Driving practice between lessons

There is a lot of value in getting some driving practice in between driving lessons with your instructor. You are more likely to pass your driving test sooner and you can polish things like manoeuvres in your own time.

As a provisional licence holder, you must be accompanied by a full licence holder, who is at least 21 years old and who has passed their driving test more than 3 years ago.

You must also be insured to drive the car – this might be as simple as getting yourself added to a parent’s insurance policy. Or, as is increasingly popular these days, get your own insurance policy through a broker like Collingwood, who specialise in learner insurance policies.

The advantages of having your own policy are:

you won’t affect the car owner’s premiums
you can start building up your own no-claims bonus.

But when you get in the car with your supervising driver, it’s important not just to ‘drive for the sake of it’. Have a goal in mind. Some suggestions are:

practising tricky junctions on or near the test routes in your town or city
bay parking in a quiet corner of a local car park
reverse parking at the side of the road, or pulling up on the right
asking your supervising driver to help you remember to check your mirrors at the right time

When you’ve practised in between lessons, it’s also important to talk through any issues that came up during the drive with your instructor. It may lead to a specific need being identified and, during your lesson, you will be given the tools and feedback to help you gain confidence in whatever is causing you problems.

Remember, practise doesn’t make perfect – practise makes permanent! If you are practising bad habits, you will find it more difficult to unlearn them. So, make sure your listen to feedback from your supervising driver and your instructor, and use those practise sessions to reinforce subjects you’ve learned during lessons.

With the right degree of support from your friend or relative in the passenger seat, you will increase your driving experience in a positive and constructive way.