You'll just need a valid licence before you can drive an instructors car on the roads and in public places, either provisional or full, and have it cover the correct catagory for the vehicle you intend to drive, for cars that's catagory B. You will also need to meet the eyesight standard, and not have any medical conditions that will affect your ability to drive safely.

Everyone is different when it comes to learning to drive, it also depends on what previous experience each individual has had in the past. The national average for a novice with no previous driving experience is 40 to 50 hours. While someone who has had driving lessons before might only need 20 to 30 hours, or less.

For a Complete Beginner a 40 hour intensive course is suggested. This is for the novice pupil with no experience what-so-ever and is ideal for pupils with little or no time due to education or work commitments. For an intermediate learner, a 30 hour intensive course is suggested. This is for pupils who have had a little experience on the road, are familiar with the controls, and procdures, and would class themselves as not a beginner, but not yet able to pass the test, and who would seem to be confident after our initial driving assessment. For the Semi Experienced, a 20 hour intensive course is suggested. This is for pupils with some road experience, or prior tuition, that generally have been in and around cars and motorcycles for a while and "know the ropes" For the Experienced, a 10 hour intensive course is suggested. This is for pupils who have had a lot previous driving experiences or trouble passing there the driving test, that just need refreshing in certain areas. By "Intensive Course" it's meant that lessons are taken within a short time of each other, e.g. maybe 2 or 3 a week if possible, the more frequently you learn, the more frequently you will learn, that is to say if you only had one lesson a month, it would take quite a while for things to sink in, and therefore you would need many more lessons than if you did them frequently.

We all know that there are certain restrictions learner drivers face that are over and above the rules qualified drivers are subject to—and rightly so. Safety on the roads is paramount, and the less experienced a driver is, the more they pose a risk to themselves and others. But what’s the deal with passengers? Can you take them in the car with you as a learner driver? Are there age limits involved, maximum numbers, or laws on where the passenger can sit? Will you be allowed to take children with you on a driving lesson? So many questions! Let’s find out. General learner driver passenger rules So long as they don’t exceed the maximum number that the car can legally hold, you are allowed to take passengers with you as a learner driver. However, you must abide by all other laws, including rules that are exclusive to learner drivers. The only person allowed in the front passenger seat with you while you learn is a suitable accompanying driver—and this person must fulfil certain criteria. The supervising driver law rules out having children in the front of the car. Otherwise, yes, learner drivers can carry child passengers. However, as the driver, you have a responsibility to ensure that all children under the age of 14 are following the laws that apply to them (over-14s are ultimately responsible for themselves). This includes making sure that they’re wearing seatbelts, and using the correct car seats for up to the the age of 12, or shorter than 138cm (whichever comes first). So, in your average five-seater car, you’ll be able to take a maximum of 3 children while you are a learner driver. But there are several other things to think about too. Insurance rules Although the law allows you to carry child passengers, you are also subject to the specific conditions of your learner driver insurance policy. Your policy holder may impose a curfew, determine whether there is an age limit or maximum number of passengers you can carry, or otherwise affect your freedom to drive. It’s best to check with your insurer before you start driving with kids in the car, because failing to adhere to their conditions can invalidate your insurance. Will you be allowed to carry child passengers on your driving lessons? The DVSA does not impose any restrictions upon instructors when it comes to taking passengers, so they are legally allowed to take you on lessons when there are children in the back. That said, your instructor first and foremost has a responsibility to make sure you’re as safe as possible, and receiving a good driving education. Individual instructors and driving schools may have differing policies, and for some it might be a blanket ban on any child passengers. On the other hand, many driving instructors are keen to accommodate learners where possible, so if your driving instructor is flexible on this issue, expect to a frank discussion about the expectations each of you has. Remember, it’s ultimately up to them to make the decision, and they are well within their rights to change their mind if they feel having child passengers is not working. What they can’t do is let you be distracted, so if your children are hindering your ability to drive, you probably need to factor childcare into your learning to drive costs. Another thing to consider is that driving instructors are not babysitters. Your instructor needs to have their full attention on the roads while you are driving—not just for your sake, but because it’s the law. There may also be issues with ensuring that the relevant safety features are in place in your instructor’s car—and installing car seats and fastening seat belts will eat into your lesson time.

Can you drive at night on a provisional licence? Although some countries do restrict the hours learner drivers are allowed on the roads, learners in the UK can, at the moment, drive at any time of the day or night. This is, of course, providing that you follow all the usual learner rules. Make sure you: Possess a valid provisional licence; Are insured to drive that vehicle; Are accompanied by a suitable person, whether that is your instructor, a family member or friend; and Correctly display ‘L’ plates (or ‘D’ plates in Wales) You also need to make sure you’re not wearing tinted glasses. It’s hard enough to see in the dark without limiting your vision further! If you’re complying with all of these rules, then you are absolutely allowed to get behind the wheel in the dark. It’s a good job, really: if you’re taking driving lessons in the winter, you might not be able to avoid doing so. But, just because it’s permitted, should you actively choose to drive at night? There really aren’t any downsides to venturing out after dusk on your provisional licence. Yes, it might take you out of your comfort zone, but at least you’ll be doing so with an experienced driver, rather than facing the situation for the first time on your own. Of course, if you’re doing an intensive or semi-intensive driving course over the summer months, it might not be practical to get night time drives in. If that’s the case, it’s worth asking a more experienced driver to sit with you when you do first go out after dark, just to build up your confidence.