The Ultimate Guide to Learning How to Drive a Car

Learning how to drive a car is an exciting milestone that opens up a world of freedom and independence. However, for many people, the process of learning how to drive can be overwhelming and intimidating. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process of learning to drive, from obtaining your learner's permit to mastering essential driving techniques and ultimately passing your driver's license test.

Getting Started: The Learner's Permit

The first step in learning how to drive is getting your learner's permit. The reason is that you need a learner’s permit to be qualified to practice driving - without the permit, you won’t be allowed behind the wheel. The requirements and procedures for obtaining a permit vary by state, so be sure to check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for specific details. As part of studying for your permit, you will need to learn the rules of the road and the intricacies of different traffic situations.

The minimum age requirement for obtaining a learner's permit varies by state, but it is typically between 15 and 16 years old. With a permit, you may only drive accompanied by a supervising driver. The supervising driver must be a fully licensed driver, often your parent, guardian, or driving instructor. If you’re about to become a supervising driver for the first time, it is recommended that you read through a guide where you can learn how to teach someone to drive.

Choosing the Right Vehicle and Instructor

When learning to drive, you'll need to decide whether you want to learn on an automatic or manual transmission vehicle. The choice between learning to drive with an automatic or manual transmission depends on your personal preferences and needs. Automatic transmissions are generally easier to learn and operate, while manual transmissions offer more control over the vehicle and can be more fuel-efficient. This article assumes you'll be driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission. Make sure you practice uphill starts when learning to drive a manual car. Because starting a manual from a stop requires letting off the brakes and engaging the clutch (essentially placing the car in neutral), the car will roll backward until first gear is engaged. To stop this from happening, apply the handbrake, then release it as you release the clutch and the car begins to move forward. Otherwise, you risk rolling into the car behind you.

Choosing the right driving instructor is crucial to your success as a new driver. To find a good driving instructor, start by asking for recommendations from friends, family members, or colleagues who have recently learned to drive. Research local driving schools and read reviews from past students. When choosing an instructor, look for someone who is experienced, fully qualified, and has a good track record of teaching students. A driving instructor will be able to help you learn to drive properly and adjust what you do incorrectly. It’s especially important to take a few lessons with a driving instructor every few weeks or so if your supervising driver has had their driver’s license for a long time. Driving instructors are very skilled at teaching new drivers how to drive a car correctly and know the common mistakes that beginners often make and how to correct them. Parents or guardians, on the other hand, may have forgotten the basics a long time ago.

Read also: Learn Motorcycle Basics

Getting Familiar with the Car

Before you can even begin to sit behind the wheel, you need to study for the permit test. Once you have your learner’s permit, you will finally be allowed to practice driving for real. The first thing you should do is to learn how to control the car.

Adjusting the Seat and Mirrors

Before starting the car, adjust your seat so that you can comfortably reach the pedals and steering wheel. You can adjust your seat forward and backward, as well as up and down. Some cars will have electronic controls (usually on the left side of the seat), while older cars will usually have a lever underneath the seat that lets you control the position of the seat. Adjust your mirrors (rearview and side mirrors) for optimal visibility. The Society of Automotive Engineers has one recommendation for how to position your outside mirrors in order to eliminate blind spots. It recommends positioning the mirrors further outward than normal, so that they just overlap with the viewing angle of the rear-view mirror.

Identifying Key Controls and Features

Review the controls and features of the car. Locate important controls, such as turn signals, windshield wipers, and headlights. Go through vehicle controls and levers before starting the car. It can be smart to start with the engine off to get a feel for the car and what different controls do. Once you are comfortable, you can begin practicing with the engine on.

In an automatic car, the two-foot pedals control acceleration and braking, respectively. The rightmost pedal (which is usually smaller than the other pedal) is the accelerator, and pressing down on it makes the car move; the harder you press down on it, the faster the car will move. Even if you feel more confident using your left foot, always use your right foot to reach both pedals. Never use both feet at once to reach the pedals. Only use one foot - your right foot - to use each pedal.

The parking brake is a longer lever with a button on the very tip of it. When the parking brake is pulled up, it helps lock the car into place on the ground, ensuring that it doesn't move. When the brake is let down, it is disengaged and the car can freely move.

Read also: Learn to Drive Stick

The gear stick is usually positioned in between the two front seats of a car, and it controls the gearbox (park, neutral, drive, reverse). In most modern vehicles, the lever is either in a straight line on the right side of the driver or is a lever on the steering wheel. The "lever" may actually be a knob depending on your car.

