We know that starting out on your learning to drive journey is just as nerve wracking as it is exciting. If you’re thinking about learning to drive with parents, you might be after some info into whether this is a good idea or not. We’ve done a bit of digging into both the upsides and the not so good sides of being taught to drive by your parents, to help you make the right choice for you.
Can you learn to drive with parents?
When setting out towards passing your driving test, you’ll firstly need to decide who you want to learn to drive with. While it was once a common thing to practice driving solely with your parents, we’re now supposed to complete 44 hours’ worth of lessons before the day of our test. So a lot of people now choose to get a driving instructor as well as learning to drive with parents.
There are a few reasons why only learning with a driving instructor might not be the best option, though. From the cost that comes hand-in-hand, to the unpredictability of learning to drive in lockdown. So, having your mum or dad as your supervising passenger could save you time and money in the long run.
It’s also a good way of getting some private practice in while you build up a bit of confidence behind the wheel. Not to mention the flexibility you’ll have if a family member teaches you to drive. Whereas, going straight in with a driving instructor means you’ll have to work around their schedule, and it might not be as convenient for you.
Supervising a learner driver
If you’re helping someone learn to drive, you’ll firstly need to double check you meet the supervising passenger requirements.
This is something you’ll have to get right, as it could lead to any claim made on your learner driver insurance policy being invalidated. It’s pretty straight-forward, but it could be a downside of learning with parents as you wouldn’t need to think about it if you choose to go with an approved driving instructor.
Can learner drivers have passengers?
You sure can, and you’re probably more likely to have this as an option if you’re driving with a parent. You’ll just need to have your supervisor in the front passenger seat.
Although, it’s still good to make sure you’ve had some experience in driving the car before you add more people into the mix. You don’t want to be picking up any bad habits as a result of getting distracted for example. So, you might want to hold off on this for as long as you can before passing your test.
Can I practice driving on the motorway with my parents?
Something to remember when you’re thinking about teaching someone to drive is that you can’t take them out on the motorway, unless you’re an approved driving instructor.
This recent change in law was brought in to help learner drivers gain experience in using motorways safely. As well as making sure their driving practice prepares them for the real thing.
However, the learner driver will still need to be supervised by an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls. So, you’ll need to book and pay for a driving lesson if you’re keen to learn to drive on the motorway.
Do I have to learn to drive with a driving instructor?
Having your driving lessons with a driving instructor means you can be sure they’ll know all the up-to-date traffic laws and test requirements. So, if you’re looking for convenience or peace of mind, getting an instructor to teach you once or twice a week could be a good balance for you.
Keep in mind, anyone you pay to teach you to drive must be either a qualified and approved driving instructor, or a trainee driving instructor. We’ve put together a list of things to consider when you’re choosing the driving instructor you want to go with, which should help you out if you’re considering the option!
What is a dual control car?
Another benefit of learning to drive with an instructor is that their car will likely have dual control. This might help you feel more relaxed while you get used to being in control of the car, as dual control means the instructor can take over if and whenever they need to.
They’re a good safety measure for brand new learner drivers, so it’s a good idea to think about if you’d feel more comfortable with dual control to start off with.
When can you start learning to drive with parents?
You can have your first driving lesson when you turn 17; but we’ve got more information on this here. You’ll need your provisional driving licence with you and your L-plates ready to go on both the front and back of the car. Once you’ve got these, you and whoever you’ve chosen to teach you, can buckle up and head out on the road.
So, what’s the best option for you?
Now that we’ve gone through the good sides of both of these options, it’s up to you to decide who you want to teach you to drive. It’ll be different for all of us, and you can change your mind as you go along!
We spent some time with a couple of learners and their mum’s recently… check out how it went down below or over on TikTok HERE.
Learner driver insurance
If you’re learning to drive in your own car, or a friend or family member’s car, make sure your car insurance policy is in place before you set off. We might be able to help you in this area, as you can quote for anywhere from 2 hours up to 180 days with our learner driver insurance.
Best of luck with the driving practice!