Right then, let's get ready to go!

So, you want to drive and you're raring to get behind the wheel, but before you can start there are a couple of things you'll need to get sorted. The first thing you will need to do is to get your Provisional Licence, then check your eyesight, then call me!

Getting started – the road to success

To start learning to drive you need to be at least 17 years old, which is the minimum age that you can legally drive a car on public roads in the UK. You must also apply for and receive a Provisional Driving Licence.

You can apply for your provisional licence three months before your 17th birthday and if you’re disabled and receiving mobility allowance you can start at the age of 16. Once you have this you can start with an initial lesson, where I will explain the basic learning process and how we will progress to get you to ready for your test.

How many Lessons will you Need?

At the end of your initial assessment lesson I will endeavour to give you an estimation of how many hours of tuition you are likely to need to get you to ready for the test, and will continually monitor your progress with your "Driver Record". I promise that YOU WILL NOT TAKE ANY LESSONS THAT YOU DO NOT NEED.

I take great pride in the fact that I get people to drive to a high standard in the quickest possible time, and at the minimum cost to them.

Your age is a determining factor, the younger you are, the quicker you learn, the fewer driving lessons you'll need, on the other hand an elderly learner will need more lessons to be prepared for the test. Previous experience also needs to be taken into account; a learner who rides a motor bike will have more road knowledge than someone the same age who has no previous experience on the road and is thus more likely to be ready for the driving test earlier, and thus requires fewer driving lessons for test.

You need to be consistent with your learning. Learning to drive is about building a habit, and you need to be consistent with your lessons which is why I always advise those wanting to learn to drive to budget the money for their lessons so that they can be consistent and not have to re-learn old skills that have been forgotten due to long breaks in between driving lessons.

Use the time in between driving lessons productively. If you haven't passed your theory test continually study your books and the Highway Code. If you have passed the theory test, make sure you still read the Highway Code at least. You can never have too much knowledge, and it is important that you don't forget all you learnt for the theory test as any gaps in your knowledge will reflect on your driving.

How many driving lessons for test varies, as every individual is different when it comes to learning to drive. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) which conducts the UK driving test recommends an average of 45 hours with about 22 hours of private practice. Click here to see this information.

Applying for your provisional licence

To apply for your licence, you must complete the application form D1 that's available from either the 'Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) form ordering service', or from your local Post Office. It takes about 4 weeks for your application to be processed and for your licence to be sent to you - so if you want to start learning as soon as you hit 17, make sure you apply early! You can apply up to three months before your 17th birthday or three months before your 16th birthday if you are disabled. If you are over 17 then you can apply immediately

With your eyes only

You also need to check your eyesight. Can you read an old style number from 20.50 metres, or 20 metres for the new style number plate? (Approximately 5 car lengths). If you need to wear contact lenses, or glasses to do this, you MUST wear them at all times whilst driving

The Highway Code

This is essential and required reading for everybody learning to drive, as it contains all of the rules and regulations that relate to driving in the UK. You will need to buy a copy and read and learn from it thoroughly, and as you progress with your lessons we will go through and check on your understanding of the various rules and points. Remember, if you don't abide by the rules you may be breaking the law and could end up being prosecuted. This could lead to you losing your licence, so it's crucial to know what's what!