Your first lesson starts with a clear plan

Get the right licence first

Check the licensing service for the nation where you live. England, Scotland and Wales use DVLA; Northern Ireland uses DVA. Applying for a provisional licence and being old enough to start driving a particular vehicle are separate checks.

Keep identity documents and licence numbers inside the official application service. Driving Sorted does not need them to help you plan.

Choose a way of learning that fits your week

A regular lesson slot makes it easier to build on the previous session. An intensive course compresses the timetable but still depends on your starting skills, an instructor’s assessment and a suitable test appointment.

Compare the length of the lesson, the pickup point and how much time is spent driving. A low headline rate may depend on a block payment, a two-hour minimum or an introductory offer.

• Choose manual or automatic.
• Ask who will actually teach you.
• Get cancellation and refund terms in writing.
• Agree how progress will be recorded.

Prepare between lessons

Use the Highway Code and legitimate theory materials alongside practical learning. Discuss private practice with your instructor so that the supervising driver reinforces the same safe habits.

There is no promise that a fixed number of lessons will make somebody ready. Your progress record should show what you can do safely and consistently without help.