Frequently Asked Questions
All you need to know about Learn to Drive
Getting started
How do I find out the price of driving lessons in my area?
The price of lessons can vary in different parts of the country. Get a quote for AA driving lessons in your area.
How much does learning to drive cost?
The cost of learning to drive depends on a variety of factors, including the cost of lessons in your area, how much driving experience you already have, and how much private practice you do.
The Driving Standards Agency advises that it can take on average 45 hours of professional tuition and 22 hours of private practice to pass a driving test.
Find out the price of lessons in your area.
How do I start to learn to drive?
In order to learn to drive, you need to be 17 years old and have a valid provisional licence. You can complete a D1 form up to three months before your 17th birthday, and you can either pick one up from the post office or apply online.
How do I find an instructor if there is not one in my local area?
Please call us on 0800 587 0087 – we will do our best to find another driving instructor for you.
How much does it cost to get your provisional licence?
On its website, the Driving Standards Agency publishes the cost of obtaining a licence.
I have a foreign licence. How can I find out if I can exchange it for a British one?
Driving licences from many countries can be exchanged for British licences, but the process varies depending which country you are from. See the DSA's advice on what you should do.
Can I learn to drive in an automatic car?
Yes, anyone can learn to drive in an automatic car. It is generally quicker and easier to learn than a manual, but once you have passed your test you can only drive automatic cars.
I have got three point penalty twice on my provisional licence. Can I still take my practical test?
Yes, you can still take your practical test. However, we encourage you to consider what lessons you can learn from the situations that caused you to get those points, and what changes you should make to your driving in the light of that.
Do you do teach how to drive a scooter?
AA driving school does not currently offer scooter or motorcycle tuition.
What makes of car do you use for driving lessons?
If you learn to drive with AA driving school, you'll learn in a brand new 1.6L Ford Focus. Our cars are replaced every six months (or up to nine months in Northern Ireland), ensuring you a smooth reliable drive.
Does the AA do crash courses?
We can offer condensed courses depending on your availability – these would normally be for six to eight hours per week over a number of weeks. Our AA instructors work with their pupils to create tailored courses. Call us on 0800 587 0087 to find out more.
Can I have lessons in my own car?
Your first lesson will be in an AA tuition car (currently a Ford Focus) so that your instructor can assess your ability. The instructor will then decide if you can drive your own car in your lessons. Remember that the AA car's dual controls make it much safer if you're having an off-day!
Can I be picked up and dropped off in different areas?
You can, but it depends on your instructor. You can arrange this with your instructor after you have had your first lesson.
Can I have evening and weekend lessons?
Yes. Most of our instructors do offer lessons in the evening and at weekends, although these are the most popular times and tend to get booked up far in advance.
Can I have an instructor who speaks my language?
A number of our AA instructors can speak other languages. If you would like to know if there is someone near you who speaks your language, please use our online lesson quote. which searches against spoken language and postcode. Or you can call our Customer Services Centre on 0800 578 0087.
What happens if I don't get on with my instructor?
All of our instructors are fully qualified to the Driving Instructor Agency standard and adhere to a strict AA Code of Conduct. It is really important that you get on with your instructor, so if you decide that you would like to change your instructor, we can arrange a new one for you.
How do I find out the price of lessons in my area?
You can get a quote online for AA driving lessons in your area. The price of lessons can vary in different parts of the country and by instructor. If you book online you'll save 50p per hour off the cost of tuition, and if you book 12 hours or more you could save an additional £2 per hour. Terms and conditions apply.
On the road
Do you press the clutch before you brake when you want to stop?
When braking, you should always press the brake before the clutch.
Is it necessary to indicate when passing a cyclist or a parked car on a street when another car is behind or in front of me?
This one is a judgement call for the driver to make. Rule 85 in the Highway Code states to signal "if necessary, before changing course or direction ... ".
On a motorway, what distance are the posts from one another that mark the nearest SOS telephone?
The distance between the marker posts on the motorway is 100 metres (328 feet).
I can't just 'trickle' up to a junction with my foot on the clutch, without the brake as well. Do you have any tips on how I can be more efficient stopping at junctions?
The secret, on a level road, is to establish clutch control just short of the give way line and to then use clutch control to move forward, like on the turn in the road, for example. If you are finding that difficult, you might not be braking early enough.
What are the current guidelines for approaching a junction/roundabout? Is it necessary to go into first gear?
The correct gear to deal with a junction or roundabout will depend on the correct speed, and the correct speed will depend on the situation.
