Young Driver's Guide Hampshire Edition

THE YOUNG DRIVER’S GUIDE

PARENT’S GUIDE

TWO MAGS IN ONE!

How to best support your new driver p99

The road to your driving licence starts here

GE

OR F Y AD

E E R

E R T

F

N I W AR! AC

!

M O D

CUT-PRICE INSURANCE

rth Wo 95 ,9 £17

INTERVIEW p14

How to find affordable cover p64

WITH

CHARLI XCX

p36

Her new film and life after ‘Brat Summer ’

FIND AN p10 INSTRUCTO R

Learning your way

TEST p34 SECRETS

How to pass first time

Old enough to drive?

We say you’re old enough to keep your independence.

Text QUOTEME to 82228

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E M O C L E W BE SOmC m

IAL

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THE TEAM Publisher James Evans Editor David Motton Commercial director Richard Storrs Art director Dan Hilliard

GET IN TOUCH info@firstcar.co.uk 08451 308853 Firstcar.co.uk

5

W US O L L O F

, on learning For fun tips ore, m d an g in t driv independen t Keanan on check ou . social media aruk firstc tiktok.com/@ IrstCarUK m/F youtube.co

HI EVERYONE! Welcome to The Young Driver’s Guide. Inside you’ll find everything you need to know about learning to drive, buying your first car, and finding affordable insurance.

There’s a lot to take in, but there’s no better feeling than the day you hold your full driving licence in your hands!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Keanan

Learning to drive TikToker The contents of this magazine are copyright © FirstCar Ltd and may not be reproduced or transmitted, in any form in whole or in part, without written consent from the editor. Neither FirstCar Ltd nor its staff can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it. The contents of this magazine are copyright © FirstCar Ltd and may not be reproduced or transmitted, in any form in whole or in part, without written consent from the editor.

Neither FirstCar Ltd nor its staff can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it.

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CONTENTS PACKED WITH DRIVING ADVICE & TIPS

EARNING TO DRIVE

THE PARENT’S GUIDE Send your parents back to school!

Hand it to them so they can learn how to help you.

7

LEARNING

8-35

It’s time to start learning to drive! From applying for your licence to passing the practical test, we’re with you all the way with tips and advice.

BUYING

42-61

You never forget your first car. Follow our advice to buy a car you’ll be proud of whatever your budget. We’ll help you make a safe choice!

OWNING

72-79

Looking after your first car takes a little time and effort, but it’s worth it to know your car is safe and reliable. Let us talk you through the basics.

INTERVIEW

36-41

Charli XCX is swapping music for the movies in her new film. She tells us all about her starring role on the big screen and life after Brat Summer.

INSURANCE

64-70

You can’t drive without insurance. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about black box cover, as well as offering money-saving tips.

DRIVING

80-94

This is the fun bit! The day you can drive independently is really exciting, but there are some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.

8

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THE COST OF

There’s no way to sugarcoat it, learning to drive is expensive. Our cost calc ob one is to apply for

The provisional licence costs

apply online through gov.uk/ apply-first-provisional-drivinglicence.

To apply you must:

Applying a month or so before your 17th birthday gives plenty of time.

provisional licence. £34. It should only take a week J your The easiest way is to or so for your licence to arrive.

● be at least 15 years and nine months old ● be able to read a numberplate from 20 metres away ● have been given permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days

Paying to learn It’s a good idea to start looking for an instructor a few months before your birthday. Some of the best instructors have waiting lists.

The cost of learning varies but reckon on something like £35-£38 per hour. It could be

as much as £50 in a big city like London. Many schools offer discounts for block booking.

There’s no set length of time you need to spend with an instructor before taking your practical test, but around 45 hours of instruction is a good rule of thumb. Assuming £38 per hour, that’s £1710. Ouch.

Other costs To reinforce what you learn in your lessons, it’s useful to practise with parents or other experienced drivers. You’ll need

LEARNING TOP

HAC Ask d K they riving sch offer o o ls disco if block unt b lesso ooking lo s for ts of ns. Yo uc save a lo ould mone t of y!

ACK TOP Hve a part-

ha g If you , start savin h b t 7 jo 1 r e tim you efore well b day to help birth e cost of th cover rning. lea

COST

CALCULATOR

Use this calculator to budget for learning to drive. We’ve filled in some of the fixed costs for you.

Others are blank for you to complete. ● Provisional licence

LEARNING

culator will help you to set your budget to be insured. A learner driver insurance policy will cover you for practising between lessons.

Different insurance will charge different rates, but around £240 for four months is a reasonable estimate. Budget on some learning resources including

a copy of the Highway Code and theory test apps. You’ll also need to pay for the theory test (£23) and practical test (£62£75). There’s a good chance you’ll have to take one or both tests more than once.

It all adds up, so start saving!

“It’s a good idea to start looking for an instructor a few months before your birthday. Some of the best instructors have waiting lists”

£34 ● Theory test

£23 ● Lessons (approx 45 hours)

£ ● Learner driver insurance

£ ● Apps and learning aids

£ ● Practical test fee £62 (or £75 for evenings and weekends)

£62 ● Estimated total

£

9

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FIND THE PERFECT

INSTRUCTOR

KEANAN’S TOP TIP

t click ers just don’ ur “Some driv yo If . or ct ru st with their in g nowhere, talk in go e ar t it. If lessons ructor abou ink to your inst , th er tt be t ge t things don’ change.” about a

LEARNING

s a learner driver it is

important you A really find the right driving

instructor. To make this easier, the DVSA has improved its ‘find driving schools, lessons and instructors’ service.

You can now search the database of more than 43,000 approved instructors by the grade awarded to them by the DVSA. Instructors can add links to their website or Facebook

page. This will help you check things like... ● whether the instructor provides a photo for security ● if lessons are available for learners with a special need ● the instructor’s availability ● the price of lessons.

To find the best driving instructor for you go to: gov.uk/find-driving-schoolsand-lessons.

ASK THE DRIVING SCHOOL THESE

QUESTIONS Is the instructor fully

1 qualified (an ADI)?

If I have a PDI (an

2 instructor who is still

in training) will I pay less?

If I sign up for a

3 course and we don’t

get on, can I have my money back? Or change instructor?

Will I get the same

4 instructor and car for

each of my lessons?

How long is each

5 lesson? Can I choose

between 60, 90 and 120-minute sessions?

SSONS GET THE MOST FROM LE You’re paying a lot for an expert to teach you how to drive, so be sure to make the most of your time.

HERE’S HOW: Rest up

Always try to get a good night’s rest before a lesson.

A big night out with your mates before a morning lesson isn’t a good idea – you need to be fully alert and sober.

Fuel up

Eat and drink before the lesson to boost your energy levels and keep them high.

Go long

When you book your lessons, think about 90-minute or two-hour sessions. You’ll have more time to get into a rhythm than if the lesson lasts an hour.

Listen up...

Your instructor knows what they are talking about, so concentrate hard on what they are telling you to do.

... but ask questions If you don’t understand what your instructor is asking you to do, don’t be afraid to say so.

Is my instructor CRB

6 checked? Are all

the school’s instructor’s checked in this way?

Are there apps or

7 online tools included

in the price of my lessons?

Will I get help passing

8 my theory and hazard

perception tests?

Do you offer post-test

9 training to improve

my skills after I pass?

11

12

@firstcaruk

M WHAT TO EXPECT FRO

YOUR FIRST It’s an exciting day, but a nervy one – here’s what will happen he big day is coming!

alert and ready to learn. Have

Don’t forget to have your

your energy levels up. It’s best to wear comfortable clothes and shoes that will allow you to operate the pedals easily.

instructor waits for you outside rather than ringing the doorbell.

provisional licence something to eat and drink provisional licence with you, T Your has arrived, you’ve before the lesson starts to keep and keep an eye out in case the

chosen a driving school, and you are about to get behind the wheel for the first time.

You’re probably excited.

Possibly a bit anxious. Maybe both at the same time!

Don’t worry. Your instructor is a professional who is used to guiding nervous first-timers through the techniques needed to drive a car. They’ll start you off with the basics.

Getting ready A good night’s rest the night before will make sure you are

YOU SAY…

first lesson “Before my e YouTube m I watched so ho t w a car’s videos abou helped me It k. or w ls contro good start.” get off to a gham Adi, Birmin

Passenger ride Don’t expect to be thrown in at the deep end. Your instructor will take you to a quiet road before swapping seats. Listen to what they tell you as it will be your turn in a minute!

Before you drive There are some checks you should always make before you set off. Many instructors will use an acronym to help you

LEARNING

13

LEARNING TO DRIVE ON THE

YOU SAY…

t worried abou “I was really , but I needn’t on my first less or was The instruct have been. nt, and tie pa d an really calm lesson felt the hour-long minutes!” more like 10 , Nathalie Portsmouth

LESSON remember. DSSSM is one you may be taught in lesson one. ✔ Doors securely closed ✔ Seat in a comfortable position ✔ Steering wheel positioned correctly ✔ Seatbelt on ✔ Mirrors adjusted The controls Next, you’ll learn what the controls do. You probably have a pretty good idea already, but the instructor won’t take anything for granted.

They’ll give you a rundown on steering, what all the pedals

do (three in a manual, two in an automatic) and the gearlever and handbrake. Ask them to repeat anything that isn’t clear to you.

Nobody is born knowing how to drive so they will be expecting you to ask questions during the lesson.

Moving off You’ll learn how to pull away.

Each and every time you move off you have to be safe as well as in control of the car. That means checking in your mirrors, looking over your shoulder to check your blind spot, and signalling before moving off:

MOTORWAY

It’s not something that will happen on your first lesson(!) but you can learn to drive on the motorway before passing your practical test.

There are some rules to watch out for. You need to be in a car with dual controls, and with an approved driving instructor by your side. So, there’s no practising on motorways with parents between professional lessons.

Ask your instructor if and when they plan to include motorway driving in your lesson plan. mirror, signal, manoeuvre, or MSM for short.

To pull away smoothly you’ll need to learn how to balance the clutch and throttle and find the ‘biting point’ (you’ll hear the engine note change and the car will want to move forwards).

You’ll learn how to stop without stalling and will find out how to use the gears.

It’s going to be okay!

Remember, the instructor has their own pedals so they can stop the car if necessary.

Put your faith in them and believe in yourself too! And don’t forget to enjoy it!

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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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16

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LEARNING TO DRIVE

WITH A DISABILITY

Here’s how to start on the road to independence as a disabled driver disability isn’t

make driving more accessible.

if you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment, you can start learning at 16 – a whole year before everyone else.

Depending on the nature of your disability, driving a car with standard controls could be tricky. Fortunately there are many adaptations out there to

“There are driving instructors who specialise in teaching disabled drivers and have access to adapted vehicles”

a barrier to Across the country, there A necessarily learning to drive. In fact, are driving instructors who

specialise in teaching disabled drivers and have access to adapted vehicles. You can find your nearest instructor at disabilitydrivinginstructors.com.

Several organisations offer help for disabled drivers. Your family may already have a car or wheelchair accessible vehicle through Motability (motability.co.uk). If that’s the case, you can apply to Motability for help with the cost of up to 40 hours of tuition.

LEARNING

17

MAKING MOTORSPORT FOR ALL Nathalie McGloin is passionate about motor racing and determined to make the sport more inclusive. The only female tetraplegic driver in the world to compete at a professional level, Nathalie also campaigns to make racing circuits accessible.

“When I’m racing I leave my wheelchair in the pits.

When I’m lining up on that grid with my helmet on, noone knows I’m female or have a spinal injury. I’m just another driver – and that’s the way it should be.”

Find out more at nathaliemcgloin.com.

You can also practise between lessons in the Motability car, provided you are listed as a driver on the insurance.

You’ll need to have someone aged 21 or over with you, with at least three years of driving experience. They must be

insured to drive the car too.

Disabled Motoring UK (disabledmotoring.org) is also a great source of help and advice. This organisation campaigns for the rights of disabled drivers, passengers, and Blue Badge holders.

DRIVE DIFFERENTLY Neurodiverse drivers face additional challenges when learning to drive. Those difficulties can be overcome with a knowledgeable and understanding instructor.

Whether you are autistic or have an ADHD diagnosis (or both), look for an instructor or driving school

with some experience of teaching neurodiverse drivers. If the instructor doesn’t have this, at the very least they should be keen to learn and up for the challenge.

With the right support neurodiversity need not be a barrier to driving.

“When I’m racing I leave my wheelchair in the pits. When I’m lining up on that grid with my helmet on, no-one knows I’m female or have a spinal injury.

I’m just another driver – and that’s the way it should be.”

18

LEARNING

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EARNER DRIVER

INSURANCE

o really make the most of your lessons, it pays to practise regularly.

That means hitting the road in a friend or family member’s car under their supervision.

You can’t just jump in anyone’s car – you’ll need to arrange insurance. Broadly speaking there are two options to consider...

T

NAMED DRIVER Many learner drivers are added to someone else’s insurance policy as a ‘named driver’. This saves on the need to set up your own policy, but it can be expensive.

As well as bumping up your

parents’ insurance premium, if you have a mishap they could lose their no-claims bonus. And that could make things pretty tense at home!

LEARNER DRIVER INSURANCE Alternatively, you could arrange your own learner driver insurance cover. This means that if you do put a dent in mum or dad’s motor, you won’t put a dent in their bank balance – you’ll claim on your own policy.

There are usually restrictions on the insurance group and value of the car you can drive, but it’s a simple way to find cover while you learn.

“You can’t just jump in anyone’s car – you’ll need to arrange insurance cover first”

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT… ● You’ll need to be supervised by a qualified driver at all times. Some insurers allow that driver to be 21, others insist they are over 25. ● Restrictions will apply to the type of car you can drive, but different insurers will have different rules.

For example, Adrian Flux covers cars worth up to £30,000 with an insurance group of up to 45. ● Live in a two-car household? Check if there’s a discount on being insured on a second car. ● As well as comparing premiums, check the policy excess – that’s the amount you’ll have to pay if you make a claim.

Want to save on your car insurance?

You could save hundreds or even thousands of £££ by taking out a FluxScore black box insurance policy.* No curfews Install the box easily yourself You decide who views your data Daily renewal premium updates on the app

Scan to get a quick and easy quote in minutes or Text QUOTEME to 82228 to get a callback

*Based on our research, a 17-year-old driver who’s recently passed their driving test is likely to pay £2,700 for a fully comprehensive policy. Compare this to an average of £1,500 for a fully comprehensive telematics policy from Adrian Flux. And with safe driving, your renewal price can go down to under £1,000.

adrianflux.co.uk/fluxscore Trustpilot rating checked on 11th February 2026 Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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THE THEORY Pass the theory and you will be a step closer to your full driving licence

TEST TOP H

ACK There to help are lots of ap y theory ou prep fo ps r the test, in ones fr c om th luding e and D D riving VSA Succe Test ss.

efore you can move

to the practical test, B on you need to pass the

theory exam. Once you have your theory test pass certificate you’ll have taken a big step towards your full licence.

What is the theory test?

You’ll be tested on your knowledge of the rules of the road, to show you understand how to be a safe and responsible driver. The test is in two parts. There’s a multiplechoice test, and a hazard perception test.

How hard is it to pass?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can bluff your way through it. It takes a lot of study to fully get to grips with the Highway Code and to learn

how to spot hazards early. You need to score at least 43 out of 50 in the multiple-choice test, and 44 out of 75 for the hazard perception exam.

Where do I take the test and how much does it cost?

You sit the test at a DVSA test centre. The fee is £23. You can book online at gov.uk/booktheory-test.

What can I do to have the best chance of passing?

Good question! Firstly, we’d make full use of any theory test learning aids your driving instructor has. Read the Highway Code and The Official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers thoroughly and test yourself on the contents. There

are free practice tests online at gov.uk/take-practice-theory-test and loads of apps which bring the theory of driving to life.

How does the hazard test work?

You’ll watch 14 video clips, all around a minute long. There will be 15 hazards to spot, and at least one in every video. You click on a mouse button when you spot a hazard – the quicker you notice potential danger, the higher the score. Don’t just click like crazy, as you’ll score ‘zero’ if you cheat.

What next?

Fail, and you’ll have to wait at least three working days before taking the test again. Pass, and preparing for the practical test is your next step.

LEARNING

21

THEORY TEST QUIZ 7

you see a 1 When hazard ahead you

should use the mirrors.

Why is this?

MARK ONE ANSWER

A Because you will need to accelerate out of danger B To assess how your actions will affect following traffic C Because you will need to brake sharply to a stop D To check what is happening on the road ahead

inexperienced 3 Young, and newly qualified

drivers can often be involved in crashes. This is due to A Being too cautious at junctions B Driving in the middle of their lane C Showing off and being competitive D Staying within the speed limit can cause 4 What heavy steering?

Pedestrians are waiting to cross. You should A Give way to the elderly and infirm only B Slow down and prepare to stop C Use your headlights to indicate they can cross D Wave at them to cross the road

are following 5 You other vehicles in fog.

You have your lights on. what else can you do to reduce the chances of being in a collision?

A Keep close to the vehicle in front B Use your main beam instead of dipped headlights C Keep up with the faster vehicles D Reduce your speed and increase the gap in front are driving 6 You towards a level

crossing. What would be the first warning of an approaching train?

