How to practise driving with your parents

Published 6 November 2025
Last updated 6 November 2025

In this blog our friends at Veygo give some great tips on how to approach driving practice with your parents.

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Getting your licence is not just about lessons with an instructor. Private practice with a parent or carer can seriously boost your confidence, skills and chances of passing.

That said, getting in the car with mum or dad is not always plain sailing. That’s why our friends at Veygo have put together this blog to help you get the most out of your practice sessions.

1. Get your insurance sorted

Before anything else, make sure you’re legally covered. If you’re practising in your parents’ car, you’ll need learner driver insurance.

With Veygo’sflexible learner insurance, you can pay-as-you-go or get rolling monthly cover: perfect for fitting around your schedule or a tight budget. It’s separate from your parents’ policy, so their no-claims bonus is also protected.

Lucky enough to have your own car? You can insure that too and Veygo offers 10% off one of their new driver policies when you pass.

2. Get the basics right

Before you begin practising, make sure your car:

• is taxed
• has an MOT
• is roadworthy
• is clearly displaying L plates
  is insured with learner driver cover.

If you’re thinking that you can just ask a mate who has recently passed their test to help you practise, then we have some bad news for you. Unless your friend is over 21 and has had a full driving licence for at least 3 years for the type of car you’ll be driving in, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Never mind, imagine all the extra fun you’ll have!

3. Do not wing it. Plan your route

You’ll get much more out of a session if you plan ahead. Think about what you need to work on and plan a route that helps you. For example, if you plan to practise parallel parking, head to an area such as a quiet side road. If you want to work on approaching, entering and exiting roundabouts, try a few local examples in less busy parts of town.

If you build these elements into your routine in a structured way, they’ll feel easier to tackle. Oh, and do not forget to discuss the route with your parent. Clear communication is an essential part of managing stress levels, reducing anxiety and, well, generally getting along with one another!

4. Set one goal per session

Instead of cramming everything into one drive, try focusing on one or two skills each session. That way, you can make steady progress without feeling too overwhelmed.

Try goals like:

• driving on country roads
• dealing with pedestrian crossings
• navigating multi-lane roundabouts.

Review your progress, celebrate what went well and note what to work on next.

5. Treat your parent like an instructor

This means:

• avoiding arguments
• no distractions or blaring music
• keeping your full attention on the road.

Yes, they’re your parents but on the road, they’re your coach. Keep things respectful as it's better for learning and safer for both of you.

6. Keep calm and carry on

You will make mistakes. That’s how you learn. The key is staying calm and managing anxiety. There’re a number of different ways to do this (See The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving), but if all else fails and you need to pull over in a safe place, then do not be afraid to do so.

The bottom line is that you’ll struggle to learn (and might even put yourself, your passenger and other road users in danger) if you feel flustered. The same applies if your parents start to react negatively to your driving. Take a break and talk it through. A short pause can prevent tension turning into a setback and will help set you on your way again.

8. Practise little and often

Try and break down your practice into short, regular sessions. Try for one or two practice drives a week, as this gives you time to build muscle memory and confidence without burning out.

Why this matters

The key to becoming a safe, competent driver involves reflecting on your driving, asking the right questions and building good relationships with the people helping you learn to drive.

Sometimes it might be difficult to do this, and you might need some additional advice. If you’re finding it hard to practise with your parent, for example, review the situation with your driving instructor. They will be able to help you identify areas of improvement. If you find it difficult to talk to your parent or feel your private practice relationship is not working, your instructor may also be able to advise you on how to approach the problem.

Finally, if you’re happy and ready to get out there, check out the flexible way to cover your practice sessions with Veygo. Whether it’s an hour, a week or every weekend until test day, our learner insurance is designed specifically with young drivers in mind.

For more guidance, visit Safe Driving for Life and explore the resources for learner drivers.

* This blog:

• expresses the views of its participants as of the date indicated and does not represent the views of TSO, DVSA and or any other third party acting under their written authority, moreover, such views are subject to change without notice and neither TSO/DVSA have no duty and or obligation to update the information contained herein;
• is made available for educational purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose, it should not be construed as an offering of advisory services as certain information contained herein may be provided by independent third-party sources, and such information has not been verified by TSO/DVSA, who do not accept responsibility for any loss arising thereunder.
• including the information contained herein, may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or posted in whole or in part, in any form without the prior written consent of TSO/DVSA; and
• the accuracy of the information within has not been independently verified, nor does TSO/DVSA guarantee in any way its accuracy, completeness, nor any assumptions on which such information is based, used or relied upon by its reader.

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