The speedometer is probably the most important dashboard display in the car. The RPM gauge tells you how hard your engine is working. Most RPM gauges will have red areas starting at 6,000 or 7,000 RPM. The fuel gauge tells you how much fuel your car has left. The temperature gauge in the car tells you whether your car's engine is overheating. Modern cars use dashboard lights to indicate when something needs attention, so learn the dashboard lights!

Basic Driving Techniques

Once you are comfortable with the car's controls, you can start practicing basic driving techniques.

Starting the Engine and Moving Forward

Put your keys in the ignition, which is usually to the right side of the steering wheel, and turn clockwise. Note that in some newer vehicles, provided the keys are actually inside the car, all you need to do is push the "Power" or "Ignition" button for the engine to start. In most places in the world, driving without wearing a seatbelt is illegal. ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. When you turn it on, the car will move forward by itself if your foot isn't on the brake.

Put your foot on the brake pedal, shift your car into Drive so that it can begin to move forward, and then take your foot off the brake pedal. Slowly press down on the acceleration pedal with your foot to get the car to move forwards.

Read also: Comprehensive Stick Shift Guide

Steering

Imagine that the steering wheel is a clock. Place your left hand where the number 9 would be on a clock, and your right hand where the number 3 would be. Turning is quite easy once you get used to it. Like most things when driving, it's very intuitive. If you're making a harder turn, use the "hand over hand" method. Say you're turning right. Turn the steering wheel clockwise, leading with the right hand. When your right hand gets to the 4 or 5 position, release it and cross it over your left hand. To straighten out the car after a turn, simply loosen your grip in both hands and the steering wheel will automatically begin correcting itself. Apply more pressure to slow down the correction; apply less pressure to speed it up.

Reversing

If your car is parked in a car park or a driveway, chances are you're going to need to reverse your car out in order to begin driving. Put your car in Reverse and double-check. Gently remove your foot from the brake pedal and do not put your foot on the accelerator. For your first couple of times backing out, don't worry about putting your foot on the accelerator. You can move your car simply by removing your foot from the brake. Remember that the steering wheel is "reversed" in Reverse. When driving your car forward, if you turn the steering wheel to the right, your car will also turn to the right, and vice versa. This is because your wheels turn that way. When going in reverse, turning the steering wheel to the right will make your car turn to the left, while turning the steering wheel to the left will make your car turn to the right.

Avoid reversing on any roads where you cannot see clearly in both directions. You should always look over your shoulder and check your mirrors whenever you're reversing or changing lanes.

Braking

Use your brake whenever you need to slow down. Put your foot on the brake pedal.

Practicing on the Road

With the basics mastered, it's time to start driving on the road. At this point, your teen has mastered the basics and needs lots of practice getting used to the road. Learning how to drive a car is a process that requires patience, practice, and dedication.

Starting Slow and Building Confidence

Learn to take things slow in the beginning and you'll be well on your way to mastering the basics. Take it slow. Get used to the controls, the pedals, how to check and adjust your mirrors, and the size and feel of the car. For the next several hours of driving practice, stick to low-speed, low-traffic roads. Try to take a different route each time so that your teen is getting the variety needed to become a safe driver. For the next several lessons, stick to roads that have slower speed limits (under 35 mph). Learning how to drive is a lot easier than it looks. It looks intimidating from the passenger's seat, or in films, but once you get behind the wheel and gently put your foot on the pedal, the process becomes very intuitive.

Choosing a Supervising Driver

Choose someone you trust to be your supervising driver. The first time you drive is going to feel very overwhelming and difficult. There is going to be a lot to learn, so make sure your supervising driver is experienced and can help you get through each step in a structured manner. This will help you stay calm and make the first time easier.

Starting in a Safe Environment

We advise that you start driving in an empty parking lot so you get a feel of how the car works at a slow speed without other traffic. Stick to roads you already know. Try to drive in familiar neighborhoods so you can focus all your attention on driving instead of navigating unfamiliar roads. Don’t drive on busy or high-speed roads. Interstates are generally known to be safer than other types of roads, but they are not the place to be when driving for the first time. As you get more and more comfortable, you can move to roads with more and more traffic. Just remember; moving to a busy street before you are ready is both stressful for you and dangerous for others.

Gradual Progression

As you see your teen beginning to master these skills, take note and make the situation a little more complex next time. As your new driver starts to master these skills, pay attention to which ones he or she is confident with.

