On average, it takes 45 hours of professional instruction and 22 hours of private practice to learn to drive.
This should not be a target nor set as a minimum, but it is a good perimeter by which to follow.
Your driving instructor will be able to assist with how they feel you are progressing as everyone learns differently.
You should look to do as much homework as possibly, these resources from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can help:
The Official DVSA Guide to Learning to Drive
The Official DVSA Guide to driving - the essential skills
The Official Highway Code and Know Your Traffic Signs
There are key skills that make up the recommended syllabus. DVSA guidance explains what each skill covers and what you pupil must know and understand.
Learning the basics
Skills in this section:
driving legally
driving safely
checking the car
Driving legally
What this skill covers.
The driver and car rules.
You must know and understand the rules on:
drink and drugs
mobile phones
tiredness and resting
dealing with accidents
their driving licence and who can help them with private practice
health and eyesight
vehicle condition and registration
tax, MOT and insurance
traffic rules and regulations
their car being safe to drive
Driving safely
What this skill covers.
Being able to do FLOWER (fuel, lights, oil, water, electrics, rubber) car safety checks.
You must know and understand:
how to do daily and weekly car checks
the importance of regular servicing
how to plan for journeys, especially longer ones
how to keep windscreens clear and clean
Checking the car
What this skill covers.
Being able to adjust driving equipment in the right order so that they’re in the best position for driving.
Getting in and out of the car safely.
What our must know and understand
You must know and understand how to check and adjust (if applicable) the following:
doors are closed and parking brake on
seat and headrest position, including how to adjust and lock firmly
steering wheel
seat belt
mirrors, including anti-dazzle
gears and parking brake
fuel
Getting the car ready
Skills in this section:
mirrors - signal - manoeuvre, position - speed - look
using mirrors
using signals
using controls and instruments
moving away and stopping
safe positioning
anticipating and planning
use of speed
keeping the car secure
Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre, Position - Speed - Look
What this skill covers
Making the MSM and PSL routine an integral part of their driving.
What our must know and understand
MSM
Mirrors. Check the speed and position of traffic behind
Signals. Consider whether a signal is necessary. If it is, signal your intention to change course or slow down clearly and in good time
Manoeuvre. Make the manoeuvre if it’s safe. Make sure your position and speed are appropriate, and that you look and act on what you see.
Position
Your vehicle is in the correct position for the manoeuvre and that you move in plenty of time if you need to change direction.
Speed
You should make sure your car is moving at the right speed and in a suitable gear to manoeuvre safely.
Look
Look - What do you see?
Assess - What are your options?
Decide - Depending on what you see.
Act - Either continue or wait.
Using mirrors
What this skill covers.
Using interior, exterior, flat, concave and convex mirrors. What area each mirror covers and where blinds spots are.
You must know and understand:
why you need to use mirrors
when you need to use mirrors
how to act on what you see
how to carry out all-round visual checks, including blind spots, to make sure it’s safe to move off
that you need to check car mirrors often and why it’s important that you do
Using signals
What this skill covers.
Using indicators and arm signals. Brake, reversing and hazard lights.
You must know and understand:
why it’s necessary to use signals
when and how to use signals
unnecessary signals
how road signals are used by other road users and traffic controllers
Using controls and instruments
What this skill covers.
Using controls and instruments effectively. Knowing what happens if they’re not used properly.
You must know and understand how and when to use the following:
accelerator, clutch and footbrake
parking brake, steering wheel, horn, indicators and gears
warning lights and speedometer
windscreen wipers
hazard, reversing, side, fog and headlights
demister and heated windows
It's important to understand how these may vary between manufacturers.
Moving away and stopping
What this skill covers.
Moving and stopping the car in a controlled way. Being able to do this on a level road, on a slope, when straight and at an angle.
You must know and understand the following:
coordinate the accelerator, clutch and footbrake
use the steering wheel and parking brake
find a suitable stopping place
be observant, knowing where and when to look, what to look for and where there may be blind spots
You must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Safe positioning
What this skill covers.
You must be able to to position the car safely on different roads and traffic conditions.
You must know and understand:
what the normal driving position is
how to position the car on bends, wide roads, narrow roads and one-way streets
what lane discipline is
how to pass stationary vehicles and obstructions safely
the positioning of other vehicles (long vehicles, cyclists etc) and how that impacts on them
You must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Anticipating and planning
What this skill covers.
