesson lasts an hour.
● LISTEN UP...
The instructor knows what they are talking about, so encourage your child to concentrate hard on what they say and do.
Practise driving in between lessons to reinforce what has been learned. But make sure you stay below the level of difficulty your child has reached with the instructor.
● ... BUT ASK QUESTIONS
If your child doesn’t understand what the instructor is asking them to do, they should say so. Asking questions helps plug gaps in their driving knowledge.
To find out more about driving lessons, visit firstcar.co.uk.
PARENTAL CONTROL
Unless you are a qualified ADI, then you are almost certainly not the best person to teach your child to drive. But that doesn’t mean you won’t play an important role in helping your teenager to become a safe and responsible driver. Time spent practising between professional lessons can reinforce what your child has been learning. This is best done by working as a team with the instructor, and doing your best not to pass on any bad habits you may have developed. Try following these tips:
1 Parents should read a current copy of The Highway Code and work with their child on the theory exam.
2 Plan before you set out. Choose a suitable area and route, and know what you want to achieve before you get behind the wheel.
3 Use quiet roads until your child is confident, especially in traffic.
4 Stay below the level they’ve reached with their driving instructor.
5 Avoid carrying passengers – they’re a potential distraction.
6 Work with a professional instructor who tells you what your child is being taught and what techniques are being used. Then you won’t give conflicting advice.
7
A learner driver is not ready for all the challenges of the road, so you must be aware of the hazards around you. Constantly anticipate other road users and be ready to spot trouble your child has missed.
8 Be sparing with your comments, but problems must be identified while still fresh in the memory. Confidence needs to be built first, though, so don’t forget to praise good driving.
9
Keep calm – shouting won’t help. And don’t get angry if they find constructive criticism hard to take.
10 Make learning enjoyable. You need to keep your cool so that you both enjoy the process. You and your teenager shouldn’t dread getting into the car.
MOTORWAYS
Although motorways are statistically our safest roads, learner drivers haven’t been allowed on them. That all changed a few years back. Learners now have the green light to get to grips with motorway driving before they have passed their practical test.
Will I be able to drive on the motorway with my learner?
No. The rules allow learners onto the motorway, but only in cars with dual-controls and accompanied by an approved driving instructor. So you won’t be able to practise on motorways with your child between professional driving lessons.
Is motorway driving now compulsory for all learner drivers?
There is no requirement for your child to drive
on the motorway if they don’t want to. Depending on where you live it may be impractical. It will be up to you, your child and their instructor to decide whether to drive on the motorway.
Why were the rules changed?
In the words of Road Safety Minister, Andrew Jones: “To allow learner drivers to take lessons on motorways will enable novice drivers to experience the broadest possible range of driving experiences in a supportive environment, helping them to be better, safer drivers.”
TEACHING GOOD HABITS
Learning to drive doesn’t start when your child is 17. It doesn’t even start a few months before, if you book your son or daughter an under-17 driving course. You’re teaching children how to drive from a very early age through the example you set. If they see you checking text messages on the move, gambling at amber lights, or cutting up other drivers, can you really expect them to behave safely and responsibly when they get behind the wheel?
THE THEORY TEST
BEFORE YOUR CHILD can take their practical test they must pass the theory test. Book via the official website at gov.uk/booktheory-test. There are third-party websites through which you can book, but they charge extra fees on top of the £23 cost of the test. However, third-party websites often offer unlimited retests for free. With a pass rate of 44% for the theory test, there’s a good chance of having to retake, so you could save cash. Just check any terms and conditions.
To take the test your child will need to go to a
suitable centre where they’ll be allocated a booth with a computer, along with instructions on how to use it. They will work their way through both parts of the test (multiple-choice questions then the hazard perception section) before being given the results for both tests at the end of the session. To give your learner driver the best chance of passing, encourage them to take the theory test seriously –they won’t be able to bluff their way through it.
To find out more about the theory test visit firstcar.co.uk.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TEST IS OVER?
The examiner will talk your child through any faults. If they make the grade, they’ll be given a pass certificate. They’ll be able to start independent driving immediately – there’s no need to wait for their full licence to arrive. To find out more about the practical test visit firstcar.co.uk.
YOUR CHECKLIST FOR
PRACTICAL TEST
SUCCESS
If your child can put a tick in all these boxes they won’t go far wrong
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
The instructor wouldn’t encourage your child to take the test if they weren’t ready, so encourage self-belief.
GOOD TIMEKEEPING
Allow plenty of time to reach the test centre. Your child’s stress levels will go through the roof if they are running late.
THEIR PROVISIONAL LICENCE
Your child needs to take their provisional licence with them to the test centre. They need their theory test pass certificate too. Don’t let them forget!