Essential Driving Skills to Practice

Turning: If you're making a harder turn, use the "hand over hand" method. Say you're turning right. Turn the steering wheel clockwise, leading with the right hand. When your right hand gets to the 4 or 5 position, release it and cross it over your left hand. To straighten out the car after a turn, simply loosen your grip in both hands and the steering wheel will automatically begin correcting itself. Apply more pressure to slow down the correction; apply less pressure to speed it up.
Changing Lanes: At some point when driving, you'll need to switch from one lane to another, sometimes quickly. Doing so is easy, but you have to remember to indicate to let other drivers know that you're planning on switching lanes. Indicate with your blinkers for at least two seconds before beginning to switch lanes. Quickly scan your mirrors and look over your shoulder to check for any cars in your blind spot(s). Slowly move the car into the other lane. Turn your hands on the steering wheel ever so slightly in order to change lanes. It only takes a very slight movement of the wheel; as most modern cars are fitted with power steering. It should take anywhere from one to three seconds for you to change lanes. While changing lanes, be observant.
Maintaining a Safe Following Distance: Teach your teen to keep a clear "safety space" around the car so there's room to react to any hazards. The farther he or she hangs back from the vehicle in front, the better your teen may be able to see what’s ahead. How far you should stay behind the car in front of you depends on how fast you are traveling. You want to give yourself two to five seconds to react, depending on your comfort level. To judge this, watch as the car in front of you passes a fixed object on the road, like a billboard. As soon as the car passes that object, begin counting: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand…. .
Merging onto Highways: Driving on a multi-lane highway for the first time can be scary. Start your teen out by driving at quieter times of the day to practice merging into traffic, staying in the lane and using higher speeds and safe following distances without the added stress of rush-hour traffic. Merging onto a highway can be a difficult thing to do, especially if the traffic is denser than expected.
Parallel Parking: Parallel parking is when you have to back your car into a tight parking spot, usually a very complex maneuver. There are a couple of tried and true tricks to parallel parking, which you can learn here.
Understanding Right-of-Way: If you stop at a four-way stop and you get there first, you're the one who gets to go first. Don't stop and let the person who got there after you go.
Adapt to Difficult Driving Conditions: Difficult driving conditions can be dangerous for all drivers, but are extremely hazardous for new drivers. After you and your teen feel confident with his or her ability to handle each driving situation in daylight and good weather, have them practice driving in different scenarios like bad weather, different light during the day and night or with other people in the car.
- Bad Weather: Drive with your teen in bad weather like rain, windy days, fog, light snow or sleet. When the weather acts up, tone it down a notch and drive even more defensively than normal. When it rains, for example, the water interacts with the oil on driving surfaces, making it very slick and slippery.
- Changing Lights: As the sun angles up and down in the sky, two things happen to drivers. First, the light can become a hazard as it shines directly into eyes. Second, the hours closer to dawn and dusk have a reduced light level.
- New Passengers and Diverse Vehicles: Your teen won't always be driving with just you as a passenger, or only in your car. Invite another person or two as third or fourth passengers (as state driving laws allow).

