Better together, every mile
The Parent & Pupil Hub
Your road to confident, independent driving.
Choose a stage. Learn together. Put it into practice.
Teaching your child to drive: helping you support their journey from learner to safe, independent driver.
About this guide
Learning to drive does not only happen during professional lessons. Extra practice with a parent, guardian or family member can give a learner valuable experience, when everyone works towards the same goal.
The instructor introduces and develops skills. The learner practises them. The supervising adult provides opportunities to gain experience. The instructor then reviews progress and develops the learner further.
Safe driving develops gradually. Passing a test does not suddenly make someone experienced. Structured tuition, purposeful private practice and gradually increasing independence help build safe habits. Learning should be a journey, not a race to the test.
This six-stage SmartLearner pathway covers car learning and private practice in England, Scotland and Wales. It is a learning guide, not a separate licensing scheme. Keep your instructor involved and ask which stage is suitable before your next practice session.
Get ready
The straight answer
Check your licence and insurance, and ask your instructor whether you are ready to practise with a supervising adult.
What to do now
Tell your supervising adult what your instructor has introduced and what you should practise next.
Can I legally supervise?
A supervising friend or family member must meet the following requirements. If the learner is practising in a manual car, the supervisor needs entitlement to drive a manual.
- Be at least 21.
- Have held a full driving licence for at least three years, issued by the UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
- Be legally entitled to drive the type of vehicle being used.
- Not be disqualified from driving, and be fit to supervise.
Check the learner
The learner needs a valid UK provisional driving licence, must be old enough to drive, meet the legal eyesight standard and be properly insured.
There is no fixed number of professional lessons a learner must complete before private practice. Speak to their instructor about when they have reached a suitable level and what to practise.
Check the insurance
Never assume an existing fully comprehensive policy covers a learner.
When using the supervising adult’s car, the learner needs to be added as a named driver or covered by separate learner-driver insurance. Ask the insurer whether a claim could affect the no-claims discount.
DVSA guidance says that a learner using their own car must be its registered keeper and have their own policy covering them as a learner driver.
Some insurers set additional requirements for the supervisor, such as being over 25. Check the actual policy before driving.
Check the car
Check the car before practice. DVSA also recommends an additional interior rear-view mirror for the supervisor.
- Appropriate insurance is in place.
- The car is taxed and has a valid MOT when required.
- It is roadworthy, including safe and legal tyres.
- Legal L plates are displayed at the front and rear; D plates can be used in Wales.
You are not just a passenger
Sit in the front passenger seat and actively pay attention to the learner and the road. Supervising comes with legal responsibilities.
Do not hold and use a phone while supervising. This can lead to six penalty points and a £200 fine even though you are in the passenger seat. The law has limited exceptions, such as an emergency call when it is unsafe or impractical to stop; check the official guidance.
Do not supervise over the legal alcohol limit, under the influence of drugs, or when medicine makes you unfit. Do not take the learner onto a motorway for private practice.
Try a quick knowledge check
The learner will practise in your car. You already have fully comprehensive insurance. What should you do?
Choose one answer.
Check your answer to unlock the next question.
Make it your own
Small steps. Better practice.
Use these together, then talk to your instructor about your next steps.
Our 8-question check-in
Has the instructor said the learner is ready?
There’s no right or wrong answer. Choose how you feel today.
A conversation starter for you, your family and your instructor.
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