Driving
It is illegal to drive a vehicle without a valid licence. If you get caught you could be prosecuted, fined and banned.
You can drive different types of vehicle at different ages and a licence to drive one type of vehicle does not mean you can drive another type of vehicle.
The ages for different licences are:
- 14 - You can ride an electrically powered cycle;
- 16 - You can ride a moped up to 50ccs, drive small tractors, mowing machines or an invalid car. If you receive mobility allowance you are also allowed to drive a car
- 17 - You can drive a car with up to 8 passengers, a motorcycle, a large tractor and vans or lorries up to 3.5 tons
- 18 - You can drive vans or lorries up to 7.5 tons
- 21 - You can drive all vehicles, but remember that to hire a car, most companies have a minimum age of either 21 or 23
Learning to drive a car
You need a provisional licence before you can start learning to drive. To get one of these you need to get an application form from your local post office and send it off to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
When you get the provisional licence you have to have ‘L plates‘ on the car when you‘re driving, and you must be with someone who has had a valid UK driving licence for at least three years and is over 21 years old. You can‘t drive on a motorway until you have passed your test.
The driving test is split into two sections, a written theory test and a practical test. You have to pass your theory test before you take your practical.
The theory test is 35 multiple-choice questions that you‘ve got to answer in 40 minutes and you sit it in any of the 140 test centres in the UK.
You can also book your theory and practical tests through the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk
Passed? Now what?
Passing your test is one thing, but once you ditch the L-plates there‘s loads you need to think about.
In this section you‘ll find information and advice about the following things you need to know about now you‘re a driver:
Buying
So you‘ve got your driving licence and want to get yourself a car.
Having a car of your own gives you independence and mobility that you‘ve never had before, but before you hand over you hard-earned cash for a set of keys, you need to think about a few things.
- If you buy a vehicle from a private seller and it‘s later found to have been stolen you may have no claim to be its owner and could lose it along with the money it cost you.
- You should never buy a vehicle without a registration certificate even if the seller says it has been sent to the DVLA for changes – this could be an expensive mistake.
- Remember that the person on the registration certificate may not be the legal owner.
- Think about taking an independent qualified examiner with you to see the vehicle – they can let you know if you‘re getting a bargain or a dud.
- The DVLA Vehicle Check Service can check the following details for you: date of registration, year of manufacture, engine capacity and colour.
- Never pay cash.
- If in doubt, walk away.
Insurance
It is illegal to drive a vehicle on a public road without insurance, yet there are an estimated 1 million uninsured drivers in Britain that cost about £200 million a year in accidents.
There are two major levels of insurance you can have:
- Third party fire and theft - This does not provide you with any benefits for your vehicle in the event of an accident, but if you are happy to pay for any damages to your own vehicle then this may be the best option for you as it‘s less expensive.
- Fully comprehensive - This covers everything that a third party fire and theft would as well as accidental damage to your own vehicle, loss or damage to your belongings in the vehicle up to an agreed limit and replacement of damaged/broken windscreens.
Insurance usually has an excess to pay if you make a claim. This is how much the insurance company expect you to pay for repairs yourself before they contribute. If you do have an accident and are thinking about claiming you need to check that the damage will cost you more than the excess and it‘s worth losing your no claims bonus when you renew your insurance.
Road Tax
A vehicle licence (what we‘d call the tax disc) shows that you have paid the legally required vehicle excise duty (VED) for your vehicle. If you don‘t have it, you could be prosecuted, fined or lose the vehicle. This has to be displayed on the left-hand side of the vehicle‘s windscreen. You can get a form and tax disk from your local Post Office, and will need to take your MOT and insurance certificates as well as your driving license.
Payments can be spread using vehicle licence stamps that cost £5 each from the Post Office and you can use them towards the full or part payment of your VED.
MOT
An MOT is an annual check for cars (and other vehicles) more than three years old to make sure they‘re in good enough condition to be on the road. You can get an MOT service from your car dealership or a private garage. If you buy a new car, it might be worth getting future MOT and services from a dealership garage to keep your service book stamped, which can help when selling the vehicle. If you go to an independent garage, it‘s worth asking your friends and family who they‘d recommend. If possible take along someone you trust (and who knows a bit about cars) to help make sure you get a fair deal.
Registering your vehicle
A Registration Document or Certificate shows the person who keeps the vehicle on a public road. This is not necessarily the legal owner. By law, you have to register your vehicle with the DVLA. This can be done at the Post Office or on the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk. You need to fill ion the form carefully as the information you give will be used for your Registration Certificate (V5C) which you need if you want to sell the car in the future.
Maintenance & Services
Looking after your car is essential to help ensure that your car is roadworthy, safe to drive and not a danger to passengers, pedestrians and other road users. A well maintained car is also more fuel-efficient and creates less pollution, and looking after it properly can help prevent expensive repair bills and can mean a higher price when you come to sell it. Car maintenance ranges from cleaning your car, running weekly checks through to full servicing and repair. Full details of the service requirements are normally detailed in the owner‘s manual supplied with the vehicle. Weekly checks include:
- Cleaning windows, lights and mirrors.
- Checking fluid levels such as oil and water.
- Check the tyres for damage, air pressure and tread.
- Checking that all lights work and light correctly.
- Ensuring wiper blades work and the windscreen washer bottle is full.
These sound dull, but it only takes a few minutes and can save an enormous amount of hassle.
Breakdown Cover
So what would you do if your car broke down in the middle of a journey? It‘s a good idea to make sure you know a few of the basics, like how to change a tyre. However, you may also want to pay for Breakdown Cover, for that peace of mind in an emergency. Organisations like the AA, Green Flag or the RAC provide cover. Check out their websites for more details.
Riding a motorbike
Like car drivers, you need to take a written theory test and a practical test to get your full licence, but before you can learn to ride a motorcycle on public roads you have to complete a Compulsory Basic Training course (CBT).
Who can help
Your local post office can give you the right form for the vehicle you want to drive and show you which sections you need to fill in. The DVLA can confirm if you are eligible to apply for a particular licence. Visit their website at www.dvla.gov.uk. If you need more advice, ask your personal adviser who will be able to help.
