{"id":189204,"date":"2019-04-29T11:41:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T10:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=189204"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:52:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:52:28","slug":"pass-plus-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/car-insurance\/young-drivers\/pass-plus-scheme","title":{"rendered":"Pass Plus Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve just passed your driving test, you may be nervous about taking to the road in trickier driving conditions \u2013 at night, or in icy weather conditions, for example. The Pass Plus course can give new drivers a skill and confidence boost, and potentially cut the cost of car insurance<\/a> to boot.<\/p>

What is Pass Plus?<\/h3>

Pass Plus is an extra driving qualification which you can get on top of your full driving licence. There\u2019s no obligation to take part in the scheme, but you will learn to tackle situations you won\u2019t have covered in your standard driving lessons. The idea is that you\u2019re even less likely to be involved in an accident, which is not only good for your well-being and your car, but could lead to lower car insurance premiums too.<\/p>

While Pass Plus was designed with those who\u2019ve just passed their test in mind, you don\u2019t have to be new to driving to take the course. For example, you might want to use it to refresh your driving skills after you\u2019ve been without a car for a while.<\/p>

How does Pass Plus work?<\/h3>

After finding a qualified instructor, you\u2019ll do a minimum of 6 hours of training. In this time the course will teach you how to handle 6 different environments better: all weather driving; motorway driving; dual carriageway driving; night time driving; driving in town; and driving down rural roads.<\/p>

All modules should be practical, and you should expect to do 5.5 hours of driving during the course. But depending on your location and driving conditions, some modules may need to be more theoretical. It\u2019s hard to practise driving in heavy rain during an extended spell of dry, sunny weather for example.<\/p>

How is Pass Plus different from regular driving lessons?<\/h3>

Regular driving lessons cover all the basics you need to know to drive safely on UK roads. You\u2019ll take lessons with a driving instructor over a series of days or weeks (or, in some cases, months). And you need to pass two tests: a theory test, and a practical driving test that\u2019s assessed by a driving examiner. Only when you\u2019ve passed both of these tests will you receive your full driving licence and be legally able to drive solo on UK roads.<\/p>

Pass Plus, and similar advanced driving courses, are not a legal requirement. Instead, they\u2019re about boosting your skills and confidence, particularly in relation to driving in specific \u2013 and potentially trickier \u2013 conditions, such as at night, in busy urban environments, or in bad weather. Unlike regular driving lessons, there are no tests to pass. Instead, your Pass Plus instructor will assess your driving as you move through the modules. You can simply keep going until you reach the required standard.<\/p>

How much does Pass Plus cost?<\/h3>

The price for a Pass Plus course varies depending on where you live, the driving instructor, and how long you take to complete the course. A total cost of \u00a3150-\u00a3200 for the course is fairly typical. Some local authorities offer discounts to help with the cost of training, so it\u2019s worth contacting your council<\/a> to ask.<\/p>

In Wales, drivers aged 17-25 who have passed their driving test in the last 12 months can apply to take the Pass Plus Cymru course, which only costs \u00a320.<\/p>

How long does the Pass Plus course take?<\/h3>

The Pass Plus course covers 6 modules, each of which are expected to take around an hour. So, you can expect the whole course to take at least 6 hours. All modules are intended to be practical, so you can anticipate spending 5.5 hours of the course driving.<\/p>

You can technically compress all 6 modules into a single session, but this would be pretty intensive and hard work. To prevent physical weariness, not to mention brain drain from all the new information you\u2019ll be learning, it\u2019s a good idea to split the course over at least 3 sessions (2 modules per session). That way, the information is more likely to stick, you\u2019ll have time to practice in between sessions, and you can build up your skills gradually.<\/p>

What does the Pass Plus scheme cover?<\/h3>

Some of the areas Pass Plus helps you cope better with are touched on in your standard driving test. However, the idea is you\u2019ll become even wiser to dangerous or stressful situations. Below are the conditions Pass Plus will help you with.<\/p>