Should I Learn To Drive With Family And Friends?

👉 Can a friend / family member teach me to drive?
👉 The pros of learning to drive with a friend or family
👉 The cons of learning to drive with a friend or family
👉 Our ten cents
👉 FAQs

So, you've decided you want to learn to drive, but you're not sure if you should learn with a family member, friend, or driving instructor. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all policy for learning to drive; it really is whatever suits you best. Some people prefer the comfort and familiarity of a friend or family, and others prefer an official driving instructor. We’ve broken down the arguments for and against learning to drive with a friend or family, so that you can make an informed decision on how you learn to drive. For more information on all things driving tests, visit our blog 'everything you need to know about passing your driving test'.

Can A Friend / Family Member Teach Me To Drive?

Summary: You can learn to drive with someone who has at least three years of driving experience, as long as they meet DVSA supervision rules and aren’t charging you unless they’re a licensed instructor.

You can learn to drive with anyone who has been driving for at least three years. But if they charge you money, they need to be a qualified instructor. The car you learn in must be the same one your family or friend is eligible to drive (For example, if your dad is only licenced to drive an automatic, he cannot teach you to drive in a manual vehicle).

If you don't follow these rules, you could get a fine.

The Pros Of Learning To Drive With Friends And Family

Summary: Learning with someone you know offers comfort, flexibility, and cost savings that help build early confidence on the road.

• A friendly face: We get it. Learning to drive can be scary, so having someone you're comfortable with can help you feel more relaxed. You might also feel less judged by a friend than by an instructor.
• Communication already in place: You know the best ways to get through to each other, which can help when giving instructions and guidance mid-driving. You might also feel that you can be more honest with each other, which can help you learn quicker.
• Greater flexibility: Having a friend/family to teach you can mean you get more lessons more often. Not having to wait for appointments can get you learning quicker and for longer too.
• Save ££: Learn with a friend or family member and save a ton of money on driving lessons. The average driving lesson can be anywhere from £25 to £45, meaning you could pay up to £2,000 before you take your test. We've taken a look at the general cost of learning to drive in our piece 'how much does it cost to learn to drive'.

The Cons If You Learn To Drive With Family And Friends

Summary: Learning with family or friends can limit the quality of your training, increase stress, and lead to bad habits that reduce your chances of passing your driving test.

• Lower level of teaching: Instructors charge you for a reason. They are well-trained and certified in spotting mistakes and can provide tips on how to improve. Using a friend or family member might lead to certain errors being missed that could catch you out in your test.
• Miss out on a professional driving plan: A friend might not be able to teach you in the same way that an instructor does. An instructor can break down the lessons into smaller parts to help you improve gradually. We've taken a deep dive into driving instructors in our blog 'how to choose a driving instructor'.
• Can you properly focus? Learning to drive with a friend or family member can be fun, but could you be too relaxed? A driving test is a serious process. Learning in stricter conditions can be helpful, but a friend or family member might make it too casual.
• Miss out on dual control: As you will have to learn in the other person’s car, you won’t have access to the safety of dual control. All instructor vehicles come with dual control, allowing them to take control from the passenger seat if an issue arises. If something goes wrong in your friend’s car, will they be able to correct the issue?
• Pick up bad habits: A friend or family member has likely driven for a while and may have picked up some bad habits. The difference between being test-ready and road-ready can be different, and picking up bad habits before a test can see you earning avoidable minors. Take a look at some of the most common minors and majors people make on their tests.
• Could experience the complete opposite of a relaxing experience: Family members can sometimes make driving stressful. Different dynamics to an instructor could lead to more arguments and your family losing their patience much quicker than an instructor would.

Interested in learning with an instructor? Check out our guide on what to look for in a car driving instructor.

Legal Requirements For Learning With Family Or Friends

Summary: Supervisors must be 21 years old or hold a full driving licence of 3 or more years. The learner must display L plates and have the correct insurance in place.

• Supervising driver must be 21+ years old.
• Supervising driver must have 3+ years full licence.
• Learner driver must display L plates.
• Learner driver must have correct insurance.
• Incorrect supervision leads to a £1,000 fine and penalty points.

