UK driving guides
Every guide we’ve published on UK driving tests, licences and road rules, newest first. Each one links to its official source and shows when we last checked it.
Driving JobsClass 1 Driver: What It Means and How to Become One
A class 1 driver holds a category C+E licence for lorries towing heavy trailers. Here are the two routes to get it, the official test fees, pay and hours, and whether you need class 2 first.
Driving JobsClass 2 Licence (Category C): What It Is and How to Get One
A class 2 licence is category C: vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer up to 750kg. Here’s how it compares with class 1 and 7.5 tonne licences, every step to get one and the £270 in DVSA fees.
Rules & FinesCan You Drive Without an MOT? The UK Rules
Once your MOT runs out, you can only drive to a booked test or to repairs. Here’s the £1,000 fine, the grace period myth, what a failed MOT means and when yours is due.
Practical TestWhat to Bring to Your Driving Test: UK Checklist
Your licence and a car that meets the rules, plus your theory certificate only if you took your theory test in Northern Ireland. The full driving test checklist, what your own car must have, and what happens if you forget something.
Lessons & InstructorsCan Learner Drivers Drive on the Motorway?
Learners can drive on motorways, but only with an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car. Here’s exactly when it’s allowed, the 70mph question and what to do if it goes wrong.
Practical TestHow Many Minors Can You Have on a Driving Test?
You can have up to 15 minors and still pass, but a single serious or dangerous fault is a fail. Here’s how the driving test is marked, when minors turn into majors and the top reasons people fail.
Rules & Fines6 Points in Your First 2 Years: The New Driver Rule Explained
Get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing and your licence is cancelled. Here’s how the New Drivers Act works, what counts towards the 6 and how to get back on the road.
Lessons & InstructorsHow Many Driving Lessons Do You Need?
There’s no minimum number of driving lessons in the UK. Here’s how DVSA measures when you’re ready instead, what the 45-hour figure really means, and how to make every lesson count.
Rules & FinesWhat Happens If You Get 12 Points on Your Licence?
At 12 points within 3 years, a court must ban you for at least 6 months. Here’s how the points are counted, how long the ban lasts, when exceptional hardship applies and how to get your licence back.
Rules & FinesHow Long Do Penalty Points Stay on Your Licence?
Points stay on your record for 4 or 11 years, but they only count for part of that time. Here’s when the clock starts for speeding, dangerous driving and drink driving, and how to check your own dates.