In theory you could get it on your 17th bday

It all comes down to several things.
Speed you can pick up and remember the requirements.
Confidence
Luck

There is no minimum time limit. Its all about when your ready.
I would book your theory now though, as I believe most places unless you do intensive course, have at least 6 weeks of waiting. Then its a couple of months unless you get a cancelation slot for your practical.

I was training to be an instructor.

You could, in theory, as Craig said do everything on your 17th birthday. You can drive on private property at any age but can't drive on the road until you have a provisional licence and then only accompanied by someone who meets the criteria to supervise you.
The problem is getting test dates both for the theory and pracitcal tests.

I would suggest that you get started learning the theory and apply for the test as soon as you are allowed to. As for the practical, if you can start to learn on pivate property then do so, even if it is just to get the basics of starting, stopping and changing gear and direction. I would also take Hagar's reccomendation of doing an intensive course but  with one of the more established driving schools rather than a local one man operation. This applies even if you can get plenty of practice in someone else's car between lessons.
The benefits of an intensive course is that you won't develop bad habits between lessons and then spend half a lesson getting rid of something that you have developed in the last week between the lessons. Take a trial lesson with one of the big established schools (BSM, AA, LDC) they will give you an honest appraisal of how many lessons you should need before your test. If you go with one of them they will plan your training so that you will be ready at the time of your test, and may offer cut price top ups if you fail.
I would also suggest that after you pass you do the Pass Plus course to give you more varied experience and a motorway lesson.

Quote:

You must be 17 before driving a car on public roads in the UK.

Hagar wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 12:21pm:


Not strictly true...... If you are registered disabled you can get a full licence at the age of 16.

And lets hope I don't ever become disabled either.

Where else would class as private property, suitable to drive on legally below 17? I don't think there are any test tracks near to me

eno wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 4:06am:


I'll second that, purely from personal experience.

The very first time I drove on a motorway, the day after passing my test, I exited on the sliproad and nearly rear ended a car at the roundabout at the end... I had no concept of how fast 70mph was. I'm sure the fact it was an uphill sliproad was the only reason it didn't end in tears.

machineman9 wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 4:47pm:

Check this out. http://www.msvdrivinggifts.com/youngdrive!.aspx

All this could turn out expensive. Ideally you need a friend or relative to give you a few lessons in their car on a piece of private land. Unless you have plenty of money it might be better to wait & save up for a proper course of lessons when you reach 17.

As far as tracks go, you'd be looking at a track day which A: is even more expensive and B: you need to be a license holder.
If you know anyone who is fairly high up on an military airbase that has no movements, you can get away with driving around the perimeter roads. It happend a lot at Middle Wallop.
Otherwise its things like Farm land, large estates and so on.
If its a public road your not legally allowed.

CVs are around the place at the moment and I have some funding set aside.

I only think it would be cheaper for lessons to gain some experience beforehand... If I already know some of the skills then it isn't so much learning them as improving them. I'd also like to get on the road sooner, ensuring those CVs get me a job, and be driving soon after my 17th. I've got a few dates lined up a few weeks after my birthday which I'd like to drive to myself.

I don't really care for the whole 'pass the test as quick as you can and then go and whizz around in cars' approach as it is stupid and dangerous. I prefer the 'get it done, be experienced, be safe' approach. I think that having extra hours experience (which will not cost me, or at the very least just fuel) is worthwhile.

I know my mother has already said I can use her car when the instructor says I am capable enough to do so on the roads as a learner, but that is during tuition and I'd like some experience before lessons start at all. I know full well that the instructor's words should be followed at all times, but it might help progression if I can start up, not stall and get around a bit on my own steam. Anticipating the power of brakes, gear changing, etc, would just be more experience and I think it would help the learning side of things go better, faster and cheaper.

Would car parks only be acceptable for people with a provisional and all that jazz, or do they properly count as off the road and legal?

White lines are certainly better for practising 3 point turns than in an area with lamp posts and people.

I thought I'd get a licence really quickly when I was 17 and start driving myself to airshows.....then life got in the way.....I got out quite a bit with my mum to car parks and local roads but haven't had many proper lessons and I'm nearly 18. I have so much other stuff going on that driving just isn't a priority at the moment....I'll happily take the bus or train (you can fall asleep....and look out the window....and watch videos on your iPod )

I'd slow down and see what happens....I'm determined to pass before Uni, but there's a massive summer holiday for that next year

.mic (just got in from the opening night of a play I'm directing and crewing )

Hagar wrote on Oct 15^th, 2009 at 5:21pm:

See thats interesting, and creates several legal questions.
for instance my works car park has signs up saying it is private property and claims as such they can ticket cars using it for too long using their own companies and such.

So BSM say it must be gated. I am guessing it pretty much means on the land your house is on, or as close as this as possible. And using someone elses land of course requires their permission.

I shall have to think about that one then. Very few people I know have a gate of any kind, even fewer have a gate and anything larger than a drive way to park their cars on.

I am fully aware of it. They are licensed with a provisional now, but I'm still more than aware of the naughtyness of it.