Helping someone pass their driving test can be incredibly rewarding, as you help them tick one of life’s milestones off their list. But who can legally supervise a learner driver?
Here we look at the rules on who can teach a learner, whether they’re allowed to carry passengers and cover everything else you need to know.
Who am I allowed to supervise?
You are allowed to supervise anyone who meets the following requirements:
- They are at least 17 years old
- They have a valid UK provisional driving licence
- They meet the minimum eyesight rules, as set out by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Who needs to be in a car with a learner driver?
It’s a myth that anyone with a driving licence can teach someone how to drive. In order to supervise a learner driver, you must meet the following criteria:
- You’re over the age of 21*
- Held a full driving licence for at least three years (either from the UK or countries in the European Union or European Economic Area)
- Licensed to drive the type of vehicle you’re supervising in
- Hold the correct car insurance in case you need to take over driving
Not meeting the above criteria can result in the learner being given up to six penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.
Can I sit in the back seat if I’m supervising a learner driver?
When supervising a learner driver you must be seated in the front passenger seat. This is because you need a clear view of the road and be able to spot any dangers or potential hazards ahead. It also allows you to give clear instructions without having to raise your voice and allows you to take control of the vehicle if needed.
Learners can use online tools to help them learn how to spot potential hazards when studying for their theory test.
Do I need car insurance when teaching someone to drive?
While the learner driver is required to have their own learner driver insurance, it is advisable for the supervising driver to also have their own car insurance. This is a precautionary measure in case you need to take control of the vehicle during a lesson.
Do I need to add a learner driver as an additional driver to my policy?
If a learner driver is practising outside of their formal lessons with a driving instructor, they must be insured. This can be done by the vehicle owner adding them to their insurance policy as an additional driver, or they can purchase their own temporary provisional licence insurance for the vehicle.
It’s important to note that adding a learner to the owner’s policy could put your no-claims bonus at risk. It’s usually advised for learners to take out their own policy as this won’t affect the car owner’s no claims.
Do learner drivers need insurance?
Learner drivers in the UK must have the correct car insurance before they get behind the wheel of a vehicle that either belongs to them, their parents/guardians or supervisors.
Who is responsible if a learner driver has an accident?
Despite common myths, a learner driver has the same level of responsibility and duty as any other road user.
If they’re unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident, they are responsible for any damage they have inflicted.
It’s also worth noting that if the supervisor is not in a fit state to take control of a vehicle, such as being over the alcohol limit or using their mobile phone, they can also be penalised.
What do I have to do to my car before I teach a learner?
As a supervising driver, it’s your responsibility to make sure the car is fitted with L plates (or D plates in Wales) on both the front and back of the vehicle.
You must also ensure:
- The vehicle is taxed
- It has a valid MOT (if it needs one)
- It is safe to drive – it’s a good idea to teach the learner how to check it’s safe each time they practise driving
- It’s registered with the DVLA
After the lesson, you will need to remove the L plates (or D) when the car is being driven by anyone with a full licence.
It’s also a good idea to fit an extra rearview mirror so you can see behind the car during the lesson from the passenger’s seat.
What to cover in lessons for a learner driver
When teaching someone how to drive, there are a lot of things you will need to think about. You will have to give serious consideration to which roads your route will contain and what obstacles such as roundabouts, junctions and traffic lights and whether to include the use of a sat nav.
You will also need to think about what time of day to take the learner out. Remember, roads tend to be busier in the morning rush hour and when people are picking up their children from school and leaving work. You might want to consider taking them for lessons around the same time the learner has booked their test if they’ve booked one so they can get used to the conditions on the road during that time.
Depending on the time of year, you will need to take into account how light it will be when they practice and the weather conditions.
Skills to teach learner drivers
It’s a good idea to speak with the learner’s driving instructor first to see which skills the learner needs help with. Try to only cover skills that the instructor has already covered with the learner in previous sessions. You might want to teach the learner driver how to:
- Carry out safety checks before they drive
- Check their mirrors and blind spots effectively
- Start the car safely
- Drive away and stop safely
- Use the car’s controls
- Recognise hazards
- Judge the vehicle’s position on the road
- Drive in different weather conditions
- Perform the manoeuvres needed for their driving test
- Drive in the dark
- Drive independently following the instructions from a sat nav
- How to park
- Recognise road signs
Can learner drivers drive on the motorway?
Learners are not allowed on motorways, unless you are an approved driving instructor (ADI) and have dual controls fitted.
The law was changed in 2018 for ADIs to teach learners how to drive on motorways to give them experience ahead of passing their driving test. However, the new law doesn’t apply if you are simply giving someone you know a lesson.
What can’t you do when supervising a learner driver?
You are not allowed to supervise a learner driver if you are above the legal alcohol limit. This is because you must be in a fit state to drive the vehicle if the learner needs to stop for any reason. You also can’t be under the influence of any medication that can stop you from driving.
It’s also worth noting that it’s illegal to use your mobile phone for any reason if you are supervising a learner driver.
You will not be able to take any form of payment, including money for fuel, when supervising someone learning to drive.
Can a learner driver have passengers?
Learner drivers are allowed as many passengers as the vehicle can legally hold as long as one is the supervisor and is in the front passenger seat. However, it’s not advisable to do so.
Having multiple passengers can become a distraction for the learner. With so many people in the car, it can get very noisy and can lead to the learner getting distracted from concentrating on the road.
Learning to drive is already a stressful experience, and having multiple passengers can lead to the learner becoming overwhelmed.
Insurance for learner drivers
Whether you’re getting everything ready for a learner driver before taking them for a session or you’re a learner driver getting ready to pass their test, Sterling can make sure you’re insured properly. We offer learner driver insurance tailored to your needs.
Get a quote by calling us on 0344 381 9990 or request a callback at a time that suits you.
*Although legally 21, some insurers enforce an age restriction of 25. It’s important to check your own specific policy terms and conditions before allowing someone to supervise you.