A Both half barriers down B A steady amber light C One half barrier down D Twin flashing red lights

approaching 8 You’re a busy junction with

several lanes. At the last moment you realise you’re in the wrong lane. You should A Continue in that lane B Force your way across C Stop until the area has cleared D Use clear arm signals to cut across red traffic 9 A light means

A You should stop unless turning left B Stop, if you are able to brake safely C Stop and wait behind the stop line D Proceed with caution

should wear 10 You suitable shoes

when driving. Why? A To prevent wear on the pedals B To maintain control of the pedals C To enable you to adjust your seat D To enable you to walk for assistance if you break down

Answers: 1=B, 2=B, 3=C, 4=D, 5=D, 6=B, 7=D, 8=A, 9=C, 10=B

are approaching 2 You a zebra crossing.

A Driving on ice B Badly worn brakes C Over-inflated tyres D Under-inflated tyres

When may you wait in a box junction?

A When you are stationary in a queue of traffic B When approaching a pelican crossing C When approaching a zebra crossing D When oncoming traffic prevents you turning right

22

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5

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR N

HAZARD PERCEPTIO

Spotting hazards isn’t just important when you take your theory test, it’s a vital part of safe driving, full stop

LEARNING

23

1

THINK ABOUT IT WHENEVER YOU DRIVE

Don’t treat hazard perception as something that’s separate to the rest of your learning.

Yes, you’re going to be tested on a computer, but you’ll learn more quickly if you practise spotting hazards every time you drive.

The goal is to spot danger and stay safe on the road, not just to pass a test.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

2

Well, maybe not perfect but good enough to pass the theory test.

Take lots of mock hazard perception tests before you tackle the real thing. That way you’ll know what to expect and will be able to sharpen your skills. There are loads of them online and they’re often free.

3

TALK OUT LOUD The most advanced police drivers are taught to give a running commentary as they drive. Talking about hazards while driving forces you to concentrate on potential dangers, rather than running on autopilot. Saying out loud what you see – and how you

are going to respond – makes sure the brain is fully engaged and helps you learn to process lots of information at once. If you are giving a commentary as you drive there’s no mental capacity left to wonder what’s for dinner or where you will go on Friday night...

REMEMBER THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE HAZARD Every video in the hazard perception test shows at least one hazard. But just to keep you on your toes, one of the 14 videos has two hazards.

So, don’t switch off after you have spotted the first hazard.

There could be another one appearing at any moment.

UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TYPES OF HAZARD KEANAN’S TOP TIP

the hazard “I messed up my first in perception k Taking moc theory test. e pass m ed lp he tests e!” second tim

4

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of hazards.

‘Static’ hazards are things like roundabouts, traffic lights and junctions. You need to deal with them on every journey, but a roundabout isn’t going to suddenly jump out at you from behind a parked car.

5

‘Developing’ hazards are mobile and tougher to predict.

Such hazards include a car pulling out in front of you, a child running into the street, or a cyclist getting ready to turn right. The sooner you spot a developing hazard, the sooner you can respond.

24

@firstcaruk

THE HIERARCHY

OF ROAD USERS ou can do a lot more

with a lorry than Y harm a small hatchback. And

a hatchback can do a lot more damage than a child crossing the road. That’s reflected in the Highway Code.

Lots of changes were made in a big update in 2022. Some existing rules were tidied up or clarified, but the guiding principle is the ‘hierarchy of road users’ – those who can do the greatest harm must take the

greatest responsibility.

The likes of lorry and coach drivers have the greatest duty to look out for other road users, because they’re driving the biggest, heaviest vehicles with the most potential to do damage. Pedestrians are at the

opposite end of the hierarchy, as they’re likely to come off worst in any collision. Car drivers must take a great deal of responsibility, as although we are vulnerable to larger and heavier vehicles, we need to take extra care around horse

“We all need to take care of each other, and especially the most vulnerable people on the road”

LEARNING

“Everyone needs to stick to the rules, and use the roads safely, however they choose to get from A to B”

GET THE

HIGHWAY CODE

Everyone needs to be familiar with the Highway Code – it’s vital for learners but important for anyone.

You can buy the Highway Code from a bookshop or download the app:

riders, cyclists, and people on foot.

These updated rules are sometimes misrepresented as allowing vulnerable road users, in particular cyclists, to do as they please with the car driver always getting the blame. That’s not what the changes are all about. Everyone needs to stick to the rules, and use the roads safely, however they choose to get from A to B. Rather there’s a shift of emphasis – those with the greatest potential to cause harm shoulder the greatest responsibility.

Just as a lorry driver should remember that car drivers

TOP HACK

u are Whenever yo other an by ed at tr us fr agine they road user, im rather nd ie fr are a er. than a strang and passengers are more vulnerable than they are in a collision, so car drivers should keep in mind that a horse rider, cyclist, or pedestrian is likely to be badly injured if we hit them.

We all need to take care of each other, and especially the most vulnerable people on the road.

25

PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY Pedestrians have priority when crossing or waiting to cross at a junction.

It’s one of the rules from the 2022 Highway Code update which many drivers still forget or ignore. Make sure that you are not one of them.

26

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SHARE

THE ROAD

The roads are for everyone, not just cars and drivers. Here’s how to put the hierarchy of road users into practice as you drive, sharing road space with more vulnerable road users

LEAVE AT LEAST

1.5

METRES

TAKING CARE AT JUNCTIONS

OPENING DOORS

You should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross at junctions, including wheelchair and mobility scooter users. So, make sure you are checking for pedestrians as you approach a junction. If you spot someone in the road or waiting to step out, wait for them to cross before turning.

Use the ‘Dutch reach’ when opening a car door. This means using your left hand to open the driver’s door, which encourages you to turn towards the road, giving you a better view of any vulnerable road users such as cyclists who may be passing close to your car.

LEARNING

DRIVING NEAR CYCLISTS Remember that cyclists are allowed to ride in the centre of the lane, or two abreast, while allowing you to overtake when it’s safe to do so.

TOP HA C

K Expect th eu Horses d nexpected. behave p on’t always re be espec dictably, so iall when ov y careful ertaking them.

OVERTAKING VULNERABLE ROAD USERS When overtaking cyclists, leave at least 1.5 metres when passing at speeds of up to 30mph. Give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.

Pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at no more than 10mph and leave at least two metres of space.

Be patient and ready to wait if there isn’t space to meet these clearances.

TURNING LEFT Wait for cyclists to pass a junction before turning left. Stay behind as they continue straight ahead and don’t cut across them. The same applies if turning left would mean cutting across a horse rider or a horsedrawn vehicle.

27

28

@firstcaruk

HOW TO RULE...

REVERSING

The practical test’s reversing manoeuvres need the right method and plenty of practice. Here’s how to reverse like a pro!

PULL UP ON THE RIGHT AND REVERSE

1

Look around for a safe spot

The examiner will ask you to “Pull up on the right where it is safe to do so.” Find a safe spot for the manoeuvre. You shouldn’t stop directly behind a parked vehicle.

1

2

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre

TOP H

AC

K Prac manoe tise these u lessons vres between .Y hang o ou’ll get the f them quickly more .

Now check your mirrors and over your shoulder. Then indicate right. Look ahead for oncoming traffic, check in your mirrors and over your shoulder once again.

2

3 5 4

3

Pull over to the right

Make your way over to the right-hand side of the road at a relatively shallow angle. Aim to stop in a straight line and parallel with the kerb, close to it without hitting it.

4

Get ready to reverse

Select reverse gear. Allow any traffic to pass. Now check to make sure it’s clear behind you.

Reverse slowly and stay close to the kerb, continuing to keep a close eye out for traffic.

5

Rejoining traffic

Look ahead, in your mirrors and over your shoulder to check it’s clear. If there’s a safe gap in both directions signal left and pull away, moving over to the left side of the road.

LEARNING

29

REVERSING INTO A PARKING BAY

1

Don’t get too close

2 TOP HACKrk

Reversing into a parking bay is much easier if you give yourself a bit of space to work with. So, don’t get too close to the row of bays. Instead, check ahead and behind you, and if traffic allows move out around half a car’s width from the bays. Indicate in the direction you will be turning.

Swing in towards the bay

Come to a stop just beyond the bay you will be parking in.

Select reverse gear, and have a good look around you to check for other cars or anyone on foot. If it’s clear, look out of the rear windscreen and start to reverse backwards, turning towards the bay.

t car pa Find a quie reversing to practice ere’s less Th y. ba a into an if it’s th re su pres busy.

2

3

1

5 4

3

Take it slow

It’s important to take your time rather than rush. Reversing slowly will give you time to adjust the direction of the car, aiming for the middle of the bay. It may help to use your outside mirrors as reference points – think of each mirror ending up just inside the white lines either side of the bay.

4

Keep looking around you

Good observation is crucial to reverse parking. While your main focus is behind you, it’s important to keep glancing around. If pedestrians or other vehicles come close, wait until they have passed, unless it’s clear that they are waiting for you to complete your reversing manoeuvre.

5

Straighten up the car

Once in the bay with the car in line with the white lines, straighten the wheel. If you are not quite straight, check for traffic and people on foot and, if it’s clear, pull forward a little, steering the car so it’s parallel with the white lines. Then reverse back again so the car is squarely within the bay.

30

LEARNING

@firstcaruk

PARALLEL PARKING

1

Stop moving

2

You’ll be asked to pull up in a space that’s big enough for the car you’re driving. Stop level with the car you are going to reverse behind and no more than one metre out to the side.

Be ready to reverse

3

Select reverse gear while checking all around you to make sure it is safe to drive back, with no other traffic approaching. If it’s clear, start moving backwards slowly.

Straight

Look over your left shoulder.

When the corner of the car you are reversing behind appears in your passenger-side window turn the steering wheel one full turn to the left.

Left

1

Turn the wheel to the left

Right

3

5 2

4 6

4

Keep looking around you

Check carefully to be sure there’s nobody walking close to the car or other road users nearby. If it’s safe, continue to reverse back into the space.

5

Turn the wheel to the right

Turn the steering wheel hard the other way. This will tuck the nose of your car in. Just be careful that the front of your car is clear of the other vehicle.

6

Straighten the wheel

Once you are parallel with the kerb, straighten the wheel.

Make sure you’re not sticking out into the road or up on the pavement.

you know you want to...

32

@firstcaruk

ASK THE

EXAMINER

We’ve put some of the most common questions about the practical test to ow long is the

test?

H driving “You’ll spend at least

question, something like ‘How would you check the headlights and tail lights are operating correctly?’”

What happens before I drive?

“I’ll ask you to read a numberplate from 20 metres away, so don’t forget your glasses or contacts if you need them to see clearly.”

What happens once we start driving?

“For 20 minutes out of the total you’ll be driving independently, which means following road signs or sat nav to a destination.

Taking a wrong turn is no big deal, I want to see that you can drive safely.”

30 minutes behind the wheel, driving on a variety of roads.”

Then what?

“Next comes the ‘tell me’

Will I be asked a ‘show me’

question?

“Yes. It could be something as simple as showing how you would turn on the rear demister, or wash and clean the windscreen.”

What manoeuvres will be part of the test?

“As well as making a hill start, pulling out from behind a parked car, and making a normal stop at the side of the road, you may need to make an emergency stop. You’ll also need to carry out one of three

LEARNING

33

YOUR CHECKLIST FOR PRACTICAL

TEST SUCCESS The green light from your instructor If they say you are ready, you’re ready.

Plenty of practice Don’t avoid tricky manoeuvres or difficult junctions. Work on any weaknesses before the test.

TOP HACK

night Get an early y. You g da bi e th re fo be as fresh as want to be hen you w le ib poss test. e th take

o an examiner. Here’s what they had to say! reversing manoeuvres.”

How good do I need to be to pass?

“You need to prove you are safe and competent. I’m not expecting perfection! So long as you make no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called ‘minors’) and no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’) you’ll be okay.”

What if the examiner doesn’t like me?

“Examiners are professionals,

doing their job. We’re going to judge you on your driving ability, nothing else. Honestly, we’re just regular people!”

And after the test, what happens then?

“Whether you pass or fail, we’ll talk you through any faults.

Around half of candidates fail, so don’t be surprised if this happens to you. We’re not trying to catch you out, though.

If you make the grade, you’ll pass! And if you don’t, come back stronger!”

A positive attitude Believe in yourself!

You can do this!

Strategies for handling pressure Don’t tell your friends your test is coming up if this will add to your nerves.

Your provisional licence and theory test pass certificate You’ll need to take both to the test centre.

Sensible clothes and footwear Wear something comfortable and shoes that make it easy to use the pedals.

Be willing to learn If you don’t pass, understand why so you can be better prepared for your next test.

34

@firstcaruk

1 OBSERVATION AT JUNCTIONS Practise ‘eye

FIX scanning’. Instead

of fixing your eyes directly in front of you, keep looking all around you and in your mirrors. Take particular care to look for other road users who have priority over you at junctions, so you can wait.

N FIX THE MOST COMMO

PRACTICAL TEST FAULTS These are the 10 most common reasons for failing the practical

MIRRORS (CHANGING DIRECTION) Eye scanning

FIX can help with

this one too. You need 360˚ awareness of what’s going on around you, especially before changing direction.

Always look in the mirrors and check your blind spot before making any direction change.

2

NOT MOVING OFF SAFELY Go by the book

FIX every time.

Remember Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre (MSM). That way you won’t pull away until it is safe, and you will have shown your intentions to other road users. Observation and good judgement are key.

3

LEARNING

TURNING RIGHT AT JUNCTIONS

RESPONDING TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS

4

Some new

FIX drivers hate

Look ahead

FIX to spot

turning right at a junction, but don’t get anxious, just remember your Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed and Look routine (MSPSL). Be cautious in judging the speed of oncoming traffic and make the turn once you are sure it is completely safe.

POOR STEERING CONTROL To have

FIX a strong

6

chance of passing the practical, steering the car should be second nature.

If it’s not, keep practising.

The push-pull method is best under most circumstances, but the important thing is to keep control of the car.

INCORRECT RESPONSE

8

You must FIX watch for road markings, understand their meaning, and respond appropriately. The Highway Code explains what road markings mean, so make sure you revise this subject before your practical test.

35

5

traffic lights and prepare to slow down and stop if necessary.

Watch the lights as you wait for them to change.

Remain at a stop when the lights turn to red and amber. Don’t move until they are green.

7

FAILING TO RESPOND TO ROAD SIGNS Continually look

FIX for signs and

road markings, interpret the information they are giving you, and respond appropriately. Don’t let your theory knowledge slip between your theory and practical tests. Your theory know-how is still important!

POOR ROAD POSITIONING Stay within FIX your lane unless you are changing lanes or pulling out to overtake. Don’t let the car wander towards the lane markings. When overtaking cyclists, always leave at least 1.5 metres of space.

9

THE WRONG SPEED FOR THE ROAD

10

Consider the

FIX conditions, traffic,

signs, and limit. Choose a speed at which you can stop safely within the distance you can see is clear. You must always drive at a safe and reasonable speed.

36

@firstcaruk

I L R A H C

: X C X

” E IF L L A E R IN R E IC N M I’ “

Interview by Samatha Fraser/Hot Features. All pics in feature are Shutter Stock.

t to Pop star Charli XCX is abou

P

op superstar Charli XCX makes her first big-screen outing in the brand-new film produced by A24 called ‘The Moment’.

The mockumentary film is directed by Aidan Zamiri, who co-wrote it with Bertie Brandes, based on an original idea by Charli.

Charli XCX plays a fictionalised version of herself in the film, which follows the life of a pop star in the lead-up to her first headline arena tour.

The ‘Boom Clap’ singer says about the film: “The seed of ‘The Moment’ was conceived from this idea of being pressured to make a tour

hit the big screen

documentary.”

‘The Moment’ offers an inside look at the music industry’s inner workings and explores how subculture is mutated by commercial success.

The film also stars Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell and Alexander Skarsgård.

Meanwhile, Charli is eyeing her third No.1 album with ‘Wuthering Heights’, the original soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of the English classic. If Charli hits No.1, it will mark her third charttopping album in four years, following 2022’s ‘Crash’ and 2024’s ’Brat’.

CONTINUED...

INTERVIEW

37

38

@firstcaruk

“And after my album ‘Brat’, I kind of got opened up to this entirely new, much larger audience” TYDG: So Charli, tell us what sparked this idea to make ‘The Moment’?

CHARLI XCX: I think I had been through an extreme transition in my work life, where for years I was sort of known as a kind of pop artist who was sort of on the fringes with a very loyal, exclusively gay fan base.

And after my album ‘Brat’, I kind of got opened up to this entirely new, much larger audience, which I was so grateful and thankful for. But with it came this, I don’t know, this sort of feeling of kind of losing control of something that I had really been able to be in control of for so long, you know?

I think when you release art into the world, and it reaches a wide audience, and in my case, this was the widest audience I’d ever reached, their opinions begin to be sort of put on the work, the work begins to sort of morph and change in its meaning. And obviously that’s just what comes with releasing art, period. But I’d never experienced it at this scale before. And it left me sort of thinking a lot about how we communicate art, at what point art sort of leaves your own hands and goes into the audience’s hands, how that makes you feel as a creator.

And I just felt that I had a lot of things to say around that subject.

I also think I am quite an

emotional and volatile artist, as I think many artists are. And I found elements of that journey quite difficult. And I just felt that making this film was a way of me not only commenting on art and the longevity and lifespan of art, but also me sort of dealing with my experience, my very personal experience as an artist and how I felt in the industry, the music industry, going through that.

TYDG: You play a fictionalised version of yourself in the film. It’s a character, but is it very close to the real you?

CHARLI XCX: Well, you see, I’ve been sort of training to play this role my entire life in ways. [laughs] I was very ‘method’ from the day I was born, I guess. [laughs] But it’s like the scenarios that we show in the film are not true scenarios that actually happened to me in the year of 2024, but given a

different set of circumstances, they might. And I think I have definitely come close to those circumstances, especially having been in the music industry for so long. I’ve definitely met characters that we sort of touch on, or versions of characters that we sort of touch on within the film. And I’ve definitely reacted in ways close to the way that I react in the film.

