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We don’t know about you, but one of the first things on our minds at 17 (besides scraping together enough for a tenner) was getting a driving licence. Learning to drive is a rite of passage, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of taking to the road as a fully qualified driver. The sense of freedom, independence, and achievement is hard to beat!

However, many learners soon realise that getting a driving licence takes more than just showing up and driving. It’s not as simple as putting your foot to the pedal and following your instructor’s directions for a few weeks. There’s a lot more involved, from mastering tricky skills to passing your theory test before even thinking about the practical, not to mention the long waiting times at test centres.

So much for your dream of passing by the end of summer! Or is it? While there’s no shortcut to earning a licence, there are ways to make the process quicker and smoother. Want to know how? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re 17 or 70, check out our top five tips to speed up your journey to becoming a driver. Follow our advice, and you’ll be on the road in no time!

1. Apply for your provisional licence ASAP

You can’t really call yourself a learner driver until you’ve got a provisional licence. So, first things first—make sure you apply for one! You can do this online or at your local post office. The earliest you can apply is two months before your 17th birthday. However, if you’re receiving the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can start at 16. Lucky you!

While we’re all for being efficient, don’t rush through your provisional licence application. Any mistakes or missing information could mean starting the process all over again—not exactly a time-saver! To avoid any hiccups, ensure you’ve got everything ready before you apply. You’ll need £34, a valid form of ID, and details of the addresses you’ve lived at for the past three years.

Once you’ve submitted your application, your provisional licence should arrive within two weeks. While you wait, why not start researching local driving schools and instructors? With Leo Driving School, you’ll find expert tuition tailored to your needs, so you can hit the ground running as soon as your licence arrives!

2. Take an intensive driving course

Now that you’re set up and ready to go, it’s time to decide how you’ll learn to drive. Will you opt for a minimum 2 hours lesson, or dive into an intensive course? If you’re thinking the latter—ding, ding, ding, jackpot! As you might expect, we recommend intensive driving courses as the quickest and most efficient way to earn your driving licence. Instead of spreading out 1-hour lessons over several months, you’ll take multiple 2-5 hour lessons over just a few weeks.

This approach can get you test-ready in a much shorter time—some learners even manage it in just one week! Plus, it helps you retain essential information for the big day. That said, it’s not all smooth sailing. Intensive courses demand a lot of focus and hard work. With lessons longer than an hour, you’ll need to concentrate intensely and learn many new skills quickly.

You’ll also need to fit lessons into your schedule, which might already be packed with work or school commitments. It can feel overwhelming at first, so make sure you’re prepared for the challenge—or consider taking some time off to fully commit to getting your licence.

Want to know more? Check out Leo Driving School’s range of intensive driving courses and find the perfect one for you!

3. Book your tests early and stay organised

Even if you’re planning to learn quickly, it’s important to think ahead. You’ll need to sit two tests—the theory and the practical—and they must be booked in a specific order. You can’t book your practical test until you’ve passed your theory test. So, as soon as your provisional licence arrives, make your theory test booking at the nearest centre to you.

Revision plan

One of the best pieces of advice we can offer any learner is to take the theory test seriously. You’d be surprised how many people don’t, and a small mistake here can really delay the entire process of learning to drive. Fortunately, there are plenty of revision tools available—both free and paid—so there’s no excuse for failing. While this guide is all about speeding things up, it’s essential to pick a realistic test date that allows you plenty of time to revise thoroughly.

As we’ve mentioned, you can’t book your practical test until you’ve passed the theory test. Once that’s done, be prepared for potentially long waiting times to secure a practical test slot. However, if you opt for Leo Driving School, we can help you secure a test date quickly using our fast-track system. It’s not rocket science, but trust us—it gets results fast!

Revising for the Theory Test

Start with the Highway Code, which contains essential road rules and information. We recommend investing in resources like the official DVSA Handbook or the AA Theory Test Book. These materials include official DVSA questions and answers, which could appear on your test. Study them thoroughly to boost your chances of success.

Important Documents

When dealing with the DVSA or booking tests, it’s crucial to keep all your driving-related documents and information safe and organised. This includes your theory test pass certificate and proof of any special requirements. Most importantly, don’t misplace your provisional licence. While it may double up as a handy ID for nights out, if passing your test quickly is your goal, keep it safe and prioritise your driving ambitions!

4. Take practice lessons to supplement your regular lessons

As one well-known supermarket chain likes to say, every little helps! This couldn’t be truer when it comes to learning to drive. Practice really does make perfect, and the more time you can spend on the road building your skills, the sooner you’ll be ready to take your test!

If possible, arrange some informal driving sessions with family or friends to practise what your instructor has taught you. This will not only boost your confidence behind the wheel but also help reinforce your abilities. However, it’s important to remember that not just anyone can supervise these practice sessions. The supervisor must be at least 21 years old and have held a full driving licence for over three years.

For more details on how to organise practice sessions outside of your formal lessons, check out our guide to practising driving independently. Leo Driving School is here to support you every step of the way!

5. Make sure you really are test-ready

Finally, even if you’re eager to get your driving licence as quickly as possible, it’s important not to rush the process. While it may seem counterintuitive, the key to speeding up your learning lies in being realistic, organised, and putting in consistent effort. Simply booking tests at the earliest available dates without proper preparation could actually slow you down in the long run.

Both the theory and practical driving tests are designed to thoroughly assess your skills and knowledge. If you attempt them before you’re ready, there’s a higher chance of failing. While failing isn’t the end of the world, it does mean added delays. The DVSA has mandatory waiting periods between retests—at least three working days for the theory test and ten working days for the practical test. This can cost you both time and money!

To avoid setbacks, take the time to master all aspects of driving and consult your instructor before booking a test date. Not sure how many lessons you might need? Speak to your instructor at Leo Driving School for tailored advice. At the end of the day, the goal is to become a confident and safe driver—not just someone who can scrape through the tests.

Speed Up Learning to Drive with Leo Driving School

Earning your driving licence may feel like a lot of effort, but remember, it’s the gateway to a lifetime of driving independence. Even if you don’t pass the first time, you’ll likely have overcome the hardest parts of the learning process.

If you do need to retake a test, rebook as soon as possible and keep your determination strong. With comprehensive driving courses, highly professional instructors, and expert guidance, Leo Driving School is here to help you achieve your goal as quickly and efficiently as possible. Check out your options online, or give us a call today on 07961 976 822. The road to success doesn’t have to be a long one!