Top Tips for Learner Drivers

Learning to drive can feel daunting at first, but every driver starts somewhere.

Building confidence behind the wheel takes time, practice, and experience, and it’s normal to find some aspects of driving more challenging than others. 

Whether you’re preparing for your driving test or have recently passed, these tips can help you feel more comfortable on the road and develop safe driving habits that will stay with you for years to come.

1. Practice makes perfect

Driving can be tricky to get to grips with at first, so regular practice is one of the best ways to build your skills. During your first few lessons, it’s normal to find certain parts of driving more difficult than others, whether that’s clutch control, steering, parking or judging gaps in traffic.

Try not to feel discouraged if it takes time to feel comfortable. The more you practise different driving situations, the easier it becomes to stay calm, understand what’s happening around you and react safely on the road.

2. Find a patient instructor

When learning to drive, an impatient instructor can make you feel nervous and increase the likelihood of mistakes. It's important to feel comfortable with your driving instructor and confident that they can adapt their teaching style to your preferred learning style.

Try before you buy

Everyone learns differently, so if your instructor's approach isn't working for you, it may be worth trying someone new. Many driving schools offer discounts when booking multiple lessons, but a taster lesson can help you decide whether the instructor is the right fit before committing.

Try different lesson durations

The length of your lessons can also affect your progress. While some learner drivers prefer longer sessions to maximise practice time, others find shorter lessons help them stay focused. Try different lesson lengths to find what works best alongside your work or study commitments.

3. Practice with experienced drivers as well as your instructor

Whilst it is important to regularly have lessons with a driving instructor, the cost and availability of these lessons means that it is often tricky for learner drivers to spend more than a few hours a week with their instructor. 

 As a result, it can sometimes be frustrating starting a lesson and feeling as though you have forgotten everything that you practised in previous lessons. That’s where practising with friends and family members can be useful. While this shouldn't replace professional instruction, practising between lessons can help reinforce what you've learned and make it easier to retain new skills.

4. Consider manual vs automatic cars

If you’re finding a manual car difficult to manage, learning in an automatic vehicle could help you focus on the fundamentals of driving, such as steering, braking and anticipating hazards. While passing your test in a manual car offers greater flexibility, an automatic licence may be the right choice for some learner drivers.

5. Don't stop learning after you pass

Passing your driving test is a major achievement, but it’s also the start of a new stage in your driving journey. Without an instructor or supervising driver beside you, you’ll encounter situations that may feel unfamiliar at first, from navigating busy roads to driving in poor weather conditions. 

• Taking short journeys on routes you know well can help you adjust to driving independently. 
• Parking is another skill that often improves with time, so consider practising in a quiet car park before tackling busier locations where space may be limited.

6. Buying your first car

Choosing your first car is undoubtedly an exciting experience. However, it’s easy to get caught up in selecting the car you want and forget about the responsibilities that come with owning a vehicle, such as insurance, road tax and ongoing maintenance. 

Before buying your first car, check:

• The vehicle’s MOT history
• Tyres for signs of uneven wear or damage
• Service and maintenance records
• Dashboard warning lights
• Insurance costs for new drivers

It’s also important to keep hold of your V5C logbook and ensure your details remain up to date with the DVLA. For example, if you move house and fail to update your address, you could face a fine.

Complete Guide to 'Car Admin'

7. Car Maintenance

Although the driving test involves knowing some basic vehicle maintenance, it is not until you are driving your own car regularly that you realise how important vehicle maintenance is. Whilst learning to drive, many people aren’t shown how to complete maintenance tasks such as checking tyre pressures.

Basic vehicle checks every new driver should know

• Check tyre pressure regularly
• Inspect tyre tread for signs of wear
• Check engine oil levels
• Monitor coolant levels
• Top up windscreen washer fluid when needed

For this reason, it is important to ask an experienced driver or your driving instructor what vehicle maintenance checks should be carried out and how often they should take place. For more advice, take a look at our vehicle maintenance guides.

Your driving journey doesn’t end with your test

Passing your driving test is a major milestone, but becoming a capable driver takes time. Every journey gives you the opportunity to build new skills, gain experience in different driving conditions and become more comfortable behind the wheel. 

For more motoring advice, news and driving guides, explore the Kwik Fit blog. And when it’s time for an MOT, service, tyre replacement or vehicle check, your local Kwik Fit centre is here to help.