Have I had a breakdown in the back of a Viano whilst smoking a million cigarettes?

Yes. [laughs] So, yeah, you know, I definitely had a lot to draw upon, let’s say. But I think I am nicer in real life.

TYDG: Was it selfempowering to make this film?

CHARLI XCX: Yeah, of course. I mean, I think in the film, Charli in the film, which sounds crazy, but Charli in the film, she decides to set herself

“I also think I am quite an emotional and volatile artist, as I think many artists are. And I found elements of that journey quite difficult”

INTERVIEW

39

CONTINUED...

40

@firstcaruk

“Have I had a breakdown in the back of a Viano whilst smoking a million cigarettes? Yes. [laughs]”

INTERVIEW

“Fans are so feverish for the next thing, the next album, the next version of you” free of ‘Brat’ and kill ‘Brat’.

And I think we were aware that this film was probably the sort of full stop at the end of an album campaign in the real world, too. And I think we’re very interested in playing with, interacting with the world around us, and also operating in an insular way within a film.

So I think that was something very appealing to us.

And also, I think we’ve always been very interested in the lifespan of art, the idea of the tension of sort of staying too long, overstaying your welcome in a cultural space, you know?

And I think especially within pop music, that can really happen, because fans are so feverish for the next thing, the next album, the next version of you. So I think, yes, making this film was quite cathartic in a way, because I was also able to channel a lot of my frustration that I may have felt in the real world into these sort of heightened scenarios that I was experiencing within the film.

TYDG: So is it really over now, the ‘Brat Summer’ is over?

CHARLI XCX: I mean, it’s sort of up to the world, but for me, it’s over, and I guess you can’t dread the end when it’s over. [laughs] TYDG: Finally, how does it feel to be presenting this film at the Berlinale film festival?

CHARLI XCX: I think we all collectively feel so honoured to have been invited to show our film at both Sundance and here at Berlinale. I think both festivals really do champion a wide variety of filmmakers with really important voices.

This festival in particular is known for not shying away from political films, from films that have a real social angle, from films by directors who really are visionary and have something to say. And I think for me as a

41

producer, as an actor, for Aidan [Zamiri] as a director, for David [Hinojosa] as a producer, I think those are the kinds of films that we love, those are the films that we want to champion ourselves.

I feel like I’m only just starting out in this industry, but I feel passionate about working within those spaces. And I think we all feel so honoured to be here, and we’re very thankful for this festival because I think it’s very important that it exists.

42

@firstcaruk

CHOOSING YOUR

here are lots of highs

safety feature is

lows when learning you, the driver.

T and to drive. Passing the But there are

practical is probably the biggest high. If you are lucky enough to buy your first car, that’s another landmark moment to enjoy.

Buying a first car is a balancing act. You need to juggle the things you want, the things you need, and the reality of running a car on a budget.

Choose wisely, and you can drive away in a car that’s safe, reliable, and cool.

other factors that make one car safer than another.

A good way to check if a car is safe is to look up its rating on EuroNCAP. com. Cars receive an overall score out of five stars. This is then broken down into different categories like adult occupant protection.

All sorts of clever driver

Safety first Okay, safety is boring, but it’s important. At the risk of sounding like your driving instructor, the most important

“A good way to check if a car is safe is to look up its rating on EuroNCAP.com”

assistance systems have become common over the past decade or so.

Even if you are buying a car that’s several years old there’s a good chance it will come with autonomous emergency braking (AEB). This hits the brakes for you if you don’t notice that a collision is likely and is definitely worth having.

A car you can rely on Reliability is also boring, until you spend two hours broken down on the hard shoulder in the pouring rain. So, make sure any car you buy has been

BUYING

FIRST CAR

43

YOUR FIRST CAR

CHECK LIST Fill this out before you commit to buying your first car.

How much does it cost?

£ Have I checked the car’s history?

What is the insurance group (1-50)?

How much is insurance for a year?

£ well cared for. A full service history (meaning the car has been serviced on time and in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations) is a good sign. If it’s been on the road three years or more it must also have a valid MOT (an annual safety and emissions check).

You should also look up the results of reliability and owner satisfaction surveys. Cars which do well in such studies usually make sound buys.

If the car you are buying comes with a warranty to cover the cost of repairs if it develops an unexpected fault, even better.

Insurance It’s not unheard of for a new driver’s insurance premium to cost more than the car. So, before you buy any vehicle make sure you check the insurance group (Google “insurance group checker”).

Groups run from 1-50, the lower the better.

Better still, get some quotes to find out how much you would need to pay for cover before you have bought the car. That way you will know if you can afford the total cost of the car and the insurance premium combined or if you should think again.

How many miles per gallon?

MPG Does it have a full service history?

What is the car’s Euro NCAP rating (up to five stars)?

Does the car have autonomous emergency braking?

44

@firstcaruk

YOUR ELECTRONIC

CO-PILOT he most important

feature in any T safety car is you, the driver.

But even the best driver benefits from some help.

Modern cars are packed with clever technology to help you

survive a crash – or better still avoid one in the first place.

The smartest technologies are sometimes called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS for short) and use all kinds of sensors to help

you stay safe.

Use the tick and cross boxes to note if any first car you are thinking of buying is fitted with these important safety features.

The more ticks the better!

BUYING

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) What is it?

This clever feature uses sensors (often radar, cameras or both) to detect if a collision is likely. At first it will warn the driver, usually with an audible alarm and often a message on the driver’s display. If the driver doesn’t react, it will apply the

1

45

brakes. This will either avoid the collision or make it less severe.

Some estimates show that if every car had AEB it would prevent 100,000 rear-end crashes in the UK each year.

Lots of modern cars have AEB, even the smaller and more affordable models that are likely to be bought as first cars.

It could be called Active City Brake, City Emergency Braking, or Front Assist.

AEB has been compulsory on new cars since May 2024 but was fitted to many models well before this date too.

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

Electronic stability control (ESC) What is it?

By easing off the throttle or braking individual wheels, stability control systems help the driver maintain control if they corner too quickly for the conditions, leading to a loss of grip. Different car makers use different names for stability control, including ASC, DSC, DSTC, PSM, VDC, and VSC. All new cars have been fitted with ESC since 2014, and many

had it before this date. Most cars on the road will have ESC but check if your first car is an older model.

eCall What is it?

This brilliant feature will call the emergency services for you if you are involved in a collision.

Even if you are unconscious, help will be on the way.

The eCall system also gives the emergency services your location, so they know exactly where help is needed. eCall opens a voice channel so you

can speak to operators if you are able.

Some research suggests eCall reduces response times by 50%. It really should be high on your list of safety features when shopping for a first car.

It’s been compulsory on new vehicles since the spring of 2018.

2

KEANAN’S TOP TIP

hed friends cras “One of my unty road at on a quiet co ht not have mig night. Help eir too late if th arrived until d te fit en be car hadn’t with eCall.”

3

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

CONTINUED...

46

@firstcaruk

Lanedeparture warning (LDW) and lanekeeping assist (LKA) What is it?

If your car starts to drift out of its lane without the driver indicating, LDW will sound a warning. Lane-keeping assist goes a step further and will steer the car back towards the centre of the lane.

Like all these driver assistance systems, LDW and LKA should be thought of as a back-up to an attentive driver.

4

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

High-beam assist What is it?

Sometimes called auto high beam, this system switches between dipped and full-beam headlights for the driver. Cameras detect oncoming traffic and will dip the beam to avoid dazzling other road users. Once the other car has passed, high-beam assist

5

will switch back to full beam to give you the best view of the road ahead.

Adaptive headlights take this feature a step further and adjust the shape and direction of the beam to suit the car’s steering angle, speed, and the road conditions. The beam’s reach and shape alter to give an excellent view of the road without dazzling anyone.

It’s more likely that a first car will have high-beam assist rather than the more sophisticated adaptive lights.

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

BUYING

47

OLDER CARS

Driver drowsiness detection What is it?

Using sensors to detect steering patterns and monitor eye movements, driver drowsiness detection systems will spot if a driver is becoming tired. The system will warn the driver with a message on the dashboard.

While these are a great way to spot fatigue, don’t rely on them entirely. On a long drive it’s best to stop for a break every couple of hours so you stay alert.

7

Does my first car have it?

Yes No Blind-spot monitoring (BSM) What is it?

This uses sensors to look for car that’s in a driver’s blind spot (in other words, another vehicle close to the car you are driving but not visible in the mirrors). Often, these systems will use an amber light in the door mirror to warn of another vehicle in the blind spot. If the driver moves towards the other car the light may flash and a warning will sound.

6

Other names to look out for include blind-spot detection (BSD), blind-spot information system (BLIS) and blind-spot warning (BSW).

This is a really useful feature, but it’s a backstop rather than a replacement for looking over your shoulder. Blind-spot monitoring isn’t required by law, so not all brandnew cars have this feature.

Does my first car have it?

Yes No

As a rule, the more recent the car the more likely it is to be equipped with the latest safety systems. It makes sense to buy the newest car you can afford to benefit from all this clever tech.

Let’s be realistic, though.

Many new drivers are on a tight budget. If you are looking at a car that’s many years old, it’s less like to have advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted.

There are still lots of safety features to look out for…

Airbags These will inflate in a collision to reduce the risk of injury.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) ABS keeps the wheels turning as you make an emergency stop, so you can steer away from danger.

Brake Assist Some drivers don’t apply full force to the brake pedal, even in an emergency. Brake Assist recognises an emergency situation and will apply the brakes with full force even if the driver doesn’t.

48

@firstcaruk

FINANCING

YOUR CAR rom HP to PCP to

there’s a whole F PCH, alphabet soup of

different finance options.

The good news is interest rates are relatively low, so financing is surprisingly affordable. In fact, with special schemes aimed at young drivers which include the cost of insurance, a new car might not be as expensive as you’d think.

We’ll talk you through the pros and cons of the different finance options.

P) PERSONAL CONTRACT PURCHASE (PC

1

PCP is the most popular finance option, and it’s not hard to see why. A PCP makes a new car more affordable by reducing the monthly payments. If you see a car advertised as “from just £149 per month” you can bet it’s a PCP deal.

After stumping up a deposit you pay a set amount per month for, say, three years, but at the end of the loan you’ll need to find a lump sum of several thousand pounds if you want

to own the car. You don’t have to pay up, you can just hand the car back. Or you can part-exchange the car and use the difference between the final payment and the car’s value as a trade-in as the deposit to start a new deal.

Sometimes the cost of servicing is included.

Schemes which include the cost of insurance can be especially attractive for young drivers, provided there are no age restrictions.

Just be aware that PCPs will have an annual mileage limit, with penalty charges if you drive too far.

Good Affordable monthly payments; some PCPs include servicing and insurance Bad You won’t own the car at the end of the loan unless you make a big final payment; watch out for penalties for exceeding mileage limits

BUYING TOP TIP

HIRE PURCHASE (HP)

2

You pay a deposit, followed by a series of equal monthly payments (generally over two, three, or four years). At the end of the loan you’ve paid for the car in full, and unlike a PCP or PCH mileage isn’t restricted.

The trouble is, without PCP’s big final payment, monthly bills are much higher. However, if you

49

want to own the car at the end of the loan HP can be cheaper when you add up the total cost.

Good Easy to understand; no big final payment Bad Higher monthly bills than a PCP

ance offer Look for a fin insurance with g that comes st of servicin or has the co is can save Th . included s a small young driver fortune.

APRS

PERSONAL LOAN

3

Rather than borrowing money from whoever is selling you the car, you could take out a personal loan from a bank or finance company.

However, lenders will want you to be 18 (or in some cases 21) before they’ll consider loaning you money. It may be easier to find a willing lender if you have a guarantor for the

loan (usually a parent) but they’ll have to pay up if you don’t, which could make for a frosty atmosphere at the dinner table...

Good No need to find money for a deposit Bad Can be expensive; not all will qualify

CREDIT CARD

4

You’ll need to be 18 or over to have your own credit card. Interest rates are usually high, so a credit card makes most sense as a way to pay for a car if the card has a 0% interest rate for a limited time and you’re

TOP HAC

K

Use a price site to find comparison th card deals e best credit . Yo for a low ra u’re looking te you are elig of interest. If ible card you’v for a 0% e hit the jackpot!

in a position to pay off the car before the interestfree period ends. These 0% deals are usually only available to borrowers with a good credit score, so in practice you may have to lean on mum or dad to use their credit card.

Good 0% special offers; additional legal protection Bad High standard interest rates; not available to under 18s

Lenders charge interest on your loan, referred to as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Any APRs quoted are usually a guide only; the exact rate is decided on an individual basis. Unlike a flat interest rate, an APR gives you a bigger picture when shopping for the best deal on a loan. Even though lenders are required by law to show a loan’s APR, they don’t all use the same fees in their calculation, skewing the comparison, so always check to make sure any APRs you’re comparing include similar fees.

“Always check to make sure any APRs you’re comparing include similar fees”

50

@firstcaruk

WHERE TO BUY A

There are loads of different places to buy a used car. From main dealers MAIN DEALER

CAR SUPERMARKETS

INDEPENDENT DEALERS

Big franchised dealers will have plenty of used cars. As a rule, they’ll mostly stock the make they sell new, but they will also sell other makes if they’ve taken them as part-exchange.

If you want a wide choice of makes and models, keenly priced, then car supermarkets are a good bet.

Many have a no-haggling policy, so the price you see is the price you pay.

Smaller independents won’t offer as much choice as the big dealers, but the best offer a more personal service than a big car supermarket.

Good ● Expect at least a year’s warranty ● Cars should be well prepared

Good ● Lots and lots of choice ● Keen prices, often with no-haggling

Bad ● High prices ● Mostly one make ● Unlikely to stock bargainpriced older cars

Bad ● Service can be no-frills ● Warranty cover likely to be shorter than a main dealer’s

Good ● Should be cheaper than a main dealer ● The best small dealers really look after their customers Bad ● Limited stock compared with a franchised dealer ● Warranties can be short unless you pay extra

BUYING

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TOP BUYING ADVICE

BE FLEXIBLE

USED CAR

to private sales, all have their pros and cons PRIVATE SALE For a real bargain, look through the classifed ads and find a car for sale privately. You should pay less than you would at a dealer, but there are pitfalls.

Good ● Some keenly priced cars ● No hard-sell Bad ● You won’t have the same legal protection ● Watch out for dealers pretending to be private sellers to dodge their legal obligations

ONLINE

Don’t set your heart on one car. There’s more than one model out there to suit your needs.

LOOK ONLINE Some retailers sell cars over the internet with delivery to your door. You could pick up a bargain, but check the policy on returns.

WARRANTY COVER

Some online retailers, like Cinch, will deliver your first car to your door. This can save you a lot of time travelling from place to place to look at different cars.

Some regular dealers also offer online sales.

If you buy a used car without a warranty, think about arranging one through an independent company such as Warrantydirect.co.uk.

Good ● Lots of choice ● You can return the car if it’s not for you

TOP TIP

Bad ● No chance to test drive before you buy ● Standard warranties may be short

t off by a Don’t be pu r if it has ca e high-mileag e history. a full servic n make ca High-milers good buys.

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HOW TO

BUY A USED CAR

STEP 1: CHECK IT OVER Look for bodywork damage.

Poor panel fit suggests crash repairs. Check for rust that’s been painted over, plus filler in the wheelarches.

Have the tyres worn evenly or are they bald? Uneven wear suggests poorly aligned tracking (usually easily sorted) but could be something more serious.

You should also check that the chassis number (usually at the base of the windscreen on the passenger side) matches the one on the registration document. Also check the engine number, which is usually

on the top of the block, down one side.

Ask if the car comes with one key or two. Think carefully about buying a car without a spare.

Lose the only key and you may have to have everything reprogrammed – which can cost hundreds of pounds.

“Have the tyres worn evenly or are they bald?

Uneven wear suggests poorly aligned tracking”

Take a really careful look inside.

Is the interior undamaged, along with all the glass? Are there stickers on the windows to cover an old registration number etched into the glass? Have the steering wheel and gearknob been worn smooth? Does this tally with the recorded mileage?

Look at the dash. Do the speedo digits line up properly? Does the mileage on the dashboard display tally with what’s recorded in the service record and the MOT history?

Ensure all the electrics work, including the lights.

BUYING

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STEP 2: THE TEST DRIVE

Never buy a car without test driving it first, unless you are buying over the internet and you have the legal right to return it if you change your mind. Start the car from cold, and make sure it ticks over happily. Let it warm up then take it for a good run so you can check everything.

While you’re driving, look for a smoky TOP TIP exhaust, ensure the ea to It’s a good id ith you engine pulls cleanly, w ne eo m and feel for pulling take so potential to look at a to one side under ay spot m buy. They braking. Listen out for ng you hi et m so any odd sounds and miss. weird noises.

STEP 3: THE PAPERWORK Make sure all the paperwork is in order. The key documents are: Service history: for proof of regular servicing and to see if the mileage is correct. Some modern cars will have a digital service history rather than a service book.

Registration document (or V5C): This tells you the basics

STEP 4: DOING THE DEAL Your goal is to pay less than the asking price. Any seller should set the price above what they’re prepared to accept – so

don’t pay a penny more than you have to. Compare the price to what other similar cars are being advertised for.

about the car, such as how many owners it’s had and who it’s currently registered to. The person named on this form isn’t necessarily the legal owner of the car, though. Don’t buy a car without a V5C and make sure it’s genuine by looking for the watermark.

MOT: If a car between three and 40 years old has no MOT it probably isn’t roadworthy.

