Motorway lessons
Since June 2018, learner drivers have been able to take motorway lessons with an approved driving instructor (ADI), in a car fitted with dual controls, before passing their test. Active Drive offers motorway lessons for learners and newly-qualified drivers alike.
Illustrative AI-generated footage of a typical UK driving lesson — not real Active Drive footage.
What a motorway lesson covers
Joining and leaving via slip roads at the right speed, lane discipline and positioning once you're on, maintaining a proper following distance at higher speeds, mirror checks and blind-spot awareness that matter more at motorway speeds than anywhere else, and what to do if you break down — including how to get to the hard shoulder or nearest refuge area safely and what happens after that. It's less about a single skill and more about the judgement that only comes from actually being out there.
Why it isn't covered by the practical test
The standard DVSA practical test doesn't currently include motorway driving, which means most drivers pass their test having never driven on one under supervision. That gap is exactly why a dedicated motorway lesson exists — the rules changed in June 2018 specifically to let learners get that experience before they're on their own, rather than facing a motorway for the first time entirely unsupervised.
Who it's for
Learners building test-day confidence who want that experience sorted before they're driving independently, and newly-qualified drivers who passed before motorway lessons became available and want supervised practice before driving one alone. It's also worth it if you're about to start a commute or a job that means regular motorway driving and you'd rather not learn on the job.
It has to be with an instructor, not a private supervisor
Even after the 2018 rule change, DVSA rules only allow a learner onto the motorway with an approved driving instructor (ADI) in a car fitted with dual controls — a parent, friend or other private supervising driver still can't take you on one legally. Every Active Drive motorway lesson is run by a qualified instructor in a dual-controlled car, exactly as the rules require.
Book a motorway lesson
Ask your Active Drive instructor to add a motorway lesson to your training once you're ready, or combine it with a Pass Plus course if you've already passed your test.
Available across our coverage area
Motorway lessons run with the same instructor who covers your regular lessons. See every area we cover or check who teaches near you on our instructors page.
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What our students say
"I passed my practical 1st time round thanks to Ram from Active Drive. I had no prior experience before December and after only 3 months I was up to test standard."
Nadhir B. Yelp
Motorway Lessons FAQ
Is motorway driving part of the practical test?
No — the standard DVSA practical test doesn't currently include motorway driving. That's exactly why a dedicated motorway lesson is worth having: it's the one major road type most new drivers pass their test without ever having driven on.
Can I take a motorway lesson with a family member instead of an instructor?
No — DVSA rules only allow learners onto the motorway with an approved driving instructor (ADI) in a car fitted with dual controls, not with a private supervising driver, even after the June 2018 rule change that first allowed learners on motorways at all.
When should I have my first motorway lesson?
There's no official prerequisite, but most instructors wait until you're confident with dual carriageways and higher-speed roads generally — your Active Drive instructor will tell you honestly when they think you're ready rather than working to a fixed lesson number.