Being able to anticipate the risks of driving and plan what to do in a risk situation. This could be from other road users (including emergency vehicles), animals or road works.
You must know and understand:
how to identify and react to developing hazards
what visual warnings there may be
times and places of high risk
the risks associated with different weather conditions
scanning and priorities
You must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Use of speed
What this skill covers.
Driving at an appropriate speed, moving with the flow of traffic and not hesitating unnecessarily.
You must know and understand:
national speed limits
restricted speed limits
why you should change driving speed to suit the road, weather and traffic conditions
why you should drive at a safe speed for pedestrians
what the stopping distances are
Keeping the car secure
What this skill covers.
Keeping your car and personal items safe. Being able to do this during the day, at night, when parking and in the event of a breakdown or accident.
You must know and understand:
to be alert to potential theft of and from your car
what personal and car security systems there are
safe places to park
Being aware of others
Skills in this section:
meeting and crossing traffic
overtaking
junctions
using roundabouts
approaching pedestrian crossings
Meeting and crossing traffic
What this skill covers.
Driving safely when meeting or crossing traffic on:
one-way and two-way roads
three-lane (where possible) and two-way roads
major and minor roads
narrow roads
dual carriageways
You must know and understand:
when and why you should give way to other road users
passing places and warning signs
what to do when passing obstructions, such as parked vehicles
how to act on what you see
You must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Overtaking
What this skill covers.
Being able to safely overtake other vehicles on:
one-way and two-way roads
three-lane (where possible) and two-way roads
major and minor roads
dual carriageways
You must know and understand to:
check your speed and position before overtaking
check behind and in front of your car
check if there is enough space for you to pull into the traffic in front of the vehicle that they’re overtaking
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Junctions
What this skill covers.
Driving safely and negotiating any junction, including:
turning left, turning right
T-junctions and Y-junctions
crossroads and slip roads
marked and unmarked junctions
one-way streets
urban areas and rural areas
dual carriageways
yellow box junctions
You must know and understand:
the rules for turning, entering and coming out of junctions
advance warning signs and road markings
the order of traffic lights
what the zone of vision is
which vehicle has priority at a junction
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Using roundabouts
What this skill covers.
Driving safely and confidently on these types of roundabouts:
mini and major
multiple and satellite (where possible)
traffic light controlled
You must know and understand:
the importance of lane discipline at a roundabout
the zones of vision at a roundabout
how to use observation early
to not assume that the vehicle in front will pull away
which vehicle has priority at a roundabout
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Approaching pedestrian crossings
What this skill covers.
Approaching controlled (such as pelican) and uncontrolled (such as zebra) pedestrian crossings. How to obey school crossing patrols.
You must know and understand:
the visual warnings of a pedestrian crossing
the speed restriction as you approach a pedestrian crossing
not to overtake near a pedestrian crossing
that you need to scan for pedestrians as they approach a pedestrian crossing
the times and places of high risk
how different weather conditions can add to the risk
what central refuges and split carriageways are
You must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Manoeuvres
Skills in this section:
reversing in a straight line, reversing left or right
turning the car around
parking
emergency stop
Reversing in a straight line, reversing left or right
What this skill covers.
Pulling the car up on the left or right and reversing in a straight line on:
wide and narrow roads
level and sloping roads
You must know and understand:
how to manoeuvre safely, legally and in a way that is convenient to others
how to coordinate foot and hand controls
square and radius corners
how to steer the car so that it moves in the right direction
the importance of good observation, judgement and accuracy
how to signal
Turning the car around
What this skill covers.
Turning the car around safely on flat, sloping, wide and narrow roads.
You must know and understand:
how to manoeuvre safely, legally and in a way that is convenient to others
how to coordinate foot and hand controls
how to steer the car so that it moves in the right direction
the importance of good observation, judgement and accuracy
how to signal
Parking
What this skill covers.
Knowing how to park safely:
in a bay (both driving in and reversing in)
on a street (parallel parking)
on both level and sloping roads
You must know and understand:
how to manoeuvre safely, legally and in a way that is convenient to others
how to coordinate foot and hand controls
how to steer the car so that it moves in the right direction
the importance of good observation, judgement and accuracy
how to signal
Emergency stop
What this skill covers.
Knowing how to stop the car in the event of an emergency. How to control a skid.
You must know and understand how to:
look for hazards
coordinate the clutch and brake
control skidding
plan and be ready to react to other drivers
react to road and weather conditions
move away safely after stopping the car
You must know how an anti-lock braking system (ABS) can help in an emergency stop.
