Learning to drive can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time for learners and supervisors alike! To help you both through this major milestone, we have put together a guide to teaching your learner to drive.
Are you ready to supervise a learner?
Before you hit the road, please ensure you have:
A current driving licence: you must hold a full, unrestricted licence for at least 12 consecutive months and ensure you have plenty of experience to help your learner driver.
A correct blood alcohol limit: it should be under 0.05, the same as if you were driving.
Your mobile device out of reach: it is off-limits, or hands-free only. You need to be alert and paying attention to what your learner is doing at all times.
Model safe driving behaviours, always: your learner will be watching what you do, always. Model safe driving behaviours (like not getting distracted by your phone, keeping your cool and maintaining a safe following distance).
Ready to head out on a drive?
To give your learner the best start to their journey:
Start with the basics. So, your learner has completed the Car Learner Drive Knowledge Test. Now it’s time for the practical side. For some, getting behind the wheel for the first time can feel overwhelming; others might feel overconfident. Either way, don't head straight for the highway. Quiet, wide streets or empty car parks are great places to nail the basics first.
Pick one topic per session. Whether it's merging, roundabouts or parallel parking, picking a focus topic for each session helps your learner concentrate and reduces overwhelm.
Match roads to ability. Building confidence takes time, especially on highways or steep roads. Give your learner the space to feel fully comfortable before introducing trickier or busier routes.
Log every trip. Whilst it's a requirement to log trips either in the paper logbook or in the Plates Plus app, it's also a great tool to help understand where your learner might need to develop more. For example, they might have practised driving during the day and in rain but not at night or on rural roads. It's important to make sure they're confident in all road types and weather conditions over time.
Debrief after lessons. Talk through what went well and offer constructive feedback. Ask your learner where they think they could improve - it helps shape future sessions and keeps them engaged in their own progress.
Want more practical tips?
Check out our video series showing how to master parallel parking, hill starts and three-point turns without the stress.
Need a bit of extra support?
We're here: consider booking a lesson with our experienced driver training team. Lessons take place in a dual-control car with a highly qualified professional, and our trainers have also undergone specialised training to support learners with diverse needs and vulnerabilities.
A 50-minute lesson counts as double the time in your logbook, helping your learner reach their hours faster.
Supervisors are welcome to join too - so you can keep the lessons rolling smoothly, even without an instructor present.
