Driving a CAR at 16 in the UK

[Eliminator]

Hi Folks, not been on for a while, but now I am back with a question....

My son is 16 next month and is type 1, I sent off to the DVLA for his provisional last month, so he can get a 50cc scooter. On the application form the second option down was to apply for a provisional to drive a CAR at 16 !

I phoned DVLA to find out what that was about as I thought you has to be 17 for a car, they told me that if he has a medical condition and get the higher rate of mobility, then yes he can apply for the CAR Licence at 16, So I applied for it for him and send off the letters of proof they asked for.

Then this morning his first ever provisional arrived by post, He has been given the 50cc scooter licence and the CAR to drive at 16. so now I can start giving him lessons (well next month on his 16th birthday anyway)

So my question is, has anyone else done this for their child and what insurance company did you use to get insurance on his own car in his own name ?

This is for a bog standard car with no modifications.

Regards
Eliminator

 

[copepod]

A person getting Higher Rate Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance can get a provisional licence at age 16 years. That also gives him the option of getting a car with insurance & maintenance including and driving lessons through Motability scheme - check their website.

 

[viv1969]

Do your son an enormous favour and ensure he has professional lessons. Once someone has learned the bad habits of driving usually passed along by mums and dads (who learned when the rules were different), they are almost impossible to UNlearn.
Also, rememberthat he still cannot take his driving test until he is 17.

 

[CollieBoy]

Well, when I learned to drive, the local licenced diving instructors were the most disorganised, incompetent waste of space in the area, so get references from people you trust e.g. police drivers, or people who have used them.

 

[Patch]

I'm a relatively new driver - 8 years (didn't take a test 'til i was 25...) and I used the AA. They we're absolutely brilliant. i learned in a Ford Focus and would recomend the Focus as a great car to learn in.

I'd had previous lessons before in different cars, and definitely found it easist in a Focus. Can't recommend the AA enough.

 

[copepod]

Motability are the specialists in arranging driving lesssons for 16 year olds on DLA HRM, as I said in #2.

 

[Eliminator]

Thanks for the replies, but it's not driving lessons I am looking for, as I have taught people to drive for years. Even my wife passed first time with me teaching her lol.

My son does not have the 3 years left to get a mobility car with the free insurance and all that.

that is why I am looking for an insurance company that will insure a 16yr old in his own car, I also then want to put my 20yr old daughters name on the policy as a named driver, that way they can share the car, costs and I can teach them both.

But I am finding it had to find any insurance company to insure him. I thought I would ask on here are more pairs of eyes searching the internet, surely someone will spot a company somewere.

thanks
Eliminator

 

[cugila]

You need a Specialist Insurer........a quick Net search shows plenty of leads. I suggest you contact/phone/e-mail some of them. An Insurance Broker worth his salt should also be able to get you some quotes.

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt= ... e_uk&rd=r2

 

[copepod]

Rules change a while back - can get Motability car with 1 HRM DLA year left, not the 3 years that it used to require. That really will be the best way of getting insurance, even if you don't want their driving lessons.

 

[viv1969]

The Practical driving test has changed recently, so yu might want to research what your boy needs to know. You're not teaching him to drive, you're teaching him to pass a test. Once he's passed THEN you can teach him to really drive.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

I am looking for an insurance company that will insure a 16yr old in his own car, I also then want to put my 20yr old daughters name on the policy as a named driver

Good luck with that Eliminator, I know a 19 year old man who has a full driving licence and 1 years no claims bonus and he was quoted between £3000 and £7000.

To get an insurance quote today for a 16 year old with a provisional licence with a 20 year old named driver I would think would be next to impossible, especially one that was affordable.

 

[grh1904]

If I were you I'd query this with the DVLA, as a serving Police officer I'm about 99.9% certain that your son CANNOT drive until he is 17 years of age.

I do not think that a diabetic would qualify as being restricted enough in mobility to be able to claim the "higher rate of mobility" as you put in your OP.