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Rated ‘excellent’ 4.9 out of 5 (as of July 2023)

Their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for their clients will undoubtedly make your insurance process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

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We’re not on comparison sites! Call us:

0333 047 3000 Or visit www.myfirst.com

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THE BEST ST CARS FIR

FIRST FOR SAFETY

VOLKSWAGEN POLO (2022-) ust a handful of small

The Polo was last updated

have the maximum back in 2022. Volkswagen J cars five-star rating from the included all sorts of safety

safety experts at Euro NCAP. The VW Polo is one. Its score of 94% for adult occupant protection is right up with the very best.

features and driver aids which are more often found in bigger and more expensive cars. Lane Assist, which steers the car back into lane if it starts to drift,

is standard across the whole range. Autonomous emergency braking (which Volkswagen calls Front Assist) is also included in the price.

Excellent safety isn’t the only reason to choose one. For a car that takes up so little space

OR MAYBE… GWM Ora 3 This cute-looking small car is one of the safest on sale, with five stars from Euro NCAP.

Renault Clio The Clio scored five stars from Euro NCAP in 2019, and four stars in the tougher tests in 2025.

BUYING

SPEC

Euro NCAP ★★ ★ ★ ★ Insurance group From Group 3 Price used From £9995 (approx.)

IABILITY FIRST FOR REL

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w ne ce i r P

350 , 8 £1

HYUNDAI I10 (2020-)

Pr i

£2 ce new 2,0 40

Looking for a small and affordable car that won’t let you down? The Hyundai i10 is hard to beat.

What Car? magazine runs an annual reliability survey, and the i10 was one of just four cars to score 100% in 2026. That means none of the owners who completed the survey had any faults to report.

If they had run into any trouble, Hyundai offers the reassurance of a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty to guard against unexpected bills.

SPEC on the road there’s plenty of room inside. The ride is comfortable and there’s a choice of efficient engines.

If the current Polo costs a bit more than plan to spend, older versions also have very impressive safety.

The i10 is one of the smallest cars on sale, which makes it an absolute doddle to park.

It’s at home around town, but certainly not out of its depth on A-roads and motorways.

Buyers have the choice of three engines. The 63hp 1.0-litre petrol offers the lowest insurance bills, and it’s the cheapest on fuel according to the official figures.

The current i10 went on sale in 2020. Go for an earlier car and you should still expect excellent reliability.

Euro NCAP ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Insurance group From Group 1 Price used From £5995 (approx.)

OR MAYBE…

Toyota Aygo X Toyota makes some of the most reliable cars you can buy. The Aygo X is tough and dependable.

Kia Picanto The Picanto is closely related to the i10, so it’s no surprise that the little Kia is also reliable.

CONTINUED...

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BUYING

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new ce Pri

5 ,49 1 2 £

NT

FIRST FOR THE ENVIRONME

RENAULT 5 E-TECH (2025-) Not all electric cars are equally ‘green’. You see, while any electric vehicle (EV) has no exhaust emissions, there’s still an environmental cost to building the car and making the battery.

That’s why the government’s Electric Car Grant isn’t available for all EVs. They must meet minimum sustainability criteria.

Plenty of cars receive the

Band 2 grant of £1500, but very few are eligible for the £3750 Band 1 saving.

The Renault 5 is one of them.

Or at least, it is if you go for the 52kWh model with its Frenchmade battery.

That brings the asking price down to £21,495 once the grant has been applied. Of course, that’s still an awful lot to pay for a first car, but it if you are

OR MAYBE… Citroën e-C3 The Citroën is very cheap compared with other electric cars, and super-easy to drive.

being insured on a vehicle that’s shared with other family members it’s not necessarily out of reach.

The 5 is a brilliant car, with nippy performance and a fun personality. It looks great, too.

Safety standards are high, even if you choose the entry-level specification.

As a very new model, there aren’t many used examples to choose from. However, if you want a more affordable EV, you could do a lot worse than the Renault Zoe, which is the car the 5 replaced.

SPEC Ford Puma-E Ford’s electric Puma qualifies for the maximum electric car grant. It’s cheaper than the petrol version!

Euro NCAP ★★ ★ ★ ★ Insurance group From Group 18 Price used From £18,999 (approx.)

CONTINUED...

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Pri ce ne w

FIRST FOR STYLE

MINI COOPER (2024-) You’ve hit the first-car jackpot if you drive a MINI. The latest Cooper is super-stylish, but every generation of the MINI has been a good-looking car.

Today’s Cooper is available with three or five doors. It’s a handsome car either way.

The MINI’s sense of style continues on the inside, with a funky cabin that’s packed with modern tech. There’s lots

of room in the front of the car, although it’s pretty cramped in the back.

If the way the MINI looks doesn’t have you hooked, the driving experience will. The Cooper is great fun and easy to drive, although the suspension is a bit stiff over bumpy roads.

Stick with the more basic MINI Cooper C to keep insurance costs reasonable.

OR MAYBE… Fiat 500E The 500E is small like an espresso and as stylish as anything you’d see on a Milan catwalk.

£25 ,26 5

It’s also cheaper to fuel than quicker versions.

The price of the Cooper is quite steep compared with other small cars. Even if you go for a used example of the current model, prices begin from around £16,000.

Don’t feel glum if that’s out of reach as earlier models are much cheaper and just as stylish. The MINI Mk3, which went on sale in 2014, is a reliable and well-made car as well as a head-turner. You can pick up one of these for less than £3000.

SPEC Peugeot 208 Chic and eye-catching, the 208 is a safe, well built, and fuel-efficient first car.

Euro NCAP ★★ ★ ★ ★ Insurance group From Group 21 Price used From £16,000 (approx.)

BUYING

61

FIRST FOR VALUE

FORD FIESTA (2017-2023)

It may not be sold as a new car anymore, but a used Ford Fiesta is a first car you can be proud of.

For generations, the Ford Fiesta has combined a keen price, low running costs, and a fun drive. It ticks just about every box as a used car, as it’s reliable and affordable to fix if something does go wrong.

The last Fiesta was sold from 2017 to 2023. This is the one to go for if its within budget. It has more modern safety technology than earlier models, as well as being roomier. It scored five stars with the safety gurus at Euro NCAP in 2017, although this rating has now expired and shouldn’t be compared with recent test results.

OR MAYBE… Skoda Fabia The Fabia is a reliable buy, and very practical for its size.

Buy with confidence!

For a new driver, there’s nothing intimidating about being behind the wheel of a Fiesta. The controls are light and easy to use, and the small size makes it easy to park or thread through busy streets.

The 1.25-litre EcoBoost engines are lively, but the less powerful 1.1-litre is a more insurance-friendly choice, rated as low as Group 5.

Earlier generationss of the Fiesta will cost less, of course, so keep these in mind if you are working to a very tight budget.

SPEC Vauxhall Corsa Cheap, easy to drive, affordable to run – the Corsa offers first-time buyers great value for money.

Euro NCAP Expired Insurance group From Group 5 Price used (2017) From £2695 (approx.)

23) (20 x.) d e pro us ap

( 00 0 , £9

ce Pri

SORTED YOUR INSURANCE? LET’S MAKE SURE Being a new driver is all about gaining freedom. While sorting out car insurance can feel boring and complicated, from the moment you sit behind the wheel making sure you are properly insured is your responsibility.

Without the right cover in place, your insurance could be cancelled or void, leading to consequences that no one wants. Here’s a few things you should ask yourself to get it right...

MIB is the not-for-profit organisation responsible for making roads safer by reducing uninsured driving, and compensating victims of uninsured and hit-and-run collisions. Find out more at mib.org.uk/firstcar

01

ARE YOUR DETAILS CORRECT?

02

WHAT ARE YOU USING YOUR CAR FOR?

Moved flat? New job? Made a mistake on your registration or date of birth?

Check. Then check again.

Different insurance types exist for different uses. Driving to work requires commuting insurance, while driving for work will require business insurance. Making deliveries will need hire-and-reward cover.

03

HAVE ALL PAYMENTS BEEN MADE?

Keep an eye on bank statements and insurer notifications to spot missed or bounced payments.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING UNINSURED?

04

WHERE IS YOUR INSURANCE FROM?

05

HAVE YOU MODIFIED YOUR CAR?

06

ARE YOU REALLY THE MAIN DRIVER?

07

DO YOU NEED TO DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE?

Be cautious of cheap deals, especially on social media. Many are ghost broking scams selling fake, worthless policies. Check that your provider is a member of MIB or BIBA.

Even small changes, such as new wheels or a spoiler, must be declared.

Listing a parent as the main driver to save money is a type of fraud, known as fronting.

You could end up on the Insurance Fraud Register.

Driving a friend’s car isn’t always covered.

Most providers don’t allow it for under-25 drivers. Consider a short-term insurance policy instead.

Driving uninsured or with inadequate cover can have long-lasting consequences: • £300 fine • Six points on your licence (enough to lose your licence as a new driver) • Car seized and even crushed • Potential driving ban and unlimited fine if it goes to court • Harm to job prospects due to a conviction • £1,000 increase to average future premiums Always review your insurance carefully and contact your provider directly if you need to discuss your cover.

SCAN TO RECEIVE insider tips on staying insured

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INSURANCE 101

KEANAN’S TOP TIP

ost things about becoming a new driver are fun. Insurance? Not so much.

The trouble is, there’s no getting away from being properly insured. That applies

M

whether you are still learning, driving your family’s car, or behind the wheel of your first car. By law, you need to have cover in place.

Here’s what you need to know about car insurance…

in y insurance “I paid for m ents. I didn’t m al d monthly inst being charge realise I was ying the full pa interest! So e go would amount in on money.” have saved

INSURANCE

NCE

THE TYPES OF INSURA As a minimum, you need third-party insurance. This covers you for damage done to someone else and their property. Next up is third-party, fire and theft (TPFT). You can probably guess that this adds cover for fire damage and having your car stolen on top of a basic third-party policy.

It’s much better to have fully comprehensive insurance (sometimes shortened to ‘fully comp’). This covers your car if it’s damaged in a collision, not just the other party’s vehicle.

Not all fully comp policies offer identical levels of cover, so make sure you compare what you are getting for your money.

A GOOD POLICY Look out for handy extras like legal protection, a courtesy car while yours is being repaired, and windscreen repair.

Take a good look at any company’s online reviews, too.

You want to find an insurer with high-quality service and an efficient claims process.

When comparing prices and policies, check the excess.

This is the amount you will have to pay towards repairs when making a claim. A higher excess can bring down the yearly premium but make sure you could find the money if you needed to.

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INSURANCE

MYTHS

“You don’t need cover if you can’t afford it.”

Car insurance is a legal requirement. You could receive six points on your licence and a £300 fine.

Six points means back to L-plates for a driver in their first two years on the road.

“Fully comp is too expensive.”

Nope. Fully comp can work out cheaper than third party or TPFT. That’s because drivers who are cutting corners with their insurance cover can be high risk.

“Always choose the cheapest cover.”

Price is a big consideration, but make sure you check what you are getting for your money.

Go for the best value, not necessarily the cheapest.

S BONUS

BUILDING A NO-CLAIM Insurers reward drivers who don’t make claims with a noclaims bonus.

This discount will build up over several years of collisionfree driving. It’s one of the advantages of having your own car and insurance rather than being a named driver

on a family car. The discount starts out small, but builds over the years. Usually the bonus reaches its maximum after between five and 10 years of claims-free driving.

You can opt to have your no-claims bonus protected, although this costs extra.

“It’s better to put a policy in a parent’s name, even if they aren’t the main driver.”

This is known as fronting.

While it may save money in the short term, it’s a form of insurance fraud. Any claim could be refused, and you could even be prosecuted for fraud.

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DOS DO... shop around.

You might think that entering your details into a price comparison site is enough, but it’s worth contacting young driver specialists like MyFirst as well. It will mean a bit more form filling or time on the telephone, but if you get the right cover at the right price, it has to be worth a little extra effort.

DO... pick up the phone. Getting a quick quote on the internet is easy, but it’s often worthwhile to talk over your options with a real person rather than a computer screen. If you find anything about an insurer’s online form confusing, a phone call should put you straight.

It could save you from making a mistake with your details which could come back to bite you if you later need to make a claim.

DO... think about black box insurance (also known as telematics insurance). With a black box policy a device is installed in your car to report back to your insurer. Drive well (obey the speed limit, no harsh acceleration or braking) and you can expect to be rewarded with a lower premium. Drive badly and your premium could go up.

CAR INSURANCE

DOS AND DON’TS Stumping up for insurance is one of the least fun things about becoming a new driver.

Here’s what to do – and what not to do – to make insuring your car just that little bit less painful.

KEANAN’S TOP TIP

e fake insuranc s “Be wary of edia. Alway m al ci so a ads on website and check for a e on ph d an s UK addres number.”

INSURANCE

67

DON’TS DON’T... lie to the insurer. What seems like a little white lie to cut the cost of cover is actually fraud and could mean the insurer won’t pay out if you need to make a claim. So be scrupulously honest about your age, driving history, where the car is kept, and who the main driver is (pretending your car is really mum or dad’s is called fronting, and it’s illegal!).

DON’T... simply choose the cheapest policy. Look closely at the excess (how much you’ll have to pay out yourself if you claim), any limitations on mileage, or other restrictions. Check whether you are entitled to a replacement car while yours is being repaired.

Weigh up what you get for your money before deciding which policy is right for you.

DON’T... modify your car. Bigger alloys, tinted windows, lowered suspension, or an uprated stereo may be very tempting, but many young driver specialists won’t cover modified cars. And if they do, you can bet you’ll have to pay a lot more for the privilege.

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TELEMATICS

INSURANCE EXPLAINED Black box cover could make insurance more affordable – and improve your standard of driving too! nsurance is one of the most painful things about being a young driver – unfortunately there’s no way around it. According to the Confused.com, the average annual motor insurance bill for an 18-year-old driver is a massive £2434. Ouch.

Telematics (or ‘black box’) insurance is one way to reduce the price of cover and encourage good driving habits at the same time. So if you drive well it should be a win-win.

I

What is telematics insurance?

If you opt for a telematics policy, a ‘black box’ is fitted to your car. This combines a GPS unit, a motion sensor and a SIM card to transmit data. It detects where the car is, how fast it is being driven, and how violently the car is accelerating, braking and cornering.

How is the data used?

The information the black box collects is fed back to

the insurer, and used to reassess your premium at regular intervals. Obeying the speed limit, avoiding harsh acceleration and braking, and driving at low-risk times of day can all contribute to a reduction in your bill.

In some cases there are other forms of reward or special offers for safe and responsible driving. This could mean extra miles are added to a limited mileage policy, or you will receive vouchers and free gifts.

INSURANCE

Can I check up on how well I am driving?

Yes. Telematics insurance providers usually have a portal or app through which drivers can see if their driving is up to scratch. By checking back regularly you can tell if you are improving or slipping into bad habits.

Can my parents have a telematics policy with me as a named driver?

There are plenty of telematics insurance providers who insure older drivers. But don’t be tempted to name your parent as the main driver unless they really are going to do most of the miles. If your insurer finds out that you’ve fibbed about who the main user of the car is, they’ll have caught you committing fraud. It could invalidate your insurance cover.

Also, if you aren’t the main driver on the policy then with most insurers you won’t build up a no-claims discount. So in the long run it’s best for you to be the main driver, even if the car is also sometimes used by a parent.

What are the drawbacks of telematics insurance?

Some policies set curfews that restrict nighttime driving.

Also, just as good driving can be rewarded with a lower premium, so poor driving can lead to a higher insurance cost. That’s not universal, though. Some companies don’t increase premiums for bad driving unless it has led to a claim.

“By checking back regularly you can tell if you are improving or slipping into bad habits”

69

HOW TO DRIVE WITH A

BLACK BOX Stick to the limit Your insurer will know if you are driving too fast.

Drive smoothly Accelerate, brake and corner gently. Don’t be harsh or aggressive with the controls.

Avoid late night driving It’s okay to be the designated driver once in a while, but don’t make a habit of driving late at night. This is a dangerous time for new drivers to be on the road.

Keep an eye on your mileage Most telematics policies have a limit for the miles you can cover. You’ll need to pay extra to drive further.

Use the feedback Don’t ignore feedback from your black box app.

Use it to make you a better driver – and save you money.

Imagine your instructor is with you Treat every drive as if your instructor is still next to you. Drive by the book to keep them happy.

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INSURANCE

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TOP HACKa

ol! Fit Go old scho lock or el he w g steerin ck. They gear stick lo ch but te w may be lo very they can be effective.

SECURITY:

LOCK IT DON’T LOSE IT security features, M with but car thieves aren’t

odern cars are packed

leave the engine running – it’s an open invitation to an opportunistic thief.

LOCK IT Never leave your car unlocked.

It doesn’t matter if you are just nipping to the shop for 30 seconds or paying for fuel at a filling station. Always lock your car, or risk coming back to find your phone or other valuables have gone. And never, ever

HIDE IT One low-tech way thieves defeat modern security systems is to steal the keys before pinching the car. So, keep keys out of sight rather than leaving them on a table in a café or on display in an open bag, and don’t hang them up in a jacket or coat in any public place. Be wary of leaving keys on a key hook by the front door, too. Thieves have been known to use metal coat

daft. Criminals have learned how to exploit technology like remote central locking and keyless entry, so car thefts are on the rise. Here’s how to beat the modern breed of cybersmart car thieves.

hangers to hook the keys through the letterbox.

KEEP IT If your car is stolen, there’s a much better chance of getting it back if you fit it with a tracking device. Purpose-made car trackers are best but can be expensive for new drivers. If you don’t have the budget, think about hiding a small tracker like an Apple AirTag or a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag inside the car. These connect to other smartphones nearby. While nothing like as effective as proper car tracker they are a worthwhile budget option.

