Can someone explain the steps involved in teen learning to drive

[Elvislipcurl]

Gov website down, not getting much info out of instructors as they are overrun, so thought I would ask wise mumsnetters.

I have been told that my son needs to pass his theory test before having lessons, however he can't enrol for the test as he has no driving license. I am further confused as it says he can apply for a license when 15 and 9 months, but I was told by an instructor that it was 16 and 9 months, which is why I waited till now. He is 17 in a few months.

What are the steps I need to follow, or that you recommend to get him lessons?

My three DDs all ordered their provisional licences just before their 17th birthdays. Like our full licences, they are valid for 10 years. They can then begin learning to drive on the roads the day they turn 17 if they wish.

You absolutely do not have to have passed the theory test before the first lesson though maybe that is the policy of some instructors. I think though that it is probably best to get it booked and out of the way fairly early on. One less thing to worry about as they approach their practical test.

My DDs all took their theory sometime shortly after starting to learn. Once they pass that though it is time limited. I think it is two years. If they don't pass the practical test within that timespan then they will have to repeat the theory.

If he has a current passport order on the gov website it's quicker my son got his in less than a week!

Or a passport up to a year out of date!

Apply online for provisional. Start lessons at 17. Do theory whenever after that. Uk

I applied for provisional in December, two months before her 17th. It took two weeks to come, I didn't realise just how long waiting lists were and didn't contact any instructors until the end of January. Every single one told me there's about a five month long waiting list and I put her one every one. She's only had her first lesson this weekend so five months for the first one.

She hasn't done her theory test yet, she's booked in for September (the earliest we could get and I've been told to stick to one hour weekly lessons instead of two hour ones because apparently the waiting list for practicals is worse than the wait for the lessons and she's probably gonna be 18 before she sites her practical test and that counts on her passing theory first time and not having the wait months between resits.

Thankfully she liked her Instructer because she's not at the top of any other waiting list yet and may have had more months to wait if she wanted to try a different Instructer.

So my advise would be to start finding an Instructer now even if he isn't 17 fir a few moths yet as you may still have to wait a bit.

My sil booked nephews lessons in jan and he's not 17 til august but she knew how long waiting lists were from her middle son who passed last year.

If a friend can recommend an instructor it's useful as they all have different styles.
Once he's had a few lessons you might want to insure him on your car for practice. The instructor we used invited me to observe a lesson so I knew what was covered, then he recommended we practice a few lessons behind.

You can of course teach them yourself. I wasn't brave enough but my friend did with her DS. Got him to a competent level and then asked an instructor to assess and do test practice.