Driving lessons and learning to drive



You can start driving a car when you’re 17.


You can check which vehicles you can learn to drive.

Rules for learning to drive


When you have your provisional licence you can drive:

  • on all roads except for motorways
  • at any time, day and night

You must be supervised when you’re learning to drive a car. This can be by a driving instructor or someone else who meets the rules, for example family or friends.

The car you learn in must display ‘L’ plates.

Speed limits

In England, Scotland and Wales the speed limits when driving with ‘L’ plates are the same as when you’ve passed your test.

In Northern Ireland the speed limit is 45 miles per hour when you’re learning to drive a car.

  1. Step 1 Check you're allowed to drive

    Most people can start learning to drive when they’re 17.

    1. Check what age you can drive
    2. Requirements for driving legally
    3. Driving eyesight rules
  2. Step 2 Get a provisional licence

  3. Step 3 Driving lessons and practice

  4. and Prepare for your theory test

  5. Step 4 Book and manage your theory test

  6. Step 5 Book and manage your driving test

  7. Step 6 When you pass



    1. Find out about Pass Plus training courses