Car Insurance for young people, BY young people After struggling with setting up car insurance himself, James set out on a mission to build a brand centred around advice and guidance for young people in the same position.

So why choose us?

Our whole business is tailored to speaking to Young Drivers and using terminology they understand and feel confident with.

We make sure Parents are happy with the policy for their son or daughter, ensuring they fully understand the different policies MyFirst offer.

James Noble Founder & CEO

You won’t find us comparison websites, call us direct!

No robots! Speak to someone who cares.

0333 047 3000 Or visit www.myfirst.com Young People Ltd. All rights reserved. MyFirst is a trading style of Young People Ltd. Young People Limited is an appointed representative of Ten Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Young People Ltd, Hardwick Court Farm, Chertsey, KT160AD. FCA Number 749204. Registered in England No: 8783689.

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OWNING A CAR

You’ll never forget your first car! Keep on top of maintenance, and you’ll remember it for the right reasons etting your first car is

milestone, and a lifeG achanging one at that.

Few things compare with your new-found independence, but when you own a car you need to stay on top of a lot of things.

Stuff like your car’s MOT, tax and insurance may seem like hassle, but if you fall behind on

any of these, the long arm of the law will catch up with you eventually.

Over the next few pages we’ll guide you through what you need to know to stay safe and legal with your car. Take our advice and you’ll find car ownership a delight rather than a chore.

TOP H

ACK Apps li k help yo e Vehicle Sm art u when y to keep track o o service ur car is due a f or MOT so you don’t fo rget.

OWNING

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KEY DOCUMENTS DRIVING LICENCE You must renew this every 10 years or if you move. It’s free to change the address on your licence, but if you lose it and need a new one, it’ll cost you £20. gov.uk/browse/driving/ driving-licences

V5C Your registration document, or V5C, is a record of your car and its owners. It logs the registered keeper – who may be different from the legal owner. When buying a car, the registered keeper should be the person you’re buying from, and the VIN, or chassis number, should match the one on the car. Check the watermark to see if the V5C is genuine. It’s illegal to sell a car without a valid V5C, so don’t accept it’s been lost, as you can easily apply for a replacement. gov.uk/vehicle-log-book

Road Notification). Known officially as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), how much tax you pay depends on either the car’s engine size or CO2 emissions, depending on its date of first registration (shown on the V5C). You can tax a car for six or 12 months, but if you scrap it or take it off the road you can cash in the tax at any time. When your VED is due, the DVLA will send a reminder which explains everything you need to know. gov.uk/calculatevehicle-tax-rates

THE MOT

Once a car reaches three years old it needs an annual roadworthiness test, the MOT. This checks lots of things to see if they’re worn or working properly. As the test costs up to £54.85, you can save cash by making sure your car passes first time. While you can’t check everything yourself, you VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY can keep on top of basic Any vehicle must be taxed if maintenance by checking it’s used or kept on a public your tyres, windscreen road. If you take your car off wipers and lights are all in the road, you must declare good condition. it SORN (Statutory Off gov.uk/getting-an-mot

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HOW TO… owning Follow this advice to make thly your first car go more smoo

OWNING

75

KEANAN’S TOP TIP

pensive! If “Fuel is so ex you’ll use d, ee you don’t sp black box ur Yo . el fu less ore will sc e nc ra insu It’s a o. to e ov impr !” in -w win

HOW TO CHOOSE BREAKDOWN COVER It makes sense to have cover in case your 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...

● On the other hand, don’t pay for something you won’t ever need.

There’s no point in having European cover if you never expect to leave the UK.

● Make sure the package covers everything you need.

Some include home start (fixing the car if it breaks down at home), some don’t.

● If you drive more than one car, consider a breakdown package that covers you personally rather than a specific car.

HOW TO

SAVE MONEY ON FUEL ● Don’t break the speed limit! Not only is speeding unsafe, it is bad for the environment and your bank balance. Driving at 80mph rather than 70mph uses 10% more fuel, according to the Department for Transport.

● Ditch the clutter. Leaving a roof rack, bike carrier or roof box on your car will hit fuel consumption hard. ● Drive smoothly. Be gentle with the accelerator and brake pedals and look ahead to anticipate what other road users are doing.

50MPH 80MPH

43MPG

Based on DfT data

70MPH

50MPG 34MPG CONTINUED...

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@firstcaruk

HOW TO

BUY REPLACEMENT TYRES Sooner or later your tyres will wear out. Replace them before they are unsafe and illegal. ● Regularly check your tyres to make sure they still have at least 1.6mm of tread over the central three-quarters around the whole circumference.

● If the tread is low, you’ll need to buy a replacement tyre or tyres. You’ll have to order the correct size.

● You’ll find a series of numbers and letters on the side of the tyre. It will read something like: 195/55 R16 87V.

TYRE SIZES EXPLAINED 55

195

The aspect ratio or profile.

R

R stands for radial, which is the tyre’s construction.

16

This is the wheel rim’s diameter in inches.

The tyre’s width in mm.

/55 R 16 87 V 5 19

When you speak to the garage or order online, you’ll need to order the same size. ● Once the new tyre has been fitted, keep it inflated to the correct pressure to reduce wear and maximise grip.

87

The load index. This shows the maximum weight the tyre can carry (87 = 545kg).

V

This is the speed rating.

In this case, V shows the tyre is certified for 149mph.

OWNING

77

HOW TO

KEANAN’S TOP TIP be a

CHARGE AN EV

ed to “You don’t ne basic jobs do to c . mechani wiper blades like change time and You’ll save u do some money if yo enance nt ai m easy lf.” se ur yo

Ideally, charge an

1 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

2 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

3 battery unless you

“Don’t panic if you put diesel in a petrol or petrol in a diesel”

HOW TO

FIX MISFUELLING Don’t panic if you put diesel in a petrol or petrol in a diesel... ● Don’t start the engine! ● Tell the petrol station what has happened and find someone who can help you push the car to a safe place. ● If you have breakdown cover,

call them to arrange for the tank to be drained, flushed and refuelled. ● If you don’t have breakdown cover, find a local garage who can recover your car and drain and flush the tank. Check with your insurance company if you can claim back the cost.

Otherwise you will have to pay.

are about to go on a long journey. Charging to 80% is better for the long-term performance of the battery.

Look for an electricity

4 tariff that makes

charging overnight cheaper than in the day and recharge the car while you sleep.

Download a mapping

5 app like Zap-Map to

help find nearby chargers.

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@firstcaruk

CK TOP HA tyre

uality Buy a q so you can r o s s compre inflate your y tl c e rr o ith c home w tyres at to visit a no need ge. gara

TYRES: TREAD

CAREFULLY t’s hard to get excited about car tyres. In fact, it’s all too easy to take them for granted. But you know what? Everything your car does depends upon your tyres. Accelerating, braking and cornering all rely on those four patches of rubber in contact with the road surface. That’s why it’s vital that you look

I

after your tyres. For one thing, correctly inflated tyres will cut your fuel bill, saving you money.

What’s more, if you neglect your tyres you could be breaking the law. If the tread is too worn or the tyres have other defects you could be fined £2500 – for each tyre – and receive penalty points on your licence.

Now here’s the really important bit. Taking regular care of your tyres won’t just save you money at the fuel pump and keep you the right side of the law. It’s absolutely vital to keeping you safe. Tyres with plenty of tread can make the difference between a near miss and not making it home in one piece at all.

OWNING

HOW TO CHECK YOUR TYRES Make sure your tyres

cold before doing 1 are these checks. Start by

parking the car on level ground and make sure it’s secure.

Apply the handbrake for points 3-6, to make sure the car doesn’t roll away.

Check all the way round each tyre for damage such as cuts, bulges and nails or screws. For this it might be easiest to have a friend drive the car slowly backwards and forwards.

2

Look for uneven tyre wear, which could be a sign of a problem such as a worn part.

You can always drop in and ask for advice at a reputable tyre fitter, who will normally give advice for free.

3

Next, see how much

is left – if the tyre 4 tread has worn too much it

could be illegal. There should be at least 1.6mm of tread all around and across the central three-quarters of the tyre.

To check a tyre’s tread

insert a 20p coin 5 depth, into the tread grooves.

If the outer rim of the coin is covered by the tread, your tyres are okay, but if the outer rim is visible, you need fresh rubber.

Finish by checking

tyre’s 6 each pressure when

‘cold’ – that is, when you’ve driven less than two miles. You’ll need a gauge for this. You can buy one for a tenner or use the air machines at your local garage. The correct pressures will be in the car’s handbook or on a sticker on a door jamb. Don’t forget to check the spare wheel, too.

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PART-WORN TYRES During your first few years on the road, the chances are you’ll be on a tight budget. It can be tempting to cut corners and partworn tyres are one way to save a few quid.

Take care, though: an investigation by the Local Government Association found that as many as 83% of second-hand tyres in some areas don’t meet minimum legal standards.

Some tyres were 23 years old. What’s more, the industry body TyreSafe found that 58% of part-worn tyres they examined had serious safety defects.

Think about it. Do you really want an unsafe tyre someone else has thrown away on your car? And if you fail an MOT because your part-worn tyres are faulty then any saving will quickly disappear.

STOP SAFELY The minimum legal tread depth may be 1.6mm, but tyres become less safe in wet weather well before the legal minimum. Tests carried out by Continental Tyres 70-0mph with 3mm of tread 70-0mph with 1.6mm of tread

and Auto Express magazine compared wet-weather stopping distances for four cars from 70mph with 3mm of tread and with 1.6mm of tread. On average, the cars

with 1.6mm of tread left needed another 37 metres to stop and were travelling at 50mph when they would have stopped with 3mm of tread remaining.

Stopped safely Needed 37 more metres to stop

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@firstcaruk

Drink and drugs | Seat belts | Speeding | Tiredness Distracted driving | Peer pressure | Mobile phones Rural roads | Driving at night

TOP H

AC

K You probab r instructor ly spok e abou ‘safe d Keep th riving for life t ’. is id whene ea in mind ver yo u drive.

FIT TO DRIVE

You’ve worked hard for your licence. Here’s how to keep it and thrive as an independent driver

DRIVING

DRINK AND DRUGS rink, drugs and driving

mix. Fortunately D don’t young people don’t

drink as much as older generations. According to a recent survey, just one in ten see getting drunk as “cool”.

Four in ten see it as “pathetic” or “embarrassing”.

So, if your mates think you’re an idiot as you stagger home from the pub, imagine how they’ll react if you reach for your car keys? Most drivers, young or old, wouldn’t dream of drinking and driving. But there’s still a core of offenders who think they will get away with it. Their recklessness led to an estimated 260 deaths in 2023, according to government

statistics.

Drug driving is just as serious.

Driving with more than the specified level of 17 legal and illegal drugs is against the law. Even low doses could interfere with medicines used to try to save your life if you have a crash.

“According to a recent survey, just one in ten see getting drunk as cool. Four in ten see it as pathetic or embarrassing”

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PAY THE PENALTY One drink driving conviction and you can say goodbye to your licence, whether you are in the first two years after passing or not.

You could face… ● Six months in prison ● An unlimited fine ● A driving ban The maximum permitted level of blood alcohol while driving in England, Wales or Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. In Scotland it’s 50mg/100ml.

The best advice when driving is to avoid drinking any alcohol at all.

STAY FIT TO DRIVE

● Never drink or take drugs and drive. ● Have a Plan B for getting home if you drink – public transport, a taxi, or a family member who can give you a lift. ● Avoid alcohol the night before driving.

CONTINUED...

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@firstcaruk

Y FIVTE STAD RI .

TO ear a seat belt

one ays w t any ● Alw le tha r car u r a you ke it ● Ma o rides in belt. wh ears a w ers sseng ur pa before o y k p ec ● Ch buckled u ff. have you set o

SEAT BELTS ost of us wear seat

It’s a no-brainer, M belts. isn’t it? Unsurprisingly,

government stats show that most drivers and passengers do belt up.

98% 95%

of us put on belts when we drive

of front-seat passengers wear a seat belt It almost goes without saying that it’s much safer to wear a belt. But did you know that not wearing one could land you with a £500 fine? In Northern Ireland, the fine also comes with three penalty points. So, if you are caught twice without a seat belt in Northern Ireland it’s bye-bye licence.

Even if you live in England, Scotland, or Wales, it will take 58 hours of work to earn enough to pay the fine for an

18-year-old on minimum wage.

If you are in a collision on the road without a belt on the consequences are far more serious. Look at the stats for adult occupant fatalities and you’ll find 21% weren’t wearing a belt when they died. You are much more likely to die or be hurt if you don’t belt up.

It’s not just you who might be injured or killed. As a back-seat passenger in a 30mph crash, you’ll hit the person sitting in front of you with a force of 30-60 times your body weight.

Why wouldn’t you wear a belt?

“Look at the stats for adult occupant fatalities and you’ll find 21% weren’t wearing a seat belt when they died. Why wouldn’t you wear one?”

BELT UP OR

PAY UP

You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted to the seat you are using. There are a handful of exceptions, but they are unlikely to apply.

As a driver, you must also make sure any child under 14 is wearing a seat belt or travelling in a suitable child seat.

DRIVING

SPEEDING here’s no faster way

your licence T tothanlosespeeding.

That’s

because if you are caught way above the limit you could be

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STAY FIT TO DRIVE

fined six points. One conviction in Band C (the most serious speeding offence band) and you’ll be learning to drive all over again.

Any speeding conviction will carry at least three points. So, two convictions will cost you your licence, even for minor offences.

Is there really any such thing as a ‘minor’ speeding offence?

At 35mph a driver is twice as likely to kill someone as they are at 30mph. A little bit of extra speed can make a big difference.

“One conviction in Band C (the most serious speeding offence band) and you’ll be learning to drive all over again”

TOP

H

ACK Ma have ny modern s syste peed limit cars ms wa driver . These ale rning rt the if they go the m aximu over m.

● Stick to the limit – or sometimes below. In poor visibility or when the road is slippery a safe speed could be well below the legal maximum. ● Remember that your insurance black box is always watching. Your insurance could go up if you speed. ● Driving at the limit will be cheaper on fuel than speeding. Travelling at 80mph uses 25% more fuel than driving at 70mph. ● Allow plenty of time for every journey so you won’t be in a rush. ● Harsh accelerating and braking mean more wear and tear on your car.

Stick to the limit and you won’t need replacement parts such as brake pads as often.

CONTINUED...

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@firstcaruk

TOP

HA

CK Be plann at fatigue b in g ahead y have . If y a lo morn ng drive in ou ing, g e t to the early for so bed m extra sleep e .

TIREDNESS elieve it or not, fatigue

thought to be a B isbigger contributor to

injury and death on the roads than drug-driving. Around 20% of collisions are reckoned to be fatigue-related, and up to a quarter of fatal and serious road traffic incidents.

Fall asleep at the wheel, and you won’t brake or steer away from danger. You’ll go on to hit something – another

car, a brick wall, or maybe a pedestrian – without slowing down at all. It only takes a moment. If you nod off on the motorway for just six seconds you’ll have travelled nearly 200 metres.

It’s not just falling asleep completely that can cause a crash. If you are drowsy, you’ll make worse decisions and will react more slowly. Some studies suggest driving while

tired is just as bad as driving while just over the drink-drive limit. You wouldn’t drive drunk, so why drive tired?

A quick energy drink might wake you up for a bit, but when the effect wears off you’ll feel more tired than you did before.

So if you are really tired, the safest thing is to stop and rest.

A nap of around 10-20 minutes should help. Better to arrive late than not at all.

“Fall asleep at the wheel, and you won’t brake or steer away from danger. You’ll go on to hit something – another car, a brick wall, or maybe a pedestrian”

STAY FIT TO DRIVE ● Plan regular breaks on a long journey, one every two hours will help you stay alert.

your system the combination of drink and fatigue can be deadly.

● Stop and take a nap if you notice you are tired.

● Practise good sleep hygiene (no evening caffeine, avoid screens for an hour before bed, etc).

● Avoid alcohol. Even if it is clear of your system by the time you drive it reduces sleep quality. If it’s still in

● Don’t drive late at night or in the early hours.

DRIVING

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DISTRACTED DRIVING here’s enough to think

when you drive T about without letting anything

else get in the way. When you begin independent driving, there are lots of things that could take your attention from the road.

Even a small distraction could be a big problem. When you were learning to drive you had an instructor next to you to make sure you stayed focused.

Now the responsibility is on

your shoulders.

Perhaps the biggest distraction is passengers, especially if you have your mates in the car. If they muck around, it could interfere with your concentration. Join in, and things could get very serious very quickly.

Even when you are driving alone, there are many things that could distract you. Eating and drinking will take your hands from the wheel and your

mind from the road, so pull over if you need a snack.

Something as simple as changing your music can take your eyes from the road and your hands away from the controls. So, set music playing before you set off and, when possible, use voice controls rather than pressing buttons.

Strong emotions can also be distracting, so don’t drive when angry or upset. Give yourself time to calm down first.

STAY FIT TO DRIVE ● Fly solo. Every same-age passenger increases the risk of a crash, with a full car of friends increasing the risk of a fatal collision by 44%.

● Eat and drink before you set off. If you are hungry or thirsty, stop for a snack rather than trying to open wrappers while driving.

● If you do carry passengers, remember that in your car, you set the rules. A good one is ‘no distracting the driver’. If a mate won’t let you concentrate, drop them off at a bus stop.

● Set music playing before you drive away rather than on the move. ● Don’t use your phone or any other electronic device while driving.

CONTINUED...

