Once you get over the fact that your child is old enough to drive, (and that you’re old enough to have a child who can drive!) most parents have a lot of questions. What are my responsibilities? Should I even teach them or should I leave the job to an instructor?
We’re tackling some of the most common questions about teaching your child to drive in the UK.
Can I teach my child to drive?
Yes. Learner drivers must be supervised whenever they drive, and that can be a qualified instructor or a friend or family member. You can supervise your child while they are learning to drive as long as you meet the following conditions:
- You’re over 21
- You’ve held a full driving licence for at least 3 years
- You’re qualified to drive the type of vehicle they are learning to drive in, for example a manual car
Your child needs a provisional driving licence, L plates on the front and back of the car, and insurance. They can usually start driving a car at 17. Here’s more on the legal age for learning to drive in the UK.
Insurers can set their own rules for supervisors too, so check the policy before you set off. Check out this article for more information: Can I supervise a learner driver?
Should your child learn with you, an instructor or both?
Most learners do best with a mix of both. According to the DVSA’s Ready to Pass? campaign, learners take around 45 hours of lessons with an instructor plus 22 hours of private practice, on average, before they pass.
Practising with you could mean more time on the road for less money, at times that suit your family.
An instructor brings things you can’t. They know the current test standards inside out, and their car usually has dual controls, so they can take over if they need to. Anyone you pay to teach your child must be an approved driving instructor (ADI) or a trainee instructor.
How do I find a driving instructor for my child?
Your child’s driving instructor will be their most invaluable resource when learning to drive so it’s important to pick the right one. You and your child should work together to find the perfect instructor for them. Here are some things you should think about when choosing an Approved Driving Instructor:
- Ask around. If you were looking for a builder or landscaper, you would probably ask your friends and family for personal recommendations. The same applies to driving instructors.
- Find reviews. If you can’t get any recommendations from friends and family, have a look online from reviews or testimonials. Most driving instructors have a website or at least a Facebook page where you can find these.
- Is there a wait? A waiting list indicates that the driving instructor is in high demand. It’s a great indicator of how good they are. Although it might be convenient if the instructor is available the week you contact them (especially when you have an eager teen!), you might be better off waiting for the one you really want.
- Budget. Driving lessons are pretty expensive, and prices vary a lot by area. Some instructors offer deals if you book a block. It’s worth shopping around to see what offers there are. However, be wary of paying too little. If an instructor is offering lessons for considerably less than others in your area, there’s probably a reason why! Our guide to the cost of learning to drive breaks down what to budget for.
Want to know more? We’ve got a whole guide dedicated to how to choose the best driving instructor.
Can I teach my child to drive in a car park?
Many parents take their children to their local supermarket car park or industrial estate. These locations can be handy for getting familiar with the car and working on clutch control. But is it legal for learner drivers to practise there?
Drivers who are under 17 can practise without a provisional licence as long as they’re driving on private land that doesn’t have public access. Supermarket car parks, even though they’re private land, are considered public places. That means insurance is required, so unless they’re over 17 and have a provisional licence, they can’t drive there. Even if the car park’s empty, it’s illegal for your child to practise driving in a car park without insurance.
Using empty car parks for practice
If your child is 17, holds a provisional driving licence and is insured to drive, empty car parks are a great place to take them to practise driving, especially when they’re beginners. Heading out early on a Sunday morning to a big car park is a great time as it’s usually very quiet.
However it’s important to be aware that supermarkets or car park owners may have their own objections to learner drivers practising on their land, so always double check if it’s okay.
Can I take my child on the motorway?
No. Learners can only drive on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales with an approved driving instructor, in a car fitted with dual controls. If your child wants motorway experience before their test, book a lesson with their instructor. Our guide to driving on the motorway covers what they’ll learn.
Can a learner driver carry passengers?
Yes, as long as the supervisor is sitting in the front passenger seat. It’s still best to keep extra passengers out of the car in the early stages, though. Fewer distractions help your child concentrate on the road and avoid picking up bad habits.