Developing Safe Driving Habits

Defensive Driving: Driving defensively is a very important concept that too many drivers either take for granted or don't understand. Don't assume that other road users will obey the rules, or pay attention, or be cautious. Rules of the road are enforced to make sure that everyone is safe. Often those rules are broken by selfish or clueless drivers. Don't assume that drivers will use their blinkers before they turn, for example. Don't assume that drivers will slow down for you to merge. If you see a potentially dangerous situation, avoid it before it happens. Don't linger immediately to the right of a big semi-truck, for example. Use all your senses to be aware, at all times, of what's happening on the road. Drivers often learn to tune out the rest of the world and "get in the zone," simply because they've done the same thing hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Don't get too complacent behind the wheel. Use sight to monitor other cars' speeds and their habits. Use hearing to listen for car horns and the sounds of screeching.
Obeying Speed Limits: Emphasize that the posted limit is only a guide for an acceptable maximum speed in excellent conditions. Speed limits are there for a reason. They're not there to make driving less fun; they're there to make the road a safer place for all. Make sure that at most, you're only traveling 5 mph (8 km/h) faster than the speed limit. Comply with speed limits! They're there for a reason; it's dangerous to drive over the posted limit. What is a suitable speed for the conditions? You may be ticketed for driving “too fast for the conditions” even when you are driving slower than the speed limit. When you are new to driving, you should be especially careful as you lack experience.
Avoiding Distractions: Remove any distractions before starting driving. When you’re just getting behind the wheel for the first time, you need to have full concentration on the task at hand. Make sure to turn off the radio, put away your phone, remove junk from the car, roll up the windows, and limit any other distractions while on the road. Avoid the temptation to use your mobile phone, a few seconds distraction can cause a serious accident, so the best way to do it is to turn off your cell phone until you get to your destination. Does my teen wait to pull over to handle distractions or situations that take his or her eyes away from the road?
Staying in the Correct Lane: On highways, and to a lesser extent on streets, the leftmost lanes are usually reserved for faster traffic, while the rightmost lanes are reserved for slower traffic. It's rude (and dangerous) to tailgate someone going slower than you in the right lane. At the same time, it's selfish to hog the left lanes when you're going considerably slower than other traffic. Because the general speed of traffic increases going right to left, it's important to pass on the left. You're speeding your car up and going faster than the car ahead of you, so you want to pass using a lane that's meant for faster cars. Follow this general rule of thumb even if it's not a "law" where you drive! Keep on the slow lane (left or right for left- or right-handed driving countries respectively), unless you overtake.
Being Courteous: Being courteous simply means acknowledging that there are other people using the road, each with their own agenda, and many of whom don't want to be stuck in their car. Use your horn to alert other drivers, not to chide them. The horn is a powerful device. Use your horn when someone merges into your lane without seeing you, or when a light has turned green but they're still sitting idle. Use a wave to thank someone. When someone lets you into their lane, wave your hand to thank them. Don't disobey the rules of the road just in order to be courteous. This is important.
Never Driving Under the Influence: NEVER drink and drive. That's the worst thing you could possibly do. You could kill yourself or someone else. It is also illegal to drive with more than a certain amount of alcohol in your body e.g. in the UK you must not drive with a breath alcohol level of more than 35 micrograms per 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz) or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz). This is roughly the equivalent to 2 cans of strong lager. In the US you may not have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of more than 0.08% if you are a non-commercial driver 21 and up. Restrictions are tighter on commercial drivers and drivers under 21.
Always Wearing a Seatbelt: ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. Always enforce that people who are passengers in your car must wear seatbelts. If they refuse, don't drive them. In most places in the world, driving without wearing a seatbelt is illegal.
Avoiding Street Racing: Street racing is extremely dangerous, and illegal in most countries. If you wish to race your car, then taking your car to a track day would be the safest thing to do.

Additional Tips for New Drivers

Parents can also check with their insurance companies to see if they have programs to help teach a teen to drive.
Driving rules and the way students are taught change periodically.
Log as many hours as you can behind the wheel before taking the road test. In some states, you’ll need to log a mandatory 50-100 hours before you are allowed to take the test. Consider that to be the minimum amount of hours you should practice behind the wheel, not the recommended amount. Learning to drive a car takes time - you don’t just become a good driver overnight, you learn it through practicing behind the wheel for many hours.
Understand the basics of owning a car. For example; you may need to change a tire, pump gas, add fluids to the car.
Ask your supervising driver and practice when is changing lanes safe.
In Israel, you're required to carry fluorescent vests in the car and wear them when you are outside the car when making repairs or refueling etc. If you get stopped in Israel and your car does not carry a fluorescent vest, you WILL be fined.
Some vehicles come with built-in safety features (besides airbags). Do not rely on safety and comfort features to work while driving. This technology can easily malfunction.
Never shift into low gears at high speeds (i.e. 1st gear at 50 mph/80 km/h).

Preparing for the Driving Test

The last hurdle to overcome before getting a driver’s license is the behind-the-wheel driving test. The driving test is meant to test if you are ready for solo driving by having you drive with a driving examiner in the passenger seat. It’s understandable to want to complete the behind-the-wheel test as early as possible, but taking the test before you are ready will inevitably lead to a failing grade. In fact, the most common mistake according to instructors is taking the test too early.

Ensuring You Have the Proper Documentation

You don’t want to show up to the driving test without the proper documentation as you won’t be allowed to take the test. So, what do you actually need to bring to the test? Well… that depends on the state you live in, the type of license you intend to get, and several other factors.

What to Do If You Fail

If you fail your driver's license test, don't get discouraged. Many people do not pass on their first attempt. Review the areas where you made mistakes, and focus on improving those skills during your driving practice. Schedule another test when you feel more prepared, and consider taking additional driving lessons if needed.

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