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@firstcaruk

PEER PRESSURE veryone wants to be popular. So, the opinion of our friends matters, especially when we’re young.

Things get tricky if our friends push towards bad decisions.

And making the wrong choices behind the wheel can have serious consequences.

One way to avoid peer pressure is to stick to driving alone or with family members as passengers. That way there’s nobody pushing you to drive quickly or aggressively.

If you do decide you are ready to drive with friends, remember that you hold all the cards. You are the one with a car and a full licence. If someone wants a lift, they need to follow your rules.

It could be that friends have to chip in towards fuel. Or maybe that the driver chooses the music and the volume. No unnecessary talking to the driver is another good rule.

E

Your friend doesn’t like it?

Well then, your friend can forget about a lift.

If you are not comfortable driving with a particular friend or group of friends, then blame your parents. “Dad needs the car tonight” is a good excuse for not being the designated driver.

Maybe a mate wants you to show them how fast your car can go. Just tell them you can’t because you have black box insurance (which you probably do). Or if they laugh at your slow driving, use humour – “I may be slow, but I’m driving a lot quicker than you can walk.”

Still feeling pressured? Make an excuse to stop. Pulling over for petrol or to buy a coffee can defuse the situation.

It also helps to choose your friends wisely. If someone wants you to do something unsafe are they really such a good mate?

STAY FIT TO DRIVE ● Try to avoid giving a lift to friends until you are more experienced. ● If you do carry passengers, set clear rules for anyone who rides in your car. ● Ask friends to be quiet if they are distracting you. ● Remember, a parent is usually happy to play the bad guy if it takes the heat off you. ● Use humour to deflect criticism.

DRIVING

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HANDHELD VS

HANDS-FREE

MOBILE PHONES ou’re driving when the

rings. You know Y phone you shouldn’t pick it up

but it’s your best mate calling.

You reach down to answer and... your licence is gone. Get caught using a handheld mobile and you face six points and a £200 fine. For a driver in their first couple of years on the road that’s enough for you to lose your licence.

There’s another scenario that’s even more serious.

Maybe it’s a pedestrian rather than a police officer around the next corner. They step out into the road and you don’t see

“Get caught using a handheld mobile and you face six points and a £200 fine”

The law treats handheld calls differently from hands-free, but the University of Sussex has found that it’s the conversation rather than holding the phone to your ear that takes your mind away from driving.

So while a hands-free call may be legal, that doesn’t make it safe.

Anything that allows a phone to take your attention away from the road is a no-no. That includes... ● hands-free calls as well as handheld ● checking a text ● catching up on social media ● playing music

them in time because you’re on your phone.

Most drivers have the sense to leave their phone alone It’s better to put the while driving. According to the phone down. When you RAC Report on Motoring, some drive, just drive.

75% don’t make handheld calls (although hands-free calls are also a dangerous distraction).

Smartphones have ‘do not STAY FIT TO DRIVE disturb’ modes that allow you to hold calls and texts until you ● Use the safe driving reach your destination. mode on your phone to It’s easy to switch block calls and texts. this mode on to stay safe. ● If you want to play It’s not just music or navigate calls and through your phone, texts that are do it before you start potentially driving. dangerous. So rather than touching ● Avoid hands-free the phone for any reason conversations, which may while you driving, use voice be legal but can be very commands. Be part of the safe distracting. majority, not the reckless few.

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@firstcaruk

RURAL ROADS riving in the countryside

with its D comes own special set of

challenges. Around two-thirds of fatal collisions take place on rural roads.

The trouble is, driving on a country road is trickier than it looks. Around town there is always something to grab your attention – someone crossing the road, some traffic lights up ahead, or a junction to negotiate. By comparison driving on a quiet rural road looks easy, but there are potential hazards around every corner.

These are just some of the things to look out for:

Poor road surfaces Keep your eyes peeled for potholes or uneven Tarmac.

Mud and muck The road can be dry one moment, then slippery the next, especially around farms.

Tall hedgerows Can you see what’s around the next bend? You need to be ready to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. On single-track roads make sure you could stop in time if another vehicle came the other way.

Black ice When you drive in town or

on major routes, the roads are likely to be gritted in cold weather. In the country, you are more likely to hit black ice.

Vulnerable road users Expect to see motorcyclists, horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians on country roads. Give them plenty of space.

Animals You may encounter wild animals or livestock on the road. Keep your speed down so you can stop in time if an animal is in your way.

STAY FIT TO DRIVE ● Always drive at a safe speed. That means taking account of the weather and the road surface, allowing enough time to stop in the distance you can see to be clear and safe.

So, a safe speed could be well below the posted speed limit.

● Expect the unexpected.

One of the big challenges on rural roads is that you never know what’s around the bend. ● Be cautious when overtaking. Make sure you have enough room to complete the manoeuvre

safely and consider whether the road is wide enough to make the overtake safely.

DRIVING

89

DRIVING AT NIGHT t’s kind of obvious, but we’re going to say it anyway: the big difference between day and night driving is that it’s dark at night. That makes it harder to spot hazards early or to notice vulnerable road users such as cyclists in plenty of time.

To drive well at night, you also need to use your car’s lights appropriately. On well-lit roads or when there’s traffic coming the other way, use dippedbeam headlights. On country

I

roads, switch to full beam. This gives you a clear view much further ahead. Be ready to switch back to dipped beam as soon as you see the headlights or taillights of another car in front of you.

When you first start driving in the hours of darkness, it’s easy to fall into the trap of staring at headlights coming the other way. Keep your eyes on your lane rather than looking at oncoming lights.

Not every driver remembers

STAY FIT TO DRIVE ● Use the right lights. Fullbeam headlights should only be used when there are no other road users who might be dazzled. ● Don’t look at oncoming lights. Focus to the left of your lane if a vehicle comes towards you on full beam. ● Choose an appropriate

speed for the vision your headlights give you. Be ready to stop in the distance you can see to be safe. ● Watch for vulnerable road users. Pedestrians and cyclists can be harder to spot at night. ● Take a break if you are tired.

to dip their headlights when a car is coming the other way. If you are dazzled by oncoming lights, look towards the lefthand edge of your lane and use the white paint markings to help you to steer accurately.

Another hazard of nighttime driving is fatigue. You should never drive tired, so avoid getting behind the wheel late at night or in the early hours if you can avoid it. If you are tired while driving, it’s better to stop and rest than to continue.

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@firstcaruk

STAY H

SAVE MONEY

1

Driving is expensive. The more you drive, the more fuel you use. Extra miles also put wear and tear on the car, so things like tyres and brake pads need replacing sooner.

Short journeys aren’t great for a car. Drive to a mate who lives just a couple of streets away and the engine oil won’t have time to warm up properly, which increases wear to the engine’s components.

2

EALT Inste HY car, th ad of wear for sho ink about w ing out you r a sittin rt trips. It’s lking or cy time d g in a car. F better for y cling or iff ou that in erence won short journe than ’t b big ys speed cities like L e big. Studie , the health s are as low ondon aver s show y ag a similar adults could s 9-13mph. e car Mo sp rid get so eed. So, yo e a bicycle st u’ll s me at a won’t exercise, an ave on fuel, arrive d prob an ab you’d y later than ly driven if .

ALTERNATIVES

TO DRIVING

CUT CARBON Modern cars emit less than ever before. Even so, walking, cycling or public transport are better for the environment than driving a car.

According to government stats, taking the train means emitting 35g of carbon

dioxide per passenger kilometre. For a bus, the figure is 97g per passenger kilometre. Driving a petrol car means 170g/km.

That’s nearly double bus emissions and almost five times the emissions of train travel.

DRIVING

SAVE MILES

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3

Young drivers often have telematics or ‘black box’ insurance. This type of policy usually sets a limit on the total miles covered. So it pays to use your mileage carefully.

All those little journeys add up. If you always drive rather than walking or taking the bus, you may reach the mileage limit before the end of the year’s cover. That’s not the end of the world – you can extend the limit. But it will cost more money to be insured for extra miles.

When you first pass your test, it’s tempting to drive everywhere.

Need a pint of milk? You drive to the corner shop. Going to the gym? You grab the car keys. But for many journeys there are cheaper, cleaner alternatives.

GRAMS OF CARBON DIOXIDE PER PASSENGER KILOMETRE

TRAIN BUS CAR

35g/km 97g/km

KEAN AN’S TOP T IP “I’ve sta

to the g rted running y driving m rather than . That w ay I’ve already done cardio!” my

170g/km

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@firstcaruk

DRIVING

MOTORWAY

If you’re terrified by the prospect of motorway driving, there’s nothing to fear. Motorways are our safest roads. And don’t forget, you can take lessons on the motorway before your practical test so long as you are with your ADI and in a car with dual controls.

1 6

3

5 4

Make sure that you’ve

plenty of fuel 1 got before you get on the

STEPS TO STAY

SAFE

motorway. Service stops can be few and far between and you don’t want to run out of fuel – even if you’ve got breakdown cover. Fuel is also expensive on the motorway, so you don’t want to be forced to shop there as you’ll end up paying more than you need to. Ideally, start a long journey with a full tank.

As you get to the end of

slip road to join the 2 the motorway, match your

speed to the traffic in the inside lane. Slot between any vehicles already in the inside lane; they’ll hopefully make room for you but they don’t have to. You don’t want to stop at the end of the slip road; then you’ll have to start off from a standstill. It will be very hard to join safely from a standing start.

DRIVING

MARKERS

tion there At every junc , counting rs ke ar is at are three m it. The first 0 ex e th to n 20 dow at nd co the se 300 yards, 100 yards. at ird th e th orway, yards and ing the mot If you’re leav de lane before si be in the in marker, then d the 300-yar g as you start signallin pass it.

TO KNOW EVERYTHING YOU NEED 1 OVERTAKING You should treat

overtaking on the motorway the same as anywhere else.

That means you check it’s clear, signal, then pull out to overtake. There’s no rush to get past, but once you’ve overtaken make sure you pull back in.

2 PLANNING Usually, the first sign for

2

a junction is a mile before it, the next is at the half-mile point. A mile sounds a lot, but if you’re in the outside lane at the half-mile point, you might not be able to get across in time if it’s busy.

Miss your junction and you’ll have to go to the next...

3 LORRY You can drive at

7

If you break down, make

you know where 3 sure you are. There are

emergency phones every mile with markers every 100 yards that give you the direction to the nearest phone. These phones will instantly tell the control centre where you are, including which direction you’re travelling. If you don’t have breakdown cover you’ll have to pay to be recovered.

93

70mph on the motorway, but articulated lorries have a lower limit. They can take ages to overtake each other, so if you come up behind one already in lane two, prepare to go into the third lane to pass it. Be very cautious around lorries in high winds.

You’ll have to change

correctly if you 4 lanes want to make progress.

That means pulling out to overtake then moving back to the inside lane again. Before you make any move, check over your shoulder to ensure you’re not cutting anyone up, and don’t forget to signal before changing lane. Don’t hog the middle lane when you are not overtaking.

ROADS 4 SLIP Once you’re on the

slip road to join or leave a motorway, you’re committed to keep going. It’s an offence to turn around, so if you’ve made a mistake you’ll have to get back on course later.

5 STUDS Reflective

markers separate the lanes from each other.

HOGGING 6 LANE Motorways can have

anywhere between two and five lanes on each side of the central reservation.

Unless overtaking, you should be in the inside lane.

Lane hog and you risk a fine.

DOWN 7 BREAKING If you break down on

a motorway you must move to the hard shoulder. Get as far to the left as possible.

Get out of the car and stay away from it, ideally behind a crash barrier and wearing a hi-vis jacket.

When you come to

the motorway, 5 leave ease off the gas before

you leave the inside lane.

Then start braking gradually as soon as you’re on the slip road. You’ve got a lot of speed to scrub off and you don’t want to get to the end of the slip road still doing 50mph – it’ll suddenly seem very fast! Pay close attention to the speed limit for the road you join.

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6

STEPS TO TAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER A

TOP H

A

CK Keep y o details ur insurance in of your the glovebox car share th so you can e after a m easily collisio n.

COLLISION

t’s an unfortunate fact that young drivers are more likely to crash than those with more experience. Lots of new drivers think it won’t happen to them but find out the hard way.

Touch wood, if you follow the advice in this mag you’ll enjoy a safe start to independent driving. On the other hand, if you are unlucky or make a mistake you need to be ready.

I

Stay safe In the moments after a collision the heart is pumping and adrenaline is rushing through your body. It’s important that you still make smart decisions.

You need to be sure a bad situation doesn’t become worse. So, stop if you haven’t already. Turn off the engine and put the car’s hazard lights on. You don’t want a second collision to take place.

1

DRIVING

@firstcaruk

Check for injuries

you hurt?

2 Are Remember, all that

adrenaline can mask pain.

Check your passengers if you have any, as well as any others involved. Try to stay calm even if those around you are emotional or in pain.

Call 999

someone is hurt, the 3 Ifroad is blocked, or you

think a crime may have been committed, dial 999. Administer first aid if necessary – ideally one person should help the injured while another calls the emergency services.

Move away from

road 4 the It’s not safe to stay in a

stricken car or to stand in the middle of the road.

Instead, move to the pavement or verge if you are able to do so.

Take photos and

details 5 exchange Take photos of the

scene but make sure you do so from a safe place. Exchange details with other drivers and anyone who witnessed the collision. We cover this in more detail over the page.

Let the emergency

do their job 6 services Once an ambulance

or a police car arrives on the scene, follow their instructions and give them space to do their job. Be ready to share your photos of the scene and any dashcam footage if needed.

You’ll want to share this with your insurer too. Contact them ASAP, certainly within 24 hours.

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96

DRIVING

@firstcaruk

COLLISION CHECKLIST Hopefully you’ll never need this!

SAFETY FIRST ● Hazard lights on. ● Engine off. ● Check for injuries. ● Call 999 if people are injured, the road is blocked, or a crime has been committed.

THE DAMAGE Take pictures of the damaged cars involved, but don’t take any risks by standing in the middle of the road. Make a note of the damage here as a back-up.

THE DETAILS Date of collision:

My car Policy number:

Time: Weather conditions (low sun, foggy, raining, sunny):

The other car

Road conditions (wet, dry, muddy): Location of collision (road/junction):

Brief description of what happened:

Number of passengers: Name of insurer: Insurer’s contact number:

YOUR DETAILS Give this information to the others involved in the collision.

Registration: Make and model:

CONTACT INFO Collect this info from every driver involved. Make notes on your phone if you run out of space here.

Registration: Make and model:

Name of insurer: Policy number:

CONTACT YOUR INSURER Get in touch within 24 hours.

NEXT STEPS

Driver’s name:

Driver’s contact number:

● Cooperate with the emergency services. ● Share your photos and any dashcam footage with your insurer, and with the police if they ask for it. ● Don’t admit you were at fault, let the insurer and/or police decide.

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FluxScore black box insurance can reduce costs by hundreds or even thousands of £££.* No curfews Install the black box yourself You choose who can view your data

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*Based on our research, a 17-year-old driver who’s recently passed their driving test is likely to pay £2,700 for a fully comprehensive policy. Compare this to an average of £1,500 for a fully comprehensive telematics policy from Adrian Flux. And with safe driving, your renewal price can go down to under £1,000.

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Facing high insurance premiums?

FluxScore black box insurance can reduce costs by hundreds or even thousands of £££.* No curfews Install the black box yourself You choose who can view your data

Scan to get a quick and easy quote in minutes or Text QUOTEME to 82228 to get a callback

*Based on our research, a 17-year-old driver who’s recently passed their driving test is likely to pay £2,700 for a fully comprehensive policy. Compare this to an average of £1,500 for a fully comprehensive telematics policy from Adrian Flux. And with safe driving, your renewal price can go down to under £1,000.

adrianflux.co.uk/fluxscore Trustpilot rating checked on 11th February 2026 Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

HOW TO BEST SUPPORT YOUR NEW DRIVER

EARNING TO DRIVE

Brought to you by:

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

PAIN-FREE PRACTICE DRIVING

FIND THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR MAKE EVERY LESSON COUNT

HOW TO GO THE EXTRA MILE

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A C £W17o,9rt95 h

ECOME

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A SAFE DRIVER UNCOVER AFFORDABLE INSURANCE p30 How to cut costs, not corners

INSIDE THE MIND OF A YOUNG DRIVER p20 Understand how a learner driver thinks

2

@firstcaruk

WE

COME TO

THE PARENT’S GUIDE EARNING TO DRIVE is

exciting but nervous L an time for teenagers and

their parents. If anything, it can be harder on mum and dad (or any adult helping a young driver to learn).

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 driving practice. 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 or guardian wants to support their child in learning to drive safely and effectively.

That’s where Learning to Drive – The Parent’s Guide comes in. We’ll show you how to help your child become a safe

“Any parent or guardian wants to support their child in learning to drive safely and effectively”

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

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

4

THE LEARNING JOURNEY

8

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

CONTENTS 12

TEAM UP WITH THE INSTRUCTOR

INSIDE A YOUNG ADULT’S BRAIN

PACKED WITH DRIVING ADVICE & TIPS 14

18

DEALING WITH NERVES

22

SUPPORT IF YOUR LEARNER FAILS

28

MENTORING YOUR NEW DRIVER

10

FINDING AN INSTRUCTOR

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

20

24

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

30

UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE

3

32

BUYING A SAFE FIRST CAR

4

@firstcaruk

A BIG STEP TOWARDS

INDEPENDENCE

Learning to drive is a watershed in anyone’s life.

Here’s what’s involved

TOP HACK

here are some big

in growing T moments up. Passing the

practical driving test must be one of the very biggest.

