Great numbers of us aspire to learn to drive. Indeed, according to recent data from Uswitch, 85% of young people want to be driving regularly by 2035.
Understandably, though, whether you’re a teenager who has never previously got behind the wheel, or perhaps a young learner’s parent or an adult returning to driving after a break, the process can feel overwhelming.
Fortunately, it can all be relatively straightforward when broken down step by step. So, in this article, our expert instructors in the Birmingham area will guide you how to get your driving licence in the UK.
Step 1: Apply For Your Provisional Licence
Of the key steps to learn to drive in the UK, the starting point is applying for a provisional licence, as you can do via GOV.UK for £34.
To apply for your first provisional driving licence, you must be at least 15 years and nine months old. You will be expected to provide your National Insurance number if you know it, as well as an identity document number. For the latter, you can use a passport.
Step 2: Start Learning to Drive
Once you have your provisional licence, you must always be supervised when learning to drive a car. A professional driving instructor can do this, or someone else who meets the rules, such as a friend or relative.
Bear in mind that even if a friend or family member supervising you is a highly skilled and experienced driver, they won’t have the level of training and certification that professional instructors have (unless, of course, they are a qualified driving instructor themselves).
So, to make sure no vital aspects are missed when you’re learning to drive, we would urge you to take professional beginner driving lessons. Here at Select Drive Driving School, we cover such areas of the West Midlands as Birmingham, Quinton, and Halesowen.
Step 3: Prepare For and Pass Your Theory Test
This next stage of how to get a driving licence in the UK will necessitate you booking your theory test – as, again, you can do through GOV.UK. A car and motorcycle theory test will cost you £23.
The theory test will combine multiple-choice questions with a hazard perception test. The multiple-choice questions are based on three publications: The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs, and Driving – the essential skills.
So, you could simply read those books to revise. However, various software packages and apps are also available, as well as free practice tests online.
To pass your theory test, you will need to score at least 43 out of 50 in the multiple-choice section, and 44 out of 75 in the hazard perception section.
Step 4: Book And Take Driving Lessons
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has stated that it takes most people about 45 hours of lessons to learn to drive, in addition to 22 hours of practice, before they pass their practical test. But for you, the actual time may be shorter or longer than this.
Every driver and their circumstances will be different to the next. We are often asked, for example, whether weekly or intensive driving courses are best. But this depends on individual needs and preferences. Some people prefer the gradual learning pace that weekly lessons offer, while others may like the faster and more concentrated experience that intensive lessons bring.
At Select Drive Driving School, we are pleased to make available weekly, intensive, and refresher driving lessons alike. Our instructors use nearby routes and have invaluable local knowledge. They also use dual-control cars and take a friendly teaching approach, which will further help put your mind at rest – especially if you haven’t driven for a while.
Step 5: Take And Pass Your Practical Test
When you turn up for your practical test, you will be asked to read a number plate to check your eyesight. You will then need to answer two vehicle safety questions – one “show me” question and one “tell me” question.
Then, the driving assessment will take place, including general driving in various road and traffic conditions, as well as specific tasks.
When choosing a test centre, you may bear in mind such aspects as location, the typical test wait times, the test routes from that centre, and your instructor’s advice.
Birmingham, for instance, presents a variety of test-centre options, such as South Yardley, Kingstanding, and Garretts Green.
Let’s Get You on the Road – Contact Us Today
With the right help, learning to drive in the UK doesn’t need to be stressful.
Remember that you are welcome to reach out to our team at Select Drive Driving School to receive personalised advice or to book a lesson.
The sooner you start, the sooner you will be on the road! So, if you’re in Birmingham or nearby, why not get in touch with us today to book your first lesson with a local instructor?