SENSIBLE CLOTHES AND FOOTWEAR
Suggest they wear comfortable clothes, and shoes which make it easy for them to operate the pedals safely.
BE WILLING TO LEARN
Just over half of practical tests end with a thumbs down from the examiner. Don’t be surprised if this happens to your child, even if they’ve been flying in their lessons. They’ll be told why they have failed at the end of the test so they can correct what went wrong next time.
INSURANCE WORKS HOW LEARNER DRIVER
What is learner driver insurance?
Learner driver insurance covers a young driver to practise in someone else’s car, most likely their parents’. Instead of being added to your insurance and bumping up your premium, they have their own policy.
How long does cover last?
It varies. Some insurers will ask learners to sign up for at least 30 days, others offer daily policies or will even cover youngsters for just a few hours.
Why do they
need it?
Well, insurance is a legal requirement, so they need to be covered one way or the other. Plus there are advantages to having a learner driver policy. Adding a learner as a named driver to your car insurance can be expensive compared with arranging separate cover. What’s more, if they do have a mishap, they can claim on their own policy, not yours, which should help keep the peace if they have a prang in the family car.
“ If th ey have a mishap they can claim on their own policy, not yours, which should keep the peace if they have a prang”
them to be the main driver, even if the car is also used by a parent.
What are the drawbacks of telematics insurance? Some policies set curfews that restrict young drivers from getting behind the wheel at night. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your point of view. A teenager may be frustrated they can’t give their mates a lift home from the pub, but a parent may be relieved... Also, just as good driving can be rewarded with a
lower premium, so poor driving can lead to a higher insurance cost – even if the young driver hasn’t had an accident. That’s not universal, though. Some companies are all carrot and no stick, and don’t increase premiums for aggressive driving unless it has led to a claim.
Will my child face any restrictions?
We’ve mentioned curfews, which are actually quite rare. Mileage limits are a lot more common. Generally these are set when the policy is taken
out, and can be extended at extra cost. Some insurers offer bonus mileage as a reward for safe and careful driving.
Is telematics right for me and my young driver?
In most cases, yes. You should be able to find a better price by choosing a telematics policy rather than conventional insurance cover. And it encourages safe driving, too.
To find out more about insurance for young drivers, visit firstcar.co.uk.
THE BEST
NEW CARS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
Our pick of the coolest affordable small cars
RENAULT CLIO
Euro NCAP safety rating
Five stars (2019)
Autonomous emergency
braking Standard
Insurance From Group 14E
DAB Standard
Bluetooth Standard
Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto Standard
We reckon the Renault Clio is one of the best looking small cars around. That doesn’t necessarily make it a great buy, of course, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Fortunately the Clio ticks
CITROEN C3
Euro NCAP safety rating
Four stars (2017)
Autonomous emergency
braking Max spec
FROM £13,995
lots of sensible boxes as well.
The safety gurus at Euro NCAP awarded the car five stars, with a near-perfect score of 96% for adult occupant protection. In fact, Euro NCAP rated the Clio as the best supermini they tested in 2019.
FROM£17,795
You don’t need to buy an expensive version to get plenty of safety kit. Autonomous emergency braking is standard even if
Insurance 14E
DAB Standard
Bluetooth Standard
Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto
Not listed
Small cars don’t come much cuter than the Citroën C3. There's a choice of monotone and bi-tone finishes which show off the good looks.
you buy the most affordable Clio, with sensors to detect bicycles and pedestrians as well as other cars.
The Clio is now available as a hybrid. Although prices are up, running costs are down.
It’s not just a pretty face. The C3 is one of the cheapest superminis you can buy. The flipside is that it’s not as affordable to insure as some.
Inside, the Citroën’s cabin is just as fresh and original as the outside. All models have a digital radio and Bluetooth as standard, and all but the most basic spec cars have media streaming so young drivers can play music through their smartphone.
To drive, the C3 puts comfort first with a smooth and forgiving ride. It’s easy to drive too – just what you want from a first car.
TOYOTA YARIS
Euro NCAP safety rating
Five stars (2019)
Autonomous emergency braking
Standard
Insurance From Group 13E
DAB Standard
Bluetooth Standard
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Standard
You (or your child) will need deep pockets to buy the new Toyota Yaris. With prices starting from just over £22,000, this an expensive small car. But there are good reasons to take a closer look.
For one thing, every Yaris is a hybrid, with the promise of small fuel bills and low carbon dioxide emissions. It should be cheaper to fuel
HYUNDAI I10
Euro NCAP
safety rating Three stars (2020)
Autonomous emergency braking Standard
Insurance From Group 1E
DAB Standard
Bluetooth Standard
Apple CarPlay/Android
than most superminis.