If you are holding this magazine in your hands, then

the chances are your child is starting out on that journey.

It’s an exciting but daunting time, and as a parent, guardian, or responsible adult, you’ll want to be with them all the way.

Here are the next steps...

drive is Learning to e driving m So e. expensiv ounts of sc di schools offer k bookings, 5-8% for bloc to make the lp which can he ore cost m e. manageabl

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

5

STEP ONE: Applying for a provisional licence Before a wheel turns, your child will need their provisional licence. It’s possible for them to apply when they are 15 years and nine months old. There’s no need to apply that early unless your child has a disability and receives the higher rate mobility component of DLA or the enhanced mobility component of PIP, in which case they may be eligible to

start lessons at 16 rather than 17.

The easiest way to apply is to go online as it’s quicker,

cheaper and easier than applying by post. It costs £34 and your young driver should have their licence within a week or so.

Just go to gov.uk/apply-firstprovisional-driving-licence.

HOW TO HELP: This is an easy one for your kid to do. They’ll probably only need you for your credit card…

STEP TWO: Taking the theory test Once a young driver has their provisional licence, they can take the theory test.

The test is in two parts.

There’s a multiple-choice test with a pass mark of 43 out of 50. The other part involves watching 14 videos and pressing a button when a hazard appears. The quicker the hazard is recognised, the better the score. The pass mark for this is 44 out of 75.

Your learner doesn’t need to have passed the theory test before they start lessons, but it will help them get to grips

with driving more quickly if they already have a strong basic understanding of the rules of the road.

HOW TO HELP: Read the latest Highway Code.

You can then quiz them on the rules to help them prepare.

Encourage them to thoroughly understand the Highway Code themselves and to download theory test apps to their phone.

STEP THREE: Finding an instructor It pays to start looking for an instructor a few months before you plan to start lessons. Some of the best instructors will have waiting lists.

Speaking to friends who have slightly older children is a good way to get a sense of whether there are plenty of instructors locally, or if they are in short supply. Friends can also recommend instructors who helped their child.

If your child is neurodiverse or has special needs, look for an instructor with experience

in this area. Schools will often list any specialisms on their website.

HOW TO HELP:

£30-£45 per hour. Around 45 hours of lessons is typical, so that would add up to £1350£2025.

Start researching in plenty of time. Making a few calls a year in advance isn’t a bad move, that way you will know if there are waiting lists in your area or if there are plenty of instructors available. Get some idea of costs, too. You may want to put a bit of money aside for a few months before your child starts their lessons. These could cost

CONTINUED...

6

@firstcaruk

STEP FOUR: Practising with parents No doubt this is the bit you’ve been looking forward to!

You may have a voice in the back of your head saying: “I’m paying for an instructor to teach my kid – they won’t need to practice with me as well.” Ignore this voice. Practice in between lessons is a really

important part of learning to drive. Without reinforcing what they learn with a professional, the whole process will take longer and will almost certainly cost more.

HOW TO HELP: Even if you are nervous about

private practice, try not to show it. Nerves are contagious! Be willing and patient.

Liaising with the instructor is key to making practice productive and safe. You need to stay below the level reached in lessons and should avoid giving mixed messages.

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

7

STEP FIVE: The practical test The practical test is the final hurdle before your young driver will be fully qualified and able to drive independently.

As with finding a driving instructor, it’s worth researching the availability of driving test slots. Demand has exceeded supply for several years, but the DVSA has taken steps to redress the balance.

STEP SIX:

Your child’s driving instructor will be able to guide you as to when to apply for a driving test slot. This can be done online up to 24 weeks before the test date. The test costs £62 on weekdays and £75 on weekends, bank holidays, and weekday evenings.

Go to gov.uk/book-drivingtest.

HOW TO HELP: If you’ve put in the hours of private practice, then you’ve done your bit.

There’s not much you can do when test day arrives other than being supportive and in their corner whether they pass or fail.

Independent driving

When your child passes their test, it might seem like the end of learning to drive.

It’s not. They’ve met the minimum standard for a driver to be allowed on the roads unsupervised, but there’s still a lot to learn.

The first few months after passing are crucial. Sometimes those driving-lesson nerves are replaced by over-confidence.

Combine that with a lack of

experience and it’s no wonder that so many young drivers have collisions in their first year of independent driving.

Young males are particularly at risk, with a crash rate that’s almost double that of females.

HOW TO HELP: There are formal courses that can develop skills post-test, such as Pass Plus (gov.uk/ pass-plus). If they get on well

with their instructor, another lesson or two after the test can introduce them to situations which aren’t covered in the test, such as multi-storey car parks and motorway driving. The important thing is to prepare young adults for a lifetime of safe driving, not just passing a test.

8

@firstcaruk

EARNING TO DRIVE:

?

D E G N A H C S A H T A H W

Sorry if this makes you feel old, but it’s probably been 20 or 30 years since you learned to drive – maybe more. A lot has changed over those decades. Here’s what you need to know.

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

9

THEN...

Back in 1995, there were 21 million cars on the roads.

NOW...

THEN...

Now, there are more than 36 million cars in the UK. So, learner drivers today must cope with much busier roads than their parents faced.

If you passed your test before 1 July 1996, then there was just one driving test and it was on the road.

NOW...

NOW...

New drivers must pass a theory test before they can attempt the practical driving test. There are two parts to this, a hazard perception test and a multiplechoice theory quiz. Candidates must pass both parts.

THEN...

Smartphones were science fiction and a tablet was something you took to cure a headache. If you wanted to understand the rules of the road, you bought a copy of the Highway Code and read it over and over again.

NOW...

A paper copy of the latest Highway Code is still a great resource, but these days new drivers also rely on apps and online guides. Digital learning aids such as those produced for the DVSA are especially useful when cramming for the theory test, while YouTube is a great resource for finding out how to tackle manoeuvres and complex junctions.

THEN...

You couldn’t go near a motorway until you had your full licence.

THEN...

You will have learned the rules of the road as they stood when you learned to drive. No doubt your copy of the Highway Code was bang up to date in the ’90s or ’00s.

NOW...

The Highway Code has now reached its 17th major edition. The latest version, launched in 2022, includes some significant updates, including the hierarchy of road users. Under this principle, those who can do the most harm must take the greatest responsibility.

Learner drivers can take lessons on the motorway so long as they are with an ADI in a car with dual controls. Speak to your child and their instructor if this is something you would like to happen.

TOP HACK

lp a lot more he You can be your if er iv dr g to your youn is up to date. dge own knowle rrent py of the cu Pick up a co ode so you C ay Highw test rules of know the la the road.

THEN...

You probably took your test in a car with anti-lock brakes.

There’s a good chance it had airbags.

NOW...

Most modern cars are packed with electronic driver aids.

Lane-keeping systems, driver monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking are some of the ways today’s cars help drivers stay safe. You can help your learner better understand these systems if you understand them yourself.

10

@firstcaruk

FINDING

AN INSTRUCTOR

Teacher, mentor, and counsellor all in one – the right instructor has a huge influence over your young driver’s progress to teach your as it used to be.

C instructor new driver is one of the The very best instructors and

hoosing the best

not as hard to find an instructor

keep hearing the same name or names get in touch to ask about availability nice and early.

most important decisions you can make. They will be teaching your youngster an important life skill. Not only that, but a really good instructor can help your child become a safe driver, with the skills and attitude to go beyond the standard needed to pass the test.

schools can still have waiting lists so it pays to begin your search early. It doesn’t hurt to make a few calls a year or so in advance to gauge availability.

Ask for recommendations Speak to friends and family who have slightly older children.

Who did they use? Would they recommend them? If so, what was so good about them?

Once an instructor builds a strong reputation, they tend to be sought after. So, if you

Good value is better than cheap Learning to drive is an expensive business, and prices will vary. For example, if your child is taught by a potential driving instructor (PDI) who is not yet fully qualified you can expect to pay less than if lessons are delivered by an approved driving instructor (ADI), who has successfully completed their training.

You need to balance this

Start looking early For the past few years, demand has outstripped supply in the driver training market. Things are improving, though, so it’s

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

11

BIG SCHOOL

OR INDEPENDENT Should you choose a big school or an independent instructor to teach your child?

against the reassurance of knowing the instructor is fully qualified. You should also consider if any extras are included in the cost of lessons, such as access to apps and learning aids.

Matching driver and instructor An instructor who clicks with one learner may not be the perfect fit for another. You or your young person (or even both of you) should talk to the instructor before you commit.

Are they direct and efficient?

Light-hearted and funny?

Softy spoken? Ideally you are looking for an instructor whose personality is a good match for your learner driver.

That said, the best instructors will be able to adapt their approach to suit the needs of different pupils.

REASONS TO GO BIG

REASONS TO CHOOSE AN INDEPENDENT

● Access to online learning aids Many big schools will have their own apps or digital platforms to help young drivers learn when they’re not behind the wheel.

● Experienced teacher Although it’s not always the case, independent instructors will usually have been in the profession for a few years before choosing to set up on their own.

● Instructor availability If your instructor is sick, you may be able to arrange lessons with another instructor from the same school.

● Distinctive approach Every learner is different, and some approaches will work better for your young person than others. An independent instructor will have the elbow room to do things their way without needing to follow a school’s curriculum.

● Manual and automatic cars Larger schools usually have both manual and automatic cars, so there’s a choice of which type of car your child learns in.

● Could be more affordable Again, it’s not a hardand-fast rule but independent instructors are sometimes cheaper than the big-name schools.

12

@firstcaruk

TEAM UP WITH THE

INSTRUCTOR It’s important to work with your instructor to support your learner ost of us like to think

good drivers.

M we’re Research shows that

around 80% of us rate our driving as above average. Basic maths suggests many of us are deluding ourselves.

For the sake of argument, let’s say you are a very good

driver. You’re still not the best person to teach your child to drive a car, as unless you are a driving instructor yourself you don’t have the appropriate training. Even a driving instructor would struggle to teach their own child – the dynamics of a parent and

teenage child relationship are just too hard to navigate.

No, the best person to teach your child to drive is a driving instructor. Your job is to help your instructor and learner driver without letting your own bad habits – or ego – get in the way.

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

Ask the instructor Talk to the instructor. Ask how you can best support the learning process. It could be something as simple as reminding your child to get a good night’s rest the night before a lesson. Or perhaps reminding them to eat and drink before a lesson starts to keep their energy up.

Be guided by the instructor as to when private practice should start and what to work on. Without the safety net of dual controls, it pays to be cautious and work at a level that’s well below the difficulty that’s appropriate with the instructor in the passenger seat.

TOP TIP

st. or knows be The instruct teaching a of If their way esn’t anoeuvre do particular m way of doing ur match yo you don’t it, make sure arner by le confuse your g the in ct di ra nt co . professional

Soft skills At the risk of sounding like a management consultant, one of the most important roles a parent can take on is teaching soft skills. Instead of trying to explain how clutch control works or how to bay park, talk to your child about vulnerable road users and being patient with others.

It’s easy to see passing the practical test as the ultimate goal, but a better target is to help your child become a safe driver for life. That means someone who is calm behind the wheel, and who sees driving safely as a responsibility. Every single journey, a driver’s top priority should always be to complete

“Be guided by the instructor as to when private practice should start and what to work on”

13

“You supply the encouragement. Applaud their wins, sympathise with their failures” the drive safely.

Let the driver instructor focus on the nuts and bolts of driving.

You can help by encouraging your child to have a safe attitude and a respectful and careful approach to other road users.

You’re the cheerleader, not the head coach If you’ve ever watched a kids’ football match, you’ve probably seen your share of pushy parents.

You know the type. They shout advice at their kid from the sidelines, whether it matches what their coach is telling the team or not.

Don’t be that parent while your child is learning to drive.

Let the driving instructor give them direction. You supply the encouragement. Applaud their wins, sympathise with their failures. Bring on the half-time oranges. But don’t give mixed messages by trying to coach them in the middle of the game.

Check up on progress Don’t just speak to the instructor once at the start of learning to drive.

Communication should continue throughout the process. It doesn’t need to be every week, but check in regularly to understand how your learner is progressing.

The stronger the team around your child, the better they will learn.

14

@firstcaruk

PRACTICE

MAKES PERFECT Boost your young driver’s chance of passing with practice drives

TOP TIP

you al controls, Without du sure you are e need to mak ions that are tuat not facing si r your learner. fo ing too difficult out reinforc Practice is ab t teaching lessons, no s. new skill

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

15

ractice between

is a huge part P lessons of learning to drive.

The DVSA’s own figures show that new drivers are 1.5 times more likely to pass if they have practised driving outside of professional lessons.

It can be stressful for both the young driver and the responsible adult, but it can really help your learner to pass.

Get the timing right Private practice should start after professional lessons have begun, not before.

You want your child to understand the basics before they head out in a car without dual controls. So, speak to their instructor to ask when you should begin practice drives.

Heed their advice and stay well below the level your child has reached in their lessons.

Practice is not a lesson You are almost certainly not a driving instructor. So, put any ego you may have about your driving to one side. You are supervising a practice drive, not teaching.

That means repeating situations and manoeuvres your young driver has already encountered in their lessons.

So, the first time your learner tackles roundabouts, hill starts, or bay parking should be with their instructor. Once they know how to deal with a particular type of junction or manoeuvre, it’s your job to facilitate practice.

Don’t take your learner into demanding new situations they are not prepared for. It’s much better for them and for your stress levels.

Reinforce, don’t compete Ideally, speak to the instructor about how they teach a

CONTINUED...

you know you want to...

@firstcaruk

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

17

particular manoeuvre. You may even be able to sit in on a lesson, although be conscious of whether this will make your child more nervous.

If you don’t have a chance to talk to the instructor, ask your learner how they have been told to approach a particular driving task.

Follow the instructor’s lead You are looking to reinforce what they have taught, not provide another way of doing things. Even if your method of parallel parking works for you it’s important that your advice doesn’t compete with the professional instruction your new driver is receiving.

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre, repeat Driving in and out of bays in a deserted car park is no one’s idea of fun. But it’s the opportunity for repetition that

is one of the most important benefits of private practice.

The day a learner nails a tricky manoeuvre three or four times in a row will give them a big confidence boost.

Regularly repeating techniques makes them second nature and means there’s a better chance of getting them right under pressure on test day.

Know the rules The rules of the road do change over time. Take the hierarchy of road users. This principle was behind a raft of

changes to the Highway Code in 2022. The gist is, the greater the capacity to do harm, the greater responsibility a road user must take.

This is reflected in minimum space to be allowed when overtaking vulnerable road users. It’s also behind giving pedestrians priority when crossing or waiting to cross at a junction.

We all know that we should stay familiar with the Highway Code. Make a point of reading the latest edition before you start practice with your learner.

BE THE PARENT YOU WANTED Before you get behind the wheel with your learner driver, think back to when you learned to drive. If you practised with a parent of another responsible adult, you’ll remember how tense it could be.

Nobody likes being criticised. Teenagers positively hate it. You can probably recall how tough it was to take advice from a parent when you were desperate to prove you could be independent.

Two or three decades later, now you’ll be in the passenger seat. You can

appreciate why your parents were a bit nervous about being driven by an inexperienced driver without the safety net of dual controls. Just like them, you don’t want a dent in your car, but you want to be

supportive. It’s not easy.

The best advice is to behave like the parent you hoped for all those years ago. Be patient and calm.

Correct mistakes if you have to, but build confidence.

Show your child that you are there for them and on their side.

Things will go wrong.

Mentally rehearse keeping an even tone of voice and staying composed. You need to be unflappable.

They may not thank you right now, but they will be glad of the support once they have passed.

18

@firstcaruk

TOP TIP

of the test, On the day ur child to yo e ag encour for a walk ng oi G stay busy. her form ot e m or taking so can occupy se ci er ex of d give them the mind an else to ng hi somet focus on.

DEALING WITH NERVES

There’s no point in pretending your child won’t be nervous as their tests loom. But there are steps you can both take to prevent nerves taking over when it really matters

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

Avoid peer pressure

thoughts and give driving their

having friends asking full attention every time they 1 Ifabout get behind the wheel. their driving test

will make your child nervous, encourage them to keep the test date to themself.

Practise, practise,

2 practise Talk to your instructor

and your child about the manoeuvres they have been practising, especially the skills they need to improve upon. Then make time so they can practise with you in the passenger seat. Getting a manoeuvre right time after time without the safety net of dual controls will really help their confidence.

This is easier said than done, but there are techniques they can use. Visualising is one. Suggest they picture themselves performing a manoeuvre perfectly before the test. They could think of this as a mental dress rehearsal.

Deep breathing is another method for calming pre-test nerves. They could practice breathing in through the nose for four seconds and out through the mouth for four seconds.

Doing this for five minutes before the test starts can help settle their nerves.

Think successful

4 thoughts The instructor wouldn’t

put your teenager in for their test if they didn’t think they were ready. Encourage your child to remember all the times they have successfully tackled tough manoeuvres. If they’ve done these things well before, they can do them again.

Remember, worry makes it worse The trouble with worry is that it interferes with concentration. The mind focuses on what might go wrong instead of what needs to be done next. Encourage your child to block negative

3

“The mind focuses on what might go wrong instead of what needs to be done next”

Go easy on them

well they are 5 However driving in lessons, your

child could still fail. Make sure they understand this isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it will probably make them a better driver in the long run.

One study compared firstand second-time passers and found that those who needed two attempts to pass were 15% less likely to have a collision.

The extra lessons, more practice, and being that little bit older when they pass are all likely to contribute to safer driving after the test.

THE BIG DAY Don’t make a big deal of the practical test.

