Congrats, you’ve passed your driving test! Here’s what happens next

Everything you need to know to keep your confidence up and costs down as a new driver.

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You did it! You can tear off your L-plates and hit the open road. So what happens now? The next few years are all about building your confidence behind the wheel, so we’ve teamed up with Veygo to walk you through how to tackle those new challenges while keeping your costs low.

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Flexible car insurance designed for Newly Qualified Drivers

Recently passed your test? Keep up the good driving with insurance built for your first years on the road. Join over 1 million young drivers choosing cover with Veygo today.

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Tackling the big firsts

You’ve put in the hours and passed your test, but there are still certain driving milestones that you haven’t hit yet. Here’s how to conquer 4 common driving firsts.

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Driving on motorways

Joining a motorway for the first time can be daunting. Merging with cars that are already going fast is a tricky manoeuvre, but following these steps can help:

  • Build speed on the slip road. Use the slip road to match the speed of traffic in lane 1. While your instinct may be to slow down to be careful, it actually makes it harder to merge and could cause fellow drivers to brake. So make sure to build your speed up.
  • Pick your gap early. Scan lane 1 with your right mirror and check over your right shoulder to spot a safe space between vehicles. Make sure you’re indicating and don’t merge until it’s safe to do so.
  • Merge smoothly and adjust. Once you’ve merged smoothly, stop indicating, drop back and leave a safe gap behind the vehicle ahead.
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Going through drive-thrus

You may want to use your newfound freedom to swing by for a cheeky Maccy D’s, but judging your passenger-side distance is a classic new-driver pressure point. Here’s how to go about it:

  • Swing wide on approach. Take the curve into the ordering lane gently so you have plenty of room to straighten up.
  • Get ready before you reach the window. Roll down your window before you pull up, and make sure to keep your foot on the brake or apply the handbrake once you’ve stopped.
  • Creep smoothly. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast! Keep your speed low and controlled, with a gap from the wall or counter so you avoid curbing your wheels.
blue cartoon icon of a multi-storey car park

Multi-storey car parks

Multi-storey car parks can be intimidating with tight spiral ramps, concrete pillars and narrow ticket barriers. Here are some key tips to successfully navigate them.

  • Control your speed. Approaching the ticket barriers and the spiral ramps slowly and smoothly is key.
  • Pick a space. Pick a space you feel confident parking in. Don’t be scared to go up to the higher floors for more space if that makes you feel more comfortable.
  • Reverse in. Backing into a space gives you better visibility when pulling out later, especially when other cars block your view.
blue cartoon icon of the side-profile of a car with its headlights on

Driving in the dark

Tackling your first sunset or night drive may seem tricky, but a few interior tweaks can make it effortless.

  • Dim your displays. Lower your dashboard and info screen brightness so it doesn’t distract your eyes from the dark road outside.
  • Master full beams. On unlit rural roads, use full beams but dip them immediately when you see oncoming headlights or if you pull up behind another car.
  • Use the left kerb line. Oncoming car headlights can dazzle you, so keep your eyes focused slightly down towards the left kerb line to stay centred.
Veygo logo

Flexible car insurance designed for Newly Qualified Drivers

Recently passed your test? Keep up the good driving with insurance built for your first years on the road. Join over 1 million young drivers choosing cover with Veygo today.

Get started

Post-pass pitfalls

When you first pass your test, it’s easy to make mistakes like curbing your wheels or hesitating at roundabouts. These may dent your confidence, but it’s important not to let them keep you off the road.

If you’ve not got your own wheels yet, Veygo’s temporary car insurance means you can borrow your parents’ car and only pay for what you need. Cover can be arranged quickly, and their no claims bonus is protected as it’s a separate policy in your name. This means you can keep driving and building your confidence, without having to fork out for a brand new car or an expensive insurance policy.

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Build mileage on a budget

Even if you do have your own car, insurance can be expensive as a new driver. That’s why policies that are designed specifically for someone who’s just passed their test are often the best value.

The main reason car insurance is so expensive for new drivers is the number of claims they tend to make. Insurance tailored to new motorists, like Veygo’s new driver insurance, helps to keep costs low by using telematics to score your driving and offering you a lower rate for safe habits. For instance, the Veygo app will monitor speed, hard braking and any interactions on your phone when driving. You’ll get a score after every trip, then every 3 months, your score and price will be reviewed. Meaning, if you keep up the good practise, then the cost of your insurance could get cheaper.

Keep the momentum going

Passing your driving test is only the start of your road journey. Tackling motorways, drive-thrus, and multi-storey car parks gets infinitely easier with every mile you drive. And just remember, you don’t need your own set of wheels or a pricey policy to get that real-world practice. With Veygo temporary car insurance, you can borrow a friend or family member’s car for a short period of time without risking their no claims bonus. Or opt for its new driver insurance, tailored specifically to help you build confidence on the roads.

Veygo logo

Flexible car insurance designed for Newly Qualified Drivers

Recently passed your test? Keep up the good driving with insurance built for your first years on the road. Join over 1 million young drivers choosing cover with Veygo today.

Join today!
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Editor

Kate Steere is an editor and money expert at Finder, specialising in banking, savings and fintech. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio

Kate's expertise
Kate has written 186 Finder guides across topics including:
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