Making the most of driving lessons with your parents

Lesson Type
Manual
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Last updated: 25 Oct 2019

Many learner drivers choose to supplement on-road experience with their driving instructor with some driving lessons with Mum and Dad too. This can be a great way to save some cash, keep your mind refreshed between driving lessons and to show your parents how much progress you’re making.

Get ready

To make the most of learning to drive with your parents in your spare time, you need to make sure you’re learning at the same pace as you are with your driving instructor and that you don’t pick up any bad habits. Make sure you’re getting the most of your time on the road with your mum and dad, and ensure that you’re making the most productive use of your practice sessions.

The majority of learner drivers find that the role of supervising driver falls to their parents, but it doesn’t have to be mum or dad in the passenger seat. Find out who can teach you to drive and what the legal requirements are before asking anyone to supervise you on the road.

You will also need to make sure you’ve got your provisional licence, your L-plates displayed correctly on the vehicle you’re practising in and that you’re covered by learner driver insurance.

Keep bad habits at bay

Many drivers pick up bad habits once they’ve been on the road for a while and your parents are no exception. Although learning to drive with your mum and dad can be really useful, it can also cause you to learn habits which won’t help you in your driving test.

It’s a good idea to get your mum and dad to brush up on the rules of the road before they get in the car with you, as it will give them a chance to get rid of their own bad habits and to refresh their memory of the highway code.

Make sure you’re learning at the same pace

If you’re taking private practice lessons with your parents alongside your driving lessons with a qualified driving instructor, it’s essential that you make sure you’re learning at the same pace in both. Learning too fast with your parents could make you feel anxious about your driving lessons, whilst learning too slowly, on the other hand, could leave you feeling frustrated with your progress in practice sessions.

Always keep in mind that your driving instructor is qualified to teach you the correct procedures, skills and manoeuvres for your driving test. Show your parents the methods and procedures you’ve been learning with your driving instructor to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Keep a cool head

Having driving lessons with your parents can be really beneficial, but getting on the road with a loved one can also cause tensions. It’s bound to be a little strange for both of you at first, but it’s important not to let tensions run too high.

If things start to get a little heated, take some time out for five minutes and try again. If it’s not working, don’t keep trying. Sometimes switching to the teacher, pupil relationship just doesn’t work, and it might be best to find someone else to be your supervising driver.