The day before and on the day itself, be calm about the whole thing. If your child is putting themselves under pressure you need to ease that burden if you can. It’s only natural to care if your child passes or fails but if they pick up on your nerves it will make them more worried.

Parents often know their child better than anyone, so trust your own judgement. But as a rule, a calm and encouraging presence is what they will need.

And if they fail? Even good drivers don’t make the grade sometimes, so be their rock and tell them they will come back stronger next time.

19

20

@firstcaruk

FOOTBALL

K KTO

EXAMS

TI

THE G

YM

RISK MANAGEM

ENT

MEETI

NG FR IE

NDS

DRIVING MUST

TIDY M

Y ROO M

FRIDAY NIGHT WHAT’S FOR DINNER

E LOVAND ISL

INSIDE A YOUNG ADULT’S BRAIN f you have ever thought that your teenager’s brain works differently from a regular person’s, you are not alone. In fact, it’s not just an impression

I

that many parents have – this idea is backed by science.

We typically consider someone an adult at the age of 18. However, recent research into the way our brain’s

develop shows that we’re still maturing for much longer. It’s not just about becoming more experienced as we age – the brain of someone in their late teens is still a work in progress.

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

21

MANAGING RISK Dealing with risk is a team effort between two parts of the brain, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.

The amygdala detects potential threats and reacts impulsively, while the prefrontal cortex is the rational decision-making centre. Touch wood, these two parts of the brain balance each other, providing a rapid reaction when needed but a levelheaded assessment of risk.

The trouble is the amygdala matures earlier than the pre-frontal cortex.

So, the teenage brain has

a hair-trigger throttle and dodgy brakes.

Bad decisions are not necessarily arrogance or a love of risk. It’s just that the teenage brain is hard-wired to react impulsively.

The prefrontal cortex is the voice that says “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” But in the mind of a young adult that voice is just a whisper.

It takes until the mid20s or even later for the pre-frontal cortex to fully develop, by which time someone may have been driving for nearly a decade.

HOW TO HELP Short of telling your child they can’t learn to drive until they’re 30, you can’t sidestep a young adult’s limited capacity to assess danger. But there are steps to reduce the risks.

Some countries use a system called graduated driver licensing (GDL).

Under GDL, newly qualified drivers face restrictions, such as nighttime curfews and limits on passengers.

Even if this isn’t law in Britain (although it is being introduced in Northern Ireland from October 2026), but you can apply your own version of GDL. Persuading young adults to accept boundaries and

restrictions can be difficult, but if you are helping to pay for a car and insurance it seems only fair that you should lay out some ground rules. One could be no driving after 10pm at night.

Another could be carrying no more than one friend in the car at a time.

Young adults want their independence so rules can be difficult to enforce. As a parent or guardian, you can’t control what they do once the car has disappeared around the corner. However, it is worth the effort to reduce the risk that a young driver faces in the months after passing their test.

NEURODIVERSE

DRIVERS

Any teenage brain is different from a fully developed adult’s. That goes double for someone with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or both. ● A neurodiverse teenager may take longer to master the skills of driving. Be prepared for extra lessons. ● Take frequent breaks on practice drives to help maintain attention. ● Drive on familiar routes to help develop confidence. ● Look for an instructor with experience of teaching neurodiverse learners.

For more advice: autism.org.uk/advice-andguidance/transport/driving gov.uk/adhd-and-driving

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Understand how they feel

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‘Gutted’ probably doesn’t begin to cover it. So be sympathetic. Allow them space to feel disappointed or angry, then gently remind them that a test is just one moment in their lives. They are not a good or bad driver for life after the test, whatever the result.

SUPPORT YOUR LEARNER IF THEY

FAIL

There’s a good chance your learner will fail their theory test or practical test first time, possibly more than once.

Here’s how to support them

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Give practical help If your child didn’t pass their

2 theory test, help them come back stronger by using learning aids such as apps to improve their knowledge.

If they’ve failed the practical, discuss what went wrong and help them improve areas of weakness. Ideally, work with the instructor to understand how you can contribute without stepping on the ADI’s toes.

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The longer they learn, the better they will become who passes first 4 Anyone time is very proud of the

Get them back behind the wheel

Failing the practical test can be a real blow to a young driver’s confidence, and they may be tempted to take a break from learning. Don’t let them take more than a few days off.

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They shouldn’t be allowed to get rusty, or to put off facing their nerves indefinitely. Be supportive and encouraging. It will give them a lift to know you are in their corner.

fact. But did you know there’s plenty of evidence that people who fail their first practical test go on to be better, safer drivers? That’s because the extra practice and instruction will improve their skills and delay the moment at which they are exposed to the risks of independent driving.

So, failing may seem like a big deal at the time, but help your child understand that, statistically, it’s going to make them a safer driver.

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Book the next test soon Instructors don’t set their

5 pupils up to fail, so if they

felt your child was good enough before they should be ready for a re-test. Encourage them to book another test promptly.

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CHECK THE OIL LEVEL This is something every driver should be able to do. The trouble is, plenty of us know how to check oil and top it up as required but forget to do so regularly. Encourage your new driver to check the oil at least once a month.

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Explain to your young driver that they should park on level ground and let the engine cool down for 10 minutes or so.

This will allow the oil to drain back into the sump, where the oil is stored.

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The driver should open the bonnet and find the dipstick. It should be easy to spot but if in any doubt, the car’s handbook can point the young driver in the right direction.

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They should pull the dipstick out fully, and wipe it with a rag or paper cloth before putting it all the way back in.

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If it’s too low, they will need to buy the correct grade of oil to top up the level (check the handbook or use an online oil checker).

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Next, they should take the dipstick out again and hold it horizontally. The driver needs to look for two lines on the stick. One marks the minimum level, one the maximum. Oil should show somewhere between the two, ideally close to the maximum.

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Show them how to add oil through a funnel a little at a time and repeat the dipstick check. Keep going until the oil is between the two lines.

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CLEANING A CAR Everyone loves their first car.

Help them keep their pride and joy clean by showing them the right way to get rid of dirt and grime without scratching paintwork or leaving streaky marks.

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Show them how to rinse off the car with a hose to remove any loose dirt.

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Next, mix some car shampoo and warm water in a bucket. Don’t use other detergents as they may wash off any wax which is protecting the paintwork.

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They should dip a soft sponge or a special washing mitt in the soapy water.

It’s best for them to begin washing at the top of the car and work their way down.

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Your young driver should rinse the sponge or mitt with a hose before they put it back in the soapy water. That way they won’t want mix in dirt and grit. A second bucket with a grit guard in the bottom is another way to keep the sponge or mitt clean.

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Once the whole car has been cleaned, it can be rinsed with the hose.

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Encourage your new driver to dry the car with a clean cloth or chamois leather to prevent any streaky drying marks.

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For a professional finish, apply a thin layer of wax and buff to a shine.

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ESSENTIAL

SKILLS Every new driver should get to grips with basic car maintenance.

Here are some of the easy but essential skills you should pass on

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CHANGE A FLAT TYRE ooner or later (hopefully

your new driver S later) will have a puncture.

Teach them how to change the tyre with this guide:

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The driver should make sure they are in a safe place. It should be off the road and on level ground. If they can’t get away from the road completely, the car’s hazard warning lights should be on.

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The handbrake should be on. The driver should then take the spare wheel and the tools they will need out of the boot.

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It’s really important that the car doesn’t roll away while they are working on it.

So, chock the opposite wheel to the one with the puncture (so, the right-hand rear wheel if the puncture is on the left-front wheel). If they don’t have a chock, a brick or a large rock can do the job.

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The driver should loosen the wheel nuts, but shouldn’t take them off completely yet.

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The car’s tool kit will have a jack for lifting the car up.

All cars have dedicated jacking points. The driver should look in the handbook to find where they are, then position the jack under the jacking point and use it to raise that corner of the car off the ground by 10 centimetres or so.

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Now the driver can unscrew the nuts fully. The wheel should pull off easily. It should be placed flat on the ground so it doesn’t roll away.

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Next, the driver should slide the spare wheel onto the hub. They will need to line up the bolt holes then replace the nuts and tighten them by hand.

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Now they should lower the car back to the ground with the jack. Once the tyre reaches the ground all the wheel nuts must be tightened.

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The jack should be lowered until it is clear of the jacking point. The driver

WHAT ABOUT TYRE

REPAIR KITS? Many modern cars have repair kits rather than spare tyres.

These use sealant and a compressor to plug punctures and reinflate the flat tyre. These kits are designed to seal relatively small punctures and the repairs are temporary.

If a repair kit fails to fix the flat the driver should contact their breakdown provider. should then give the wheel nuts one last check.

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Once they have packed the tools away and put the flat tyre where the spare wheel was, they should find a nearby garage and check the tyre pressure is correct.

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The driver should have the punctured tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

CONTINUED...

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MENTORING

YOUR NEW DRIVER

The first year after passing the practical test is an exciting time for your newly qualified driver, but it can also be a dangerous one t may happen quickly.

Or it could take a while.

But sooner or later, your learner driver will pass their practical test and will hold their full driving licence in their hands.

The day they pass will be a happy one. It’s a milestone in your young adult’s life, but don’t think this is the end point of learning to drive. The formal process of passing the theory and practical test is really just the start.

The uncomfortable truth is that the first 12 months of independent driving are a dangerous time. Around

I

one-in-five new drivers have a collision in their first year on the road. Some studies put the percentage even higher.

So, when your child ditches

“Around one-in-five new drivers have a collision in their first year”

L-plates for P-plates you still have work to do. Young drivers need support and advice as they start driving independently.

Influencing a 17 or 18-year-old’s behaviour is not easy, but it’s worth the effort.

Lead by example “Do as I say, not as I do” won’t cut any ice with a teenager who has just passed their test. You need to show that driving after passing doesn’t mean picking and choosing which rules of the road you follow.

Stick to the limit, leave your mobile alone, and show patience and consideration

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around vulnerable road users. If you want your child to be a safe driver for life, not just someone who drives a certain way to pass a test, you need to set a good example. Perhaps you could agree to take advanced driving lessons if your child signs up to a Pass Plus course.

A privilege, not a right If your child is insured on the family car or if they are lucky enough to have a car of their own, make sure it is understood from day one that using the car comes with certain conditions and expectations.

Some evidence suggests that having access to a family car rather than owning a vehicle reduces the risk of a collision over the first few months. So, it could be better to help fund a car for your new driver as a reward after a collision-free first year on the road rather than immediately after passing.

Limiting the times of day when a new driver gets behind the wheel can also help. Driving home from the pub or club

“A car full of same-age passengers increases the risk of a fatal collision by four times”

is especially risky, even if the young driver hasn’t taken any alcohol or drugs. A lift from mum or dad is safer.

Limit passengers One of the big risk factors is the number of same-age passengers in the car. Driving solo or with an older adult in the passenger seat is far safer than a car full of excited mates.

In fact, a car full of same-age passengers increases the risk of a fatal collision by four times.

Make access to the car conditional on limiting the number of passengers.

The appropriate number is something you’ll need to decide with your child. A lower number is safer, but you will have to conclude what is practical and achievable. This is a tough one to police, which is where a relationship built on mutual trust really helps.

Build agreement Teenagers don’t like being told what to do. Then again, does anybody? Studies show that a warm, supportive parent-teen relationship leads to better driving than a more remote and inflexible approach. Look for agreement over how driving post-test will work, rather than imposing a rigid framework without their cooperation.

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NEW DRIVER,

NEW RULES

Sit down with your young driver and agree what independent driving will look like. Decide what you will do in return to help your new driver make a safe start.

I will always check before I take the car I will not drive after

pm

I will not carry more than same-age passengers I will stick to the speed limit I will never use my phone while driving I will never drink or take drugs and drive As a parent or guardian…

I will offer a lift home from the pub or club times a month I will pay £ towards insurance I will demonstrate basic maintenance I won’t set a bad example with my own driving SIGN HERE: New driver

Parent or guardian

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UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE here’s no getting around

insurance for young T it,drivers is expensive.

With little experience, new drivers are far more likely to be in a collision. Around 1-in-5 crash in their first year of independent driving.

Touch wood, that won’t happen to your new driver, but if it does, you’ll be glad you had the right cover in place. The need for insurance starts long before they pass, as you’ll need to have a policy for practice drives between professional lessons with the instructor.

Learner insurance You can add your young driver as a named driver to the family car. That’s probably what your parents did when you learned to drive. But a neater solution is to take out learner driver insurance.

This is a separate policy

“The great thing about learner driver insurance is that your hard-earned noclaims bonus isn’t at risk”

Finding the right cover for your new driver which covers the learner while practising in someone else’s car. That’s usually a parent or guardian but it could be a willing family friend or relative.

These policies are short term, lasting a day, a month, or perhaps a full year depending on what you need. Compared with the price of a policy once your child passes, learner driver insurance is relatively affordable – for example, cover from Adrian Flux starts from 55p per day.

The great thing about learner driver insurance is that your

THE PARENT’S GUIDE

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hard-earned no-claims bonus isn’t at risk. If your kid does put a dent in the car while practising parallel parking the claim is made through the learner driver insurance, not your main policy.

Just make sure the car you plan to practice in can be covered, as there are usually restrictions on the price and value of a car your child can drive. Adrian Flux will cover vehicles up to insurance group 45 (of 50) and up to £30,000 in value.

After they pass Once your child passes the practical test and bins their L-plates once and for all, they are no longer covered by the learner policy. You will need a different kind of insurance.

Again, you could make your child a named driver on your insurance. This can be very expensive – we’ve known families who were quoted £2000 to add their child for the last couple of months of

an existing policy. Also, your young driver won’t build up a no-claims bonus.

If your new driver is lucky enough to be the main driver of a car, then they will need their own insurance policy. This will inevitably be expensive. But contacting a specialist such as MyFirst can help you find good cover at a competitive price.

Understanding telematics Typically, the most competitive quotes for young drivers will be for a telematics (or ‘black box’) insurance policy.

These use sensors in the car to monitor how the car is being driven, and report back to the insurer. It seems a bit Big Brother, but knowing that their driving is being monitored encourages good habits.

Drivers who stick to the speed limit and drive smoothly are rewarded. That could mean a lower cost when the premium is renewed, extra miles on a limited mileage policy, or vouchers and special offers.

An app or web portal gives drivers feedback to help them improve. If you’re a named driver on the policy you’ll be able to see it too…

FRONTING Making yourself the named driver for a car which is really your child’s could come back to bite you.

This is called ‘fronting’ and it’s a type of insurance fraud. Your policy could be invalid and a claim might be refused if you and your child are found out.

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RULES OF BUYING A

SAFE FIRST CAR

Any parent or guardian wants their child to stay safe when they start out on the road. Choosing a safe first car is a good start

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Newer is better As a rule of thumb, the newer the car the safer it will be. Safety standards are improving all the time and driver aids that were science fiction when

you learned to drive are now standard.

You’ll need to balance your budget against the age of the car you buy, of course. But newer is better if you can find the money.

“The newer the car the safer it will be. Safety standards are improving all the time”

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Check the Euro NCAP rating Go to Euroncap.com and check the rating of any make and model you are thinking of buying. There’s an overall rating out of five stars. That’s then broken down into different categories, including occupant protection and safety assist.

Just as cars have improved over the past few decades, so Euro NCAP has steadily made its tests tougher. So, you can’t compare a rating from, say, 2016 with a score from 2026.

To reflect that Euro NCAP now labels older tests as ‘rating expired’. The old ratings are still useful, but just make sure you are comparing like for like.

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Look for modern driver aids Electronic stability control helps the driver stay on the road if the car begins to slide.

It’s been compulsory since November 2014. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is a more recent driver aid that warns an inattentive driver if a collision is likely. It even applies the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond. It has been compulsory for all new cars since May 2024.

Check for any outstanding recalls Finding a safe first car isn’t just about the crash test rating and equipment fitted. When you begin shopping for your child’s first car, make sure any example you are thinking of buying has no outstanding recalls. These are safety-related remedies for known faults. You can check by entering the reg number at gov. uk/check-vehicle-recall.

Review the MOT and service history Any car between three and 40 years old must pass the annual MOT. Many of the checks relate to safety, so it goes without saying that you should never buy a used car without a valid MOT. Check the car’s MOT history online (gov.uk/check-mothistory) and look for advisories.

These are issues with the car that aren’t serious yet but could be if ignored, such as low but not illegal tyre tread depth.

You should also check the service history to be sure the car has been serviced on time and to the manufacturer’s instructions. A missed service doesn’t necessarily make a car unsafe, but a clean MOT and a fully stamped service book are all good signs.

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FIVE-STAR FIRST CARS These models have both scored the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP testing. You can check the star rating of any car you are thinking of buying at Euroncap.com.

MINI COOPER This cool-looking hatchback picked up five stars when tested in 2025.

VW POLO With a score of 94% for adult occupant protection, the Polo is one of the safest small cars.

NB: Ratings apply to current-generation models.

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NO QUESTIONS ASKED LIFT HOME VOUCHER VALID 24/7

Name:

This card entitles the holder to one lift home from their parent/guardian/carer (delete as applicable).

The lift can be claimed at any time of day or night, no explanation needed.

Terms and conditions apply:

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The user of the voucher will express their gratitude. Suitable methods include, but are not limited to, cleaning the parent/ guardian/carer’s car.

2

Collection of the voucher holder’s car will be the sole responsibility of the voucher holder. This task should only be completed when the voucher holder is fully rested and sober.

3

In the event that a parent/guardian/carer collects the voucher holder’s car, even greater gratitude should be expressed (see condition ‘1’).

4

A late night phone call is understood to be preferable to a mistake the voucher holder will always regret.

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NO QUESTIONS ASKED LIFT HOME VOUCHER