Learning to Drive a motor car in the United Kingdom.
Rules for driving other vehicles are different.

To the best of my knowledge all contained here is correct. However this is only my opinion and has
no legal validity. For the latest information see form D100 which is available from Crown Post
Offices and Driving Schools. Prices quoted were, as far as I know, correct at this time
(3rd April 2000) but prices may rise.

Minimum Age.
For driving of motor cars you must be a minimum of 17 years old. Already holding a licence
in another territory e.g U.S.A does not allow exemption. The only exception applies
to a very limited category of disabled persons who would in the past have been entitled to drive
an invalid carriage. These vehicles are no longer supplied and there are very few left. 16 year
olds may ride a moped which is a precisely defined vehicle category. I taught only driving of
cars so I shall leave it to others to give their advice on such vehicles.

Provisional Licence.
Before starting to drive a valid provisonal licence must be in your possession. Foreign licence
holders from countries which have reciprocal arrangements may exchange their licences for a
U.K. licence on payment of the fee and must do so to continue driving after one year of residence
(E.U. 3 years unless expired). Such licence holders do not need to take the United Kingdom
Driving Test. The list of countries which have reciprocal arrangements is all E.U. countries and
Gibraltar, plus Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Republic of Cyprus, Finland, Hong Kong,
Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. Foreign
licence holders from countries other than the above may drive for up to one year but must take the
Driving Test including the Theory Test to continue driving. The fee for a first licence is £23 which
includes renewals due to change of address but not the first full licence after passing the driving tests
,renewals to remove penalty points or reinstatement after disqualification. All drivers need to renew
their licenses when they reach 70 years of age. Only photo licences are now available.
Both parts (plastic card & paper part) must be produced for each part of the test.


Taking Lessons.
There is no legal requirement to take any tuition, theory or practical. Most learners do, however,
take driving lessons with a Department of Transport Approved Driving Instructor. The majority of
instructors work in one-person businesses though there are a few larger schools. The largest is The
British School of Motoring. The Automobile Association also has a large driving school with
offices in many towns. Almost nobody takes theory lessons despite valiant efforts by some smaller
schools and individuals. This situation is unlikely to change unless training becomes compulsory
or the theory test becomes more rigorous than its present format. Oddly enough motorcycle
Compulsory Basic Training has been in force for some years. Lesson prices vary from about £10
to £20 with prices being towards the high end at B.S.M and in London. A persons, not being
a Department of Transport Approved or Licenced Trainee Instructor,
accompanying a learner drivers must be a holder of a full licence for for the same type of vehicle,
qualified at least 3 years, over the age of 21 years and must NOT charge for 'lessons'.

Testing Authority
In the United Kingdom the organisation which conducts practical driving tests is the Driving
Standards Agency. This is a Quasi-Autonomous National Government Organisation
which was originally part of the Department of Transport. As well as training and supervising
the practical test examiners they set the Theory Test.

Recommended Publications.
The Highway Code is essential. The longest established other recommended book is 'the Driving
Manual' which is generally considered to be the best guidance to both new and experienced
drivers. Unlike the 'Highway Code' failure to comply with its contents is not recognised in law as
evidence of bad driving but may result in a test fail. The D.S.A. publish a book of theory questions
and answers and also books about the various other classes of driving tests, Car, Motor-Cycle,
Passenger Carrying Vehicles (Buses) and Large Goods Vehicles (formerly Heavy Goods Vehicles
i.e. Lorries).

Driving Instructor Qualifications.
Driving Instructors, who charge for lessons, must be Department of Transport Approved Driving
Instructors or Licenced Trainee Instructors. Qualified instructors have to re-register every
four years and are subject to assessment by 'Supervising Examiners of Approved Driving Instructors'
at least every four years. The SEADI also conducts the practical parts of the instructor's
examination. Instructors also have to pass a theory test before taking the practical parts of the
qualification. A Trainee Instructor who has passed theory and part 2 (driving) may apply for
a trainee licence for a period of 6 months in order to gain experience

Theory test.
The Driving Standards Agency employ another company to conduct the Theory Test.
The theory test fee is £15.50 from the 4th of April 1999. The test is NOT conducted at
practical test centres. Candidates have 40 minutes to answer 35 multi-choice questions.
The pass mark is 30. From January 200 the test is taken on a computer terminal.
Audio is available in several languages to assist non english speakers and poor readers.

The Practical Test
The practical test costs £36.75 (extended and Saturday tests cost more). This fee pays for the
examiner's time only. Candidates must supply a vehicle which is usually their instructor's car. Each
time slot (unless it is an extended test] , is 47 minutes in which the candidate has to read
a standard number plate from a distance of 67 feet (20.5 metres), drive on a variety of roads and
carry out several 'control' exercises (see an Examiner's View of the Test, below) arriving back at
the test centre in about 40 minutes. The remainder of the time is for examiners to de-brief the
candidate, issue a pass or fail certificate and write a report (in the office). Candidates are given
a marked sheet showing their most significant faults. Succesful candidates are also given this
sheet.

Re-Tests.
Unsuccessful candidates may take the practical test again in not less than 10 working days (in other
words 2 weeks approximately) . In practice, tests candidates have to wait 4-6 weeks for a re-test at most
test centres. Successful candidates are entitled to apply for a full licence. This costs £11 for a
photo licence . While waiting for the full licence they can drive as a full licence holder including driving on
motorways. Most instructors are happy to give motorway tuition but the take-up rate for such lessons is
disappointingly very low.

Pass Plus.
This scheme is promoted by the Driving Standards Agency in a half-hearted way. It
comprises further lessons at the end of which the instructor issues a certificate which should
allow the driver to obtain cheaper insurance. Unfortunately the discounts are not typically as high
as the cost of the extra lessons and only a limited number of insurance companies are in the scheme.
It is to be hoped that this scheme will prove more popular as more insurance companies join.



An Examiner's View of 'The Test'


David Prescott (until recently DoT ADI) : My Driving School Car.

Index