If there’s one thing new drivers will realise when making their first solo car journeys, it’s that the real learning starts now. When there’s no instructor by their side, it’s up to you and your teen to navigate the motoring world together. If you’ve been driving for a while, many of our tips may serve as a reminder that everyone starts somewhere, and the driving test doesn’t cover everything drivers need to know.
1 Oil top ups
Yep, we’re diving right in with oil top ups. It’s probably not something your teen has even thought about yet, but oil top ups are essential for any car. If they can do it themselves, it’s one less thing to ring the garage about…
An oil top up should only take a few minutes to complete. If the dipstick indicates that the car’s oil level is low, it should be refilled as early as possible. The first thing to do is check the car’s manual, as this confirms which kind of oil to use. When your teen is equipped with the right oil, check to make sure that the vehicle is parked on a flat surface and the engine is nice and cool. Recheck the oil level so you know how much to use.
Now it’s time to top up, so they can start by unscrewing and removing the oil cap. They should add a small amount of fresh oil through the neck of a funnel and wait a minute or so for it to work its way to the sump.
Make sure they check the oil level again using the dipstick and continue adding small amounts until the correct level is reached.
Remember, an over-filled oil tank is as bad for a vehicle’s engine as an under-filled one. Tell your teen to look for the high level mark and only fill to just below the line.
2 De-icing
Waking up to an icy car is something any teen driver will need to get used to – and they might even have to get up early to do something about it. We’ll leave that bombshell to you though...
It may be irritating, but de-icing a vehicle is all part of driving. The ice will need completely removing from the windscreen, mirrors, and windows before the car is safe and legal to drive. Before they begin, there are a few things your teen will want to keep handy…
- Their car keys
- An ice scraper
- De-ice spray
- Brush
- Water
- Torch
- Gloves and a warm outfit
All drivers should avoid using anything other than what’s listed to de-ice a car as it could damage their vehicle.
When ready, your teen should start their engine and quickly make use of the defrost settings and car features which will help to clear the ice. The first being the defrost button which will be somewhere on the dashboard within easy reach of the driver. A similar button will melt the ice on the rear windscreen.
Then, they’ll need to turn the vehicle’s fans up to their highest setting and point them towards both the windscreen and windows. Some cars also have heated windscreens and wing mirrors which will thaw the ice gently. Whilst the heaters are doing their thing, your teen can use their ice scraper to remove ice quickly without scratching the glass – a scraper will always do a better job than a debit card ever could. It may sound obvious, but make sure your teen knows that an ice scraper should never be used to remove snow or ice from a vehicle’s exterior – just imagine the car body shop bill!!
3 Car servicing
Owning a car comes with maintenance responsibilities. Though not compulsory, encouraging your teen to service their car has a number of benefits, including helping the car to run more efficiently and last for longer. A full service history is also an attractive feature to a future buyer, as it demonstrates that the vehicle has been well cared for. Generally, a service will include a check of many components, including:
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Steering
- Exhaust
- Oil
- Fluids
- Lights
The mechanic will also carry out an overall safety check. At the end of the service, your teen will receive a detailed record of the checks which will highlight any areas which need immediate attention or planned maintenance.
4 MOTs
Make it clear to your teen that their car can’t be driven or parked on the road if it doesn’t have a valid MOT. MOT tests make sure that a vehicle meets environmental and safety standards. If a car is nearly 3 years old, it will need an MOT certificate by the third anniversary of its registration. From then on, the vehicle will require an annual MOT. The only exceptions to this rule are to drive it to a pre-arranged MOT and to take it to or from somewhere for repairs. If they’re caught driving without an MOT, your teen could be fined.
Did you know?
A car can have an MOT up to 1 month (minus 1 day) before it runs out and it’ll still keep the same renewal date. Get your teen to add a reminder on their phone to book their MOT.
5 Car tax
Another date for your teen’s diary is their car tax renewal – a necessity for owning a vehicle. Car tax goes into a government fund that’s used for things like road works and maintenance. The cost of car tax will vary depending on a number of things, including a vehicle’s age and how polluting it is.
Some cars (including electric vehicles) are exempt from vehicle tax altogether.
Tax can be bought annually, every six months, or paid for in monthly instalments via Direct Debit. As we said goodbye to tax discs a few years ago now, it can be hard to remember when car tax is due. Some garages will offer a handy reminder service, or your teen can check their vehicle’s tax status online.
6 What to do if you break down
Now they’ve got their P plates, your teen might need a refresher in what to do if their car breaks down. It can be a scary experience but, if your teen has car trouble, it’s important that they stay calm and find a place of safety. They should:
- Drive their car off the road to a verge, emergency refuge area, or service station. They could also leave the road at the next junction if safe to do so
- Turn on their hazard lights
- Get out of the vehicle using the passenger door if safe to do so
- Contact their breakdown provider who’ll arrange a mechanic visit or recovery vehicle
A broken-down car will need to be moved or towed, as leaving it unattended isn’t allowed and may lead to a fine or other penalties. Your teen should wait for assistance away from the road – on the other side of the barrier if broken down on the motorway.
Your teen should not:
If they can't leave their car or get it to a safe location, they should call 999.
7 Vehicle logbooks
Owning a car comes with some admin work. When you or your teen purchase their car, make sure it comes with a logbook. This document logs the registration and taxation history of a car and should be kept up to date. Your teen will need to get the logbook updated if:
- Their name or address changes
- Their vehicle details have changed
- They’ve bought, sold, or transferred the car
If the car doesn't have its logbook, you can apply for a duplicate logbook.
8 How to change a tyre
Changing a tyre is a life skill, though the chances of practising a tyre switch in a driving lesson are slim to none. If your teen has the confidence and the tools to change a tyre, they should follow these steps:
Get prepared
- Put the handbrake on and make sure any passengers have left the car
- Take the spare wheel and tools from the boot
Position wheel chocks
- Use chocks to stop the car rolling once it’s jacked up
- Place a chock on the wheel opposite to the one that has a puncture e.g. if your right front tyre is flat, place a chock behind the left rear tyre
- Bricks can do the job just as well
Loosen wheel nuts
- It’s much safer to do this whilst the car is still on the ground
- Any plastic trims should be removed first
- Turn the wrench anti-clockwise to loosen the nuts until they can be hand turned
- Do not remove the nuts just yet…
Jack up the car
- Check the car’s handbook to find its designated jacking points
- Position the jack to the side of the car close to the flat tyre
- Raise the car slowly until the bottom of the tyre is between 10-15cm off the ground
Remove the tyre
- Finish loosening the wheel nuts and pull the wheel towards you carefully
- Once free, place the tyre flat on the ground
Put the spare tyre on
- Slide the spare tyre onto the hub bolts
- Replace the wheel nuts
- Tighten them by hand
Lower the car
- Bring the car back down and remove the jack
- Double check the tightness of the wheel nuts
- Store the jack, tools, and old tyre in the boot
Check the tyre pressure
- Use a pressure gauge to check that the spare wheel is fully inflated
- If needed - pump the tyre back up to the recommended pressure
9 Replace a lost, stolen, or damaged licence
You can replace a full or provisional driving licence using the government website. If your licence has been stolen, you should also contact the police.
10 Register for a Pass Plus Course
If your teen feels they would benefit from the extra training and further experience a Pass Plus course offers, they can speak to their driving instructor to find out whether they are registered with Pass Plus. The course takes at least 6 hours to complete and helps improve driving skills in various situations. They can take a Pass Plus course at any time, although it will be most useful to drivers who have passed their test in the past 12 months.