For another, the Yaris comes with an automatic gearbox. So if your child finds manual cars tricky to drive, or passes their test in an auto, the Toyota could be just what they are looking for.
They’ll get plenty of kit for their cash, too. There’s
FROM £22,125 FROM£15,420
no need to look beyond the entry-level Icon model for a digital radio, smartphone mirroring, and lots of safety kit including autonomous emergency braking.
It’s not the roomiest small car, and insurance won’t be cheap, but otherwise the Yaris has a lot going for it.
Auto Standard
The i10 is one of the most affordable new cars, as well as being easy to drive and well equipped
It’s rare to find a city car with autonomous
emergency braking as standard, even on the most basic versions. But every i10 comes with this brilliant bit of safety kit included in the price.
Every model has a digital radio and Bluetooth, and it looks good too, doesn’t it? We want one!
THE BEST
USED CARS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
These cars are good value and cheap to run
HYUNDAI I20
(2015-2020)
Euro NCAP safety rating
Four stars (2015)
Insurance From Group 4
A used Hyundai is a safe bet, especially if you choose the excellent i20. It’s our favourite used car, thanks to an impressive range of talents.
One of the big plus points of choosing the i20 is the transferable fiveyear warranty. Even as the second or third owner, cover continues until the car is five years old with no mileage limitation. So depending on the age of the i20 you are thinking of buying, your new
driver may be protected against any unexpected bills.
There’s a good chance they won’t have to claim on the warranty, given how reliable Hyundais are. The i20 performs really well in reliability surveys and owner satisfaction studies, and if problems do crop up the car is usually cheap to repair.
The Hyundai has a fourstar rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP, and while some rivals go one better with the full five stars, a score of four out of five is still very respectable.
From the driver’s seat, the i20 is very easy to get on with – just what you want from a first car. The light controls make for easy
manoeuvring, and the soft suspension makes the i20 very comfortable.
It’s practical as well as comfy. Passengers won’t feel cramped in the back seats, and the boot is big enough for festival camping gear. It also makes a very good car for anyone with a young family to take care of.
There’s a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The diesels are best for fuel economy, but you'll be able to afford a newer, lower mileage car if you stick with petrol. The 75PS 1.2-litre petrol is the cheapest, achieves decent fuel economy, and sits in Group 4 for insurance. That should make for an reasonable premium.
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Veygo offers flexible car insurance for learners, newly qualified and experienced drivers. Whether you own your own car or you’re borrowing someone else’s, you can get cover in minutes for as little or as long as you need.
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... look after a car. Following these simple tips will help your new driver to stay safe and save money!
HOW TO...
CHOOSE BREAKDOWN COVER HOW TO...
It makes sense to have cover in case a car breaks down, as even simple faults can be costly to fix. Don’t just go for the cheapest breakdown policy, though. Here’s what to look for...
● Make sure the package covers everything your child needs. Some include homestart (fixing the car if it breaks down at home), some don’t.
● Don’t pay for something your child won’t use. There’s no point in having European cover if your new driver never expects to leave the UK.
● If your child drives more than one car, consider a breakdown package that covers them personally rather than a specific car.
HOW TO...
CHARGE AN EV
● Ideally, you and your young driver should charge an EV using a home charger. This is cheaper than using the public charging network. A 3kW wallbox charger is generally cheaper to install than one rated at 7kW, but a more powerful charger will take less time to top-up the car’s battery.
● Make sure you are using a dedicated EV charger. It’s possible to recharge from a domestic three-pin socket, but this will take a very long time and household sockets aren’t always rated for heavy use over several hours.
● Don’t fully charge the battery unless you are about to go on a long journey. Charging to 80% is better for the longterm performance of the battery.
● Look for an electricity tariff that makes
HOW TO...
overnight charging cheaper than in the day, and recharge the car while the family is asleep.
● Ask your new driver to download a mapping app like Zap-Map to their phone. This will help find nearby chargers if they need to recharge away from home.
● There are lots of different public networks. It’s worth finding which ones have chargers on your family’s regular driving routes, and setting up accounts with several companies.
SAVE MONEY ON FUEL
● Encourage your child to obey the speed limit. Not only is speeding unsafe, it burns more fuel which is bad for the environment and their bank balance. Driving at 80mph rather than 70mph on the motorway uses 10% more fuel, according to the Department for Transport.
● Ditch the clutter. Leaving a roof rack, bike carrier or roof box on a car will hit fuel consumption hard.
● Encourage smooth driving.
Instead of stamping on the throttle or brake, recommend being gentle with the controls and anticipating other road users.