So, a junction or a roundabout with a very closed field of view or with lots of vehicles to give way to will require a very slow approach speed and first gear may appropriate. On the other hand, a junction or a roundabout with a very open field of view showing a clear road can be taken at greater speed and second or even third gear may be appropriate.
On the approach to a junction follow the 'mirror–signal–position–speed–look–assess–decide–act' routine as set out in 'Driving, the essential skills' by the DSA, as well as the advice above.
How many lessons are needed on average before starting manoeuvres, ie reversing, three-point turn, etc?
Different instructors will begin teaching manoeuvres at different times. Some will begin to teach manoeuvring as soon as the opportunity presents itself, for example to find somewhere to park at the end of the lesson or if taking a wrong turn into a cul-de-sac. Other instructors prefer to have their pupils master the art of driving forwards before they introduce them to driving backwards.
If you are feeling that your instructor should be including manoeuvring but hasn't done so yet then you should talk to him or her about it.
If you are driving past a parked car do you have to indicate if there are no other moving vehicles around?
No you do not need to indicate. Just make sure that you take up and maintain your road position in good time.
Once you've passed
How can I find out more about Pass Plus?
Pass Plus was developed by the Driving Standards Agency. It is a six-part training course which helps new drivers get experience in towns, all weathers, out of town and rural roads, night driving, dual carriageway and motorways. Each part lasts an hour and at the end of your module your instructor will pass you if he or she believes that you have met the right standard.
Do you offer motorway driving courses to students who passed their driving tests some time ago?
Yes, we do offer refresher driving lessons. To find an instructor in your area, get prices and book lessons, please call us on 0800 587 0087.
Practical and theory tests
Do test examiners pass one then fail one for every test they do?
Myths about driving examiners abound, and this is one of them. If you are worried about your practical examination, talk to your driving instructor about how the test works and what you may be asked to do on your route.
How do I book a practical test?
You can book your practical test online, or over the phone on 0870 0101 372. However you need to have passed your theory test before you book your practical test.
What questions are asked during a practical test ?
In the practical test, you will be asked two 'show and tell' questions about safety and maintenance checks on your car. Getting one or both of them wrong will count as a driving fault in your test.
To help prepare, you can play our interactive Show me tell me game, or study the sample questions on our website. Ask your instructor to run through some sample questions with you, too.
Is it possible to use one of your cars for the practical test if I take lessons with you as well?
Yes, you certainly can use one our cars for your practical test. What normally happens is that you have a short driving lesson just before your practical test and then drive to your test centre. Your driving instructor will generally wait in the centre while you have your test in the AA car.
If you'd like to talk to one of our advisers about the benefits of learning to drive with the AA, please call us on 0800 587 0087. Or you can book your lessons online now, where you can find out the name of your new instructor and get a 50p per hour discount.
What are considered as dangerous and serious driving faults on your practical driving test?
There will always be some element of judgement on the part of the examiner when making the assessment, but here are some examples to illustrate what can be considered a minor, serious or dangerous fault.
Imagine turning left from a major road into a minor road and the rear wheel bumps up onto the kerb on the way round. This would be a driving fault (also known as a minor fault), and not necessarily a fail.
Imagine that same scenario, but the front wheel bumps up onto the kerb followed by the rear wheel. This would be a serious fault and, therefore, a fail. If a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road and they are forced to move out of the way, then this would be a dangerous fault and a fail.
Another example is to imagine emerging left from a minor road to a major road. The gap in the traffic is big enough to move into but the candidate taking the test builds up speed leisurely – obliging the following vehicle to lift off the accelerator. This is a driving fault, not a fail.
Now imagine that the gap in the traffic is smaller but still okay if the candidate is moving at a good pace. If the candidate isn't moving quickly enough and forces the following driver to brake, this would be a serious fault, and a fail. A dangerous fault in this scenario would be if the gap in the traffic is too small and the examiner has to intervene to prevent candidate from emerging.
How long is a theory pass valid?
Your theory test result is valid for two years. If you haven't passed your practical test within that two-year period, you will need to sit your theory test again.
Discounts
What discounts do I get as an AA driving school pupil?
As an AA driving school pupil you are entitled to a variety of discounts on AA and partner products.
Do AA members get extra discounts?
Yes. pre-pay for lessons in blocks of 12 hours' tuition to get a special £36 discount each time, which represents a £12 extra saving against our standard block-booking offer.