Safety Considerations When Learning With Family/Friends

Summary: failing to learn with an approved instructor could mean you fall short in certain areas, and the presence of family and friends can create a casual dynamic that leads to bad habits being picked up.

No Dual Controls Means Higher Risk

If you’re out with a friend or family, the chances are you’re in a standard car without dual controls. In the event of an accident or a need to brake suddenly, all the responsibility is on the learner, and the experienced passenger isn’t in control of the vehicle. If you were to learn with a DVLA approved instructor, they can take over the car if needed.

Family Dynamics Can Increase Stress

Learning with a parent or sibling can be stressful. You are more comfortable with one another than if an instructor was your teacher, and this can lead to arguments and potential fallouts, all of which should be avoided when out on the road as a learner.

Picking Up Bad Habits

Instructors follow the law tighter than a friend or family member will. These people are less likely to look out for things that the examiner will analyse on the day. For example, not checking your mirrors might go unnoticed by a friend or family member, but an instructor would point this out. Picking up bad habits like this before a test reduces your chances of passing.

How Much Practice Do You Need? (DVSA Guidelines)

The DVSA recommends 47 hours of professional tuition, plus 22 hours of supervised private practice. Ultimately, more practice increases your chance of passing, so the more you can do the better.

Top Tip: Drive In Varied Weather Conditions

Drive in varied weather conditions to ensure you are fully prepared for the unexpected on test day. You can control your driving, but can’t control the weather, which is why it’s important to drive in all conditions.

Here are some of the more challenging conditions to drive in:

• Weather
• traffic density
• road types
• night driving

Learn in these conditions and nothing can surprise you on test day.

Should You Mix Professional Lessons with Practice from Family and Friends?

Summary: The DVSA recommends combining both methods, as doing so gives you structured instruction and real-world experience.

Learning to drive doesn’t have to be a choice between an instructor or a family member — in fact, the DVSA suggests that the best approach is a combination of both.

Why a blended approach works:

• Professional instructors teach test-standard skills:
  Approved driving instructors follow a structured training plan based on DVSA requirements. They help you learn the 27 key driving skills and spot errors early.
• Family and friends help build confidence and mileage:
  Private practice increases your time behind the wheel, helps reinforce what your instructor teaches, and exposes you to different roads, traffic types, and weather conditions.
• Faster progress overall:
  Most learners pass faster when they use professional lessons for core skills and use family practice to repeat, strengthen, and build muscle memory.
• Better preparation for the test:
  Instructors help you meet test standards, while family or friends help you build real-world driving habits that prepare you for life after passing.

Our Ten Cents

Learning to drive with someone you know has its benefits, like feeling more comfortable and relaxed. But you might miss out on the quality of the guidance you receive. If you can afford it, we recommend going with a driving instructor, as this will ensure you have a more complete understanding of driving. However, that's not to say that learning with a friend or family member doesn't sometimes work. It's ultimately up to you, and we'd recommend taking your time to decide what's best for you.

FAQs

Can I learn to drive with a family or friend?

You can, as long as the teacher has been driving for at least three years. If you learn with someone who hasn’t driven for three years and get caught, you could face a fine of up to £1000.

Can I have passengers when learning to drive?

When learning to drive, you can have passengers in the car, as long as they aren’t interfering with your ability to drive and are wearing seatbelts.

Do I need an L plate?

An L plate must be applied when you are learning to drive. This lets other drivers know not to drive too close to you and to be understanding.

How do I insure myself for learning with a friend?

The learner must be added to the car owner’s policy as a named driver, and the teacher should take out learner-drive insurance. If the learner is in their own car, they need to be the registered owner and have their insurance policy covering them as a learner driver.

How old must my supervising driver be?

Your supervisor must be 21+ years of age to observe your driving.

How many hours of practice do I need?

The DVSA requires 47 hours of professional tuition, plus 22 hours of supervised driving practice.

Can I practice in an automatic if my supervisor drives a manual?

Yes, you can practice in an automatic with a manual supervisor. All manual licence holders are covered to drive an automatic car.

Do we need L plates?

If you are a learner out on the road, you must display L plates. Failure to do some can lead to penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.