According to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) 64% of parents have given learner drivers extra help outside their lessons. But if you’ve been driving for as long as you can remember, you’ll appreciate that driving tests have changed significantly over the years. Here, comparison site mustard.co.uk, go through the process of learning to drive so you can support your child and help them find cheap car insurance in the UK.
When can my child learn to drive?
Your child must have a provisional licence to learn to drive. They can apply for one when they’re 15 years and nine months old, but they won’t be able to get behind the wheel until they’re 17.
Only approved driving instructors (ADIs) can charge for lessons. Friends and family members helping a learner driver cannot accept payment even for fuel.
What car insurance do learner drivers need?
Anyone driving on public roads must have suitable car insurance, including learners. If not, they can face an unlimited fine and be given up to eight penalty points. They could also be banned from driving.
Your child will typically be covered while they are having lessons with an ADI as most driving schools will include this within the lesson price.
If your child has their own car, they can buy their own learner driver insurance policy, which is available from most mainstream insurers. If they’re practising in your car, they can be added to your own policy or they can take out their own learner driver insurance.
Being added to your policy can sometimes be the cheaper option but if they have an accident and make a claim, it will affect your no claims and your premium at renewal. Although having their own policy for your car is usually more expensive, it won’t impact your insurance if they make a claim.
Who can supervise a learner driver?
Learner drivers can be supervised by someone who:
- Is 21 years old or older.
- Is able to drive the car the learner is using (for example, if the learner is driving a manual car, the supervisor must be entitled to drive one too).
- Has held a full driving licence for at least three years, the licence must be from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
- Is not currently banned from driving.
What does the driving test cover?
There are two main parts to the driving test, a theory test made up of 50 multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test. Learners must pass both elements to pass the test overall. The test currently costs £23.
The second part is the practical driving test which can only be taken after they’ve passed the theory test. The test currently costs £62 for a weekday or £75 for evenings, at weekends or on bank holidays. It’s made up of five parts:
- An eyesight check – drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away or 20.5 metres if it’s an older style plate.
- Car safety questions – commonly known as ‘show me, tell me’ questions.
- General driving – the examiner will ask them to follow directions they provide.
- Reversing the car – the learner will be asked to carry out one of three reversing manoeuvres.
- Independent driving – learners will be expected to follow sat-nav instructions independently for about 20 minutes.
What insurance will my child need after passing their driving test?
When your child passes their driving test, learner driver car insurance won’t be suitable. This is because they’ll be upgrading their licence from a provisional to a full licence and their insurance must reflect that. They can update their existing learner driver policy by contacting their insurer or they can compare new policies from other providers.
It means that if your child takes the practical test in their own car and passes, they will not be able to drive home until they have updated their insurance. If they intend to shop around for a new policy, they will need to arrange a lift back home or ask someone else to drive.
How can I get cheap car insurance for young drivers?
Car insurance for under 25s is renowned for being significantly more expensive than it is for other age groups. This is because young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident and higher premiums reflect this increased risk. That said, under 25s can keep premiums low, by:
- Adding a more experienced named driver to their policy.
- Taking out a telematics insurance policy.
- Investing in car safety, for example, buying an immobiliser.
- Limiting their annual mileage.
- Shopping around for deals at sites like mustard.co.uk where you can compare quotes from leading UK insurers in as little as five minutes.