What insurance do I need to teach my child to drive?
It’s important to make sure that your child is properly insured if they wish to do private practice without an instructor. If you’ll be teaching your son or daughter in your own car, you have the following insurance options:
- Short-term learner driver insurance: Temporary cover for a learner practising in a friend or family member’s car, for up to 180 days.
- Named driver: Alternatively, you can add your son or daughter as a named driver to your own insurance policy. If they need to make a claim as named driver, your own insurance policy and No Claims Bonus may be affected.
There’s more on the options in our page about insurance for driving a parent’s car.
Learner insurance taken out on a provisional licence usually stops being valid once the learner passes their test, so they’ll need new cover before they drive on their own. Read our guide to upgrading to a full licence.
Teaching your child to drive tips
There is plenty you can do to prepare for teaching your child to drive. Here are some key things to remember.
No dual controls
Remember that unlike a driving instructor, you won’t have any dual controls. That means you need to feel confident both in your instructing ability and your communication skills. Can you negotiate your son or daughter through a dangerous road situation?
Refresher lesson
If the answer to the above question is no, it may be a good idea to have a refresher lesson with an instructor. It’s all too easy to pick up bad habits and you don’t want to pass them along to your son or daughter. Additionally, driving test standards have changed over the years, an instructor will make sure you’re up to date with the latest information.
It’s worth rereading The Highway Code too, which is free to read on GOV.UK. Our guide to road signs is a handy refresher.
Speak to your child’s driving instructor
Most people learn through a combination of lessons with an instructor and private practice with parents. Have a chat with your son or daughter’s driving instructor before hitting the road. They’ll be able to give you tips on where they feel your child needs extra practice and will let you know if they’re ready for private practice.
Remember that if this is the case, most of the learning will be done with their instructor. Treat their time with you as an opportunity to practise what they have already learned. Try not to contradict any of their instructor’s teachings.
Track their progress
Ready to Pass? breaks driving into 27 skills, each with 5 levels. Learners are ready for their test when they’re consistently reaching level 5 in all of them, so the list shows you what to practise next.
Stay calm and be specific
Mistakes are normal, and shouting or sighing will only knock your child’s confidence. Praise what they do well, then give one clear pointer at a time. “Try braking a little earlier for that junction” is far more useful than “drive better”.
Set a good example
Your child will pick up your habits, good and bad. Stick to speed limits, keep your phone away and use your mirrors properly when you drive. It’s also illegal to use a mobile phone while you’re supervising a learner.
Plan your routes and build up gradually
Start with short drives on quiet roads, then add busier traffic, roundabouts, dual carriageways and rural roads as their skills grow. Once they’re confident, practise at night and in poor weather too.
Make sure the car is roadworthy
It’s your responsibility to make sure the car you are supervising your child in is roadworthy. Use this as an opportunity to teach your son or daughter how to make the necessary vehicle checks, for example fluid levels and tyre tread. It’s good practice for the ‘show me, tell me’ questions on their test.
You might find our essential car maintenance checklist helpful as a refresher. It’s also important to make sure you’ve got L plates in the right place, as learners can get up to 6 penalty points if they’re missing or the wrong size. Here’s a guide to where to put L plates.
A clip-on rear-view mirror for the passenger side is a low-cost extra that makes it much easier to keep an eye on the road behind.
What not to do when teaching someone to drive
- Don’t take a learner out without the right insurance
- Don’t drive without L plates on the front and back
- Don’t use your phone while supervising
- Don’t switch off: keep watching the road and looking out for hazards the whole time
Driving without insurance can lead to an unlimited fine, up to 8 penalty points and a driving ban. Read more about driving without insurance.
Are you thinking about teaching your child to drive? Make sure they’re properly insured with learner driver insurance. Cover is available for up to 180 days, so you can fit practice around your family’s schedule and only pay for the time you need.
