Pass Plus Scheme
Pass Plus: What It Is and Is It Worth It?
Passing your driving test proves you can drive safely to the required standard, but it doesn’t mean you’ve seen everything the road has to offer. Motorways, night driving, dual carriageways and bad weather often barely feature during standard lessons, simply because there isn’t time to cover everything before test day. Pass Plus was designed to fill that gap. Here’s what the course actually involves, how it works, and what you might get out of it.
What is Pass Plus?
Pass Plus is a practical training course aimed at helping drivers build skills and confidence in situations that a standard driving test doesn’t always cover. It’s not a test itself, and there’s no pass or fail moment at the end, it’s an assessed course, meaning you’re guided and evaluated throughout rather than judged in a single sitting.
Check the official guidance on Pass Plus
Who is it for?
You can take Pass Plus at any point after passing your test, there’s no expiry date on being eligible. That said, it’s most useful in the first year after passing, while the habits from your lessons are still fresh and before you’ve had the chance to pick up any bad habits of your own on unfamiliar roads.
What does the course cover?
Pass Plus takes a minimum of 6 hours, split across 6 modules, each focused on a different driving environment:
Driving in town
Busy junctions, pedestrian crossings and heavier traffic all demand sharper observation and quicker decision-making than quieter routes.
Driving in all weathers
Rain, fog and other poor conditions change your stopping distances and visibility, and this module helps you adjust your driving accordingly.
Driving on rural roads
Narrow lanes, blind bends and unexpected hazards like livestock or cyclists are common on country roads and bring their own set of risks.
Driving at night
Reduced visibility and the glare of oncoming headlights make night driving a genuinely different experience from daytime driving.
Driving on dual carriageways
Higher speeds and more complex lane changes mean dual carriageways call for better anticipation and positioning.
Driving on motorways
For many new drivers, this is the first time they’ve ever driven on a motorway, since learners aren’t permitted to before passing their test.
Most of these sessions are hands-on, practical driving, although your instructor may cover some parts as theory if local conditions mean a particular module (motorways, for example) can’t be driven directly. You’ll typically spend at least 5.5 hours actually behind the wheel over the course.
Check the guidance on how Pass Plus training works
How to book
Pass Plus has to be booked through an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) who is specifically registered with the Pass Plus scheme, not every instructor is. If you’re not sure whether an instructor is registered, you can contact the DVSA’s Pass Plus team directly with the instructor’s name and ADI number to check.
Check the guidance on booking Pass Plus
Find driving schools, lessons and instructors
How much does it cost?
There’s no fixed national price for Pass Plus. Fees vary depending on where you live, which instructor or driving school you use, and how long your training ends up taking. It’s worth shopping around and asking a few local instructors for a quote before booking.
Local council discounts
Some local councils offer a discount on Pass Plus fees, so it’s worth checking with your council before you book to see if you’re eligible for any help with the cost.
Check the guidance on local councils offering discounts
Getting your certificate
Once you’ve completed all 6 modules to the required standard, you’ll be able to apply for your Pass Plus certificate. This is the document you’ll need to show insurers if you want to claim any related discount, so it’s worth keeping it somewhere safe once you receive it.
Check the guidance on applying for a Pass Plus certificate
Can it lower your car insurance?
Once you’ve completed Pass Plus and have your certificate, you may be able to get a discount on your car insurance. How much you save depends entirely on the insurer, some offer a decent reduction, others don’t offer a Pass Plus discount at all, so it’s worth checking with a few providers before assuming it’ll pay for itself. If you passed your practical test more than a year ago, it’s also worth double-checking with the insurer that you’ll still qualify for a discount, since some tie it to how recently you passed. If you don’t currently own a car, some insurers will let you put the discount on hold for up to 2 years, but again, this varies, so confirm it with them directly.
Check the guidance on car insurance discounts
Is it worth doing?
Beyond the possible insurance saving, the real value of Pass Plus is the extra hours of guided practice in situations you might otherwise only encounter for the first time on your own, often at the worst possible moment, like your first motorway drive during rush hour, or your first long night drive in the rain. For a new driver still building confidence, that structured exposure with an instructor there to guide you can be worth more than the potential discount alone.
This guide is for general information only. Pass Plus fees, discounts and insurer participation can change, so always check the latest official information on the GOV.UK Pass Plus page before booking.
