Preparing for your child to drive

Watching your child edge towards driving age can stir up equal parts pride and nerves. You know they crave freedom and you want them to handle that responsibility without mishaps. The leap from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat doesn’t happen overnight, though. Young drivers learn best when you give them steady guidance and a calm environment.

Understanding the rules and requirements

Your child can apply for a provisional licence at 15 years and 9 months, although they can only start driving a car from the age of 17. A provisional licence gives them access to public roads with a suitable supervisor, but it doesn’t offer full independence, so it helps to set expectations early.

Introduce the basic learner rules

Once the paperwork is sorted, introduce the legal basics and highway code in a way that feels relevant rather than overwhelming. Many new learners focus so much on handling the car that they overlook simple rules, such as always keeping L-plates fully visible or understanding why they aren’t allowed to drive without a qualified supervisor.

When you explain the reasoning behind these rules, they stop viewing them as hoops to jump through and start recognising the safety aspect.

Choose between a driving instructor and family supervision

Many parents debate whether to take the teaching seat themselves. Approved driving instructors know the test routes, current regulations and common learner mistakes. That professional structure often reassures teens who respond better to an objective coach.

On the other hand, driving with you can give them extra practice in quieter areas and help them stay calm during trickier situations.

Many learners like a balance of both professional instruction and practice with a family member.

Match your child’s learning style and your own patience level

If you take on some of the teaching, set up small goals for each session. One day might focus on slow-speed control in an empty car park, another could explore roundabout approach lines on quiet roads. When both instructor training and family practice work together, your child builds confidence more quickly because the same skills appear in varied contexts.

Manage insurance costs

Car insurance for young drivers rarely comes cheap and it often shocks parents who haven’t priced it recently. Adding your child to your existing policy can work for occasional practice but it becomes expensive if they start driving regularly.

Some families find that multi car insurance often offers better value because it groups vehicles under one policy and keeps administration simple.

Compare real quotes

Explain the numbers to your child so they see how their choices affect the premium. A less powerful car, shorter daily mileage or a telematics “black box” often cuts costs. When they understand the financial consequences of speeding or careless driving, they usually treat the rules with more respect.

Guide your new driver with steady support

Your child will make mistakes but it’s how you handle them that counts. Staying calm when they stall at a busy junction or misjudge a gap helps them recover faster and reduces anxiety.