Getting Started as a Driver

You are 17 years old and you want the independence and freedom that being a car driver offers. There are a number of things Love My Car thinks you should do:

Find a good Driving School

There are thousands of driving schools to choose from. A good start is to make sure they are part of register of ADI (Approved Driving Instructors). This is a register created and run by the government’s Driving Standards Agency to promote safe instruction for new drivers to make them safer drivers. If someone is not ADI registered then they cannot legally charge you for driving instruction. You can check if someone is registered at the ADI branch of the Driving Standards

Agency:
Email: ADIReg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0115 901 2618

Love My Car is run by women and we know that some learners would feel more confident learning with a female driving instructor, and there are some driving schools dedicated to female learners, such as Girlpower Driving School.

Perhaps the best way of finding a good driving instructor is to ask your friends – there is nothing better than personal experience to recommend you to a particular driving school.

The Highway Code

Get yourself a copy of the Highway Code (you will be tested on it at your driving test). The Highway Code contains all the rules for using the open road, the things laws you need to obey and also good advice on driving – how to cope in different driving situations, e.g. what to do if you come across horses being ridden on the road – who has right of way? - It's there in the Highway Code'

“The Girl’s Guide to Losing Your L-Plates”

Love My Car can recommend the Maria McCarthy book “The Girl’s Guide to Losing Your L-Plates”. It gives advice on how to budget for your driving lessons, finding the right driving instructor, how to make the best use of your driving lessons, how to better understand the theory part of the driving test, preparation on the day of your test, advice on how to overcome test nerves. The book is written with future women drivers in mind, and can really help you get your driving license.

Choosing a Car

Choosing a car is not easy – what colour, how many doors, petrol or diesel, new or old – lots of questions that you may not feel qualified to answer. There is professional advice to be had at What Car. They have a website aimed at women drivers called Eve Cars that is full of lots of helpful advice including finding that first car that is just right for you.