Learning to Drive with Autism, ADHD or Learning Difficulties in Birmingham

What the DVLA and DVSA rules actually say, how lessons can be shaped around the way you learn, and how to find an instructor who fits.

Checked 19 September 2026. Every rule on this page links to the gov.uk page it comes from. Rules do change, so give the link a quick look before you book anything.

Plenty of learners find driving a lot to take