Getting Started: Your First Steps to Learning to Drive

How to start learning to drive: your first steps

Starting out feels like a lot — licences, theory, lessons, insurance. But it breaks down into a handful of simple steps, and you can take them one at a time. Here's exactly where to begin, in the right order, so you can get on the road with confidence.

Step 1: Apply for your provisional licence

Your provisional driving licence is the very first thing you need, and you can apply earlier than most people realise. You can apply from the age of 15 years and 9 months, though you can't actually drive a car on the road until you turn 17. Getting your application in early means the licence is ready and waiting when your birthday comes around.

You apply online at GOV.UK, and it costs around £34. You'll need an identity document (usually a passport), your addresses for the last three years, and your National Insurance number if you have it. The card normally arrives within a week or two.

Step 2: Check the basics

Before your first lesson, it's worth knowing two simple things are in order:

• Your eyesight. You must be able to read a modern number plate from 20 metres away. If you wear glasses or contact lenses for that, simply bring them to every lesson and your test.
• Comfortable, flat shoes. Thin soles let you feel the pedals properly. Avoid heavy boots or flip-flops.

That really is all you need to get started. There's nothing to revise and nothing to buy.

Step 3: Book your first lessons

You don't need any experience before your first lesson — that's what an instructor is for. With Drive King you'll learn in a manual Ford Fiesta with dual controls, which means there's a second set of pedals on the instructor's side, so you're always safe while you find your feet.

Your first lesson is gentler than you might expect: a quiet residential area, the main controls, and moving off and stopping at your own pace. If you'd like to know exactly how it unfolds, our guide on what to expect on your first driving lesson walks you through it minute by minute.

Step 4: Start your theory test alongside practical lessons

You don't have to pass your theory test before you begin practical lessons — and starting both together often works well. The theory test has two parts: 50 multiple-choice questions (pass mark 43 out of 50) and a hazard perception section. Once you pass, the certificate is valid for two years, and you'll need it before you can book your practical test.

Many learners revise for theory in the evenings while building practical skills on the road, so the two progress side by side. Our theory test guide explains how to prepare.

Step 5: Make the most of private practice

Lessons with an instructor will always be the backbone of your learning, but practising between them can make a real difference. If you'd like to do some learner driver private practice in a family car, there are a few rules to follow:

• Your supervisor must be at least 21 and have held a full licence (for that type of car) for three or more years.
• The car must display L-plates front and back.
• You'll need proper learner driver insurance — this is usually a short-term policy added for the learner, and driving without it is illegal.

Even a little practice between lessons helps things click faster, and it's one of the best ways to keep your overall costs down.

Step 6: Know roughly how many lessons it takes

It's natural to wonder how long all this will take. The DVSA's average is around 45 hours of professional lessons plus about 22 hours of private practice before passing — but that's only an average. Some people need fewer, some need more, and both are completely normal. Our guide on how many driving lessons you need explains what affects the number for you.

Nervous about starting? You're very welcome here

If the whole idea feels daunting, you're far from alone — a great many learners feel exactly the same on day one. Drive King specialises in patient, calm tuition for nervous and first-time learners, with no pressure and no judgement. If that sounds like you, our guide for nervous drivers explains how lessons are kept relaxed from the very first minute.

Ready to take the first step?

Once your provisional licence is sorted, the next move is to book a lesson. Take a look at the areas we cover and our lesson prices, then get in touch to find a time that suits you. A friendly first lesson is closer than you think.

Frequently asked questions