This situation exists for those with restricted mobility (& as you've stated on the higher rate of mobility) who otherwise would not get about, I've yet to come across any teenage diabetics who get any sort of allowance for mobilty.

Also, have you checked the licence properly, by that I mean looked at the START date of his provisional entitlement for cars. DVLA can issue a provisional licence before a person turns 17, as it is clearly marked on the licence what the start date for that particular entitlement is.

The above is not the norm, but can happen if a Cat "A" (motorcycle) entitlement is applied for & all the necessary criteria are met for the car element at the time of applying.

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT "BEFORE" YOU START ANY LESSONS AS NOT ONLY WOULD YOUR CHILD BE DRIVING OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LICENCE BUT THE INSTRUCTOR/FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WITH THE FULL LICENCE WOULD ALSO BE DONE FOR AIDING & ABBETTING SAID OFFENCE.

 

[cugila]

Sorry to disagree.......in certain respects

It is perfectly legal for a 16 yr old who meets all the conditions to hold a Licence to drive a Category B (Car) Driving Licence.

The OP states that he sent off the required proof to DVLA that his Son has a) a medical condition and also b) receives the 'higher rate' of the mobility allowance.

This qualifies him, even as a 16 yr old, under the present regulations to a) Obtain a Provisional Licence for a Category B motor vehicle (subject to certain weight restrictions, ULW and MAM) and b) Take a Driving Test for that Category of Vehicle. The vehicle does not have to be specially adapted either.

See here :

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... DG_4022547

Providing the Driver has a valid Provisional Driving Licence number for the relevant category of vehicle he/she wishes to drive there is no obstacle in taking the Theory Test and the Practical Driving Test. The person does not have to wait until they are 17 to take a Driving test.

That is the present Law regarding the above which can be checked out by trawling through the regulations. Little known........but perfectly legal........bit like the 16 yr olds able to drive certain Tractor's on the road as well. Road Traffic Law is very complex in some areas......I used to teach it.

As to why the OP's son gets the allowance, maybe the OP will tell us at some point, I suspect there is more than just Diabetes involved........

 

[grh1904]

As to why the OP's son gets the allowance, maybe the OP will tell us at some point, I suspect there is more than just Diabetes involved........

Yes, that's why I posted what I did, although the OP did make reference to sending off of supporting documents, it wasn't perfectly clear (or maybe it was just me not reading it right ) if there was more than diabetes at play here.

My only concern was that a provisional had been issued for when the lad does turn 17 as these can be issued before a 17th birthday - how else do 17 years olds pass on their actuall birthday if a licence wasn't applied for and able to be shown to the examiner.

My advice at this point was to check it carefully first, otherwise a new licence becomes a heavy weight in the pocket when it's got 3 points weighing it down!!!!!!! :cry: :cry:

 

[cugila]

I quite agree.....better to be safe than sorry in my experience, however what I posted is the Law regarding 16 yr olds driving legally. A clarification. See here :

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... DG_4016279

I am sure the OP will be able to sort out if he has the correct details on his Son's licence following your timely advice.

 

[Eliminator]

I did check the start dates and they are valid for the day after this 16th birthday for both 50cc scooter and CAR, tractor, and some other kind I vehicle too, I can't check as he has gone away for the weekend.


I still have not found an insurance company that will insure him, but he did find a driving school that will teach him to drive, in fact they are starting him on tuesday while he is still 15, but only on private roads, as the instructor has told us that it is perfectly legal to take driving lessons at 15yrs old on private land.

 

[cugila]

I gave you a link to many Insurers who may be able to help in a previous post.......

Here is the result from just one of those links which gives some Companies who offer Insurance to 16 yr old Disabled Driver's with a Provisional Licence. You usually cannot do it online, you have to phone them. I have sent you a pm to one of them.......

http://www.mobility-centres.org.uk/pdfs ... 6yrold.pdf