Road types
Skills in this section:
country roads
towns and cities
dual carriageways
motorways
Country roads
What this skill covers.
Anticipating and planning journeys on country roads. How to drive at an appropriate speed, consider traffic and stay safe on road bends.
You must know and understand:
how to scan the road and the road priorities
how to allow for other traffic
what speed restriction they should keep within for the type of road
how to look for hazards
how to drive safely around bends
Towns and cities
What this skill covers.
Driving on busy roads in towns and cities.
What you must know and understand
how to cooperate with other road users to keep the traffic flowing and prevent accidents
that you must look out for other road users and try to predict what they’re likely to do
to allow plenty of space for road users who may have different road rules. For example, a driver of a large vehicle may need to swing out to make a turn
Dual carriageways
What this skill covers.
Driving on urban and rural carriageways and clearways.
You must know and understand:
the speed limits and lane discipline for dual carriageways
any advance warning or information signs
how to join and leave a dual carriageway safely
how to turn safely on a dual carriageway
what to do if your car breaks down, including using hazard lights and triangles
how road and weather conditions can make dual carriageway driving more difficult
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Motorways
What this skill covers.
Driving on motorways. Motorway rules, signs, signals and lane discipline.
You must know and understand:
the speed limit and lane discipline for motorways
how to join and leave a motorway safely
what to do if their car breaks down on a motorway
how you take regular breaks from driving
smart motorways and emergency refuge areas
to be aware of other vehicles
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Driving conditions
Skills in this section:
driving in the dark
driving on wet roads and in bad weather
driving in bright sunshine
Driving in the dark
What this skill covers.
Driving in the dark on urban and rural roads, single and dual carriageways.
You must know and understand:
how to drive at an appropriate speed
the impact that darkness has on their visibility
how to use your lights (including hazard lights) and horn
how to deal with the dazzle from the lights of other vehicles
how to park safely
Driving on wet roads and in bad weather
What this skill covers.
Driving safely on wet roads and in other bad weather.
This includes driving in the fog, ice, snow or wind.
You must know and understand.
how to drive at an appropriate speed
what the stopping distances are
the impact of the weather on your visibility
how to cope with skidding and aquaplaning
what warning signs and signals to look for
how to use your lights (including hazard lights) and horn
anti-lock braking and vehicle stability systems
how to park safely
Driving in bright sunshine
What this skill covers.
Driving in bright sunshine, dealing with glare and low winter sun.
You must know and understand.
reducing your speed and leave a bigger stopping distance between you and the car in front
to drive carefully and look out for pedestrians and cyclists
that windscreens should be kept clean as a dirty windscreen can make dazzle worse
to wear sunglasses or use the visor to reduce glare
Navigation
Skills in this section:
using a sat nav
driving using instructions from a passenger
planning and navigating a route
Using a sat nav
What this skill covers.
Setting up a sat nav and driving using instructions from a sat nav.
You must know and understand:
how to fit the sat nav in a position that minimises distraction
how to programme a sat nav before they start their journey
that sat navs can sometimes fail, and how to prepare for that happening
Driving using instructions from a passenger
What this skill covers.
Following route instructions from a passenger in a way that is safe.
You must know and understand:
the importance of forward planning
lane discipline
how to read traffic signs and signals and follow road markings
how to anticipate the actions of other road users
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Planning and navigating a route
What this skill covers.
Planning and following their own route as part of the driving lesson.
You must know and understand:
the importance of forward planning
lane discipline
how to read traffic signs and signals and follow road markings
how to anticipate the actions of other road users
how to ask for help in plenty of time when you need it from your driving instructor
Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.
Fuel
What this skill covers:
Driving in a way that uses less fuel and helps the environment.
You must know and understand:
different driving styles and how they impact on the environment
how important it is to look after your car
how to dispose of used oil, used batteries and tyres
how important it is to have the right tyre pressure and depth
Transporting people and loads
What this skill covers:
Being responsible when:
having passengers in their car (adults, children, babies, and animals)
carrying loads on and in your vehicle
loading trailers and cycle racks
You must know and understand:
how to use the car seat belts
the appropriate car seat for a baby or child
how to use doors, guards, and restraints when transporting animals
the rules for carrying loads safely
the rules for towing, trailers and cycle racks
how to load luggage for weight distribution
Source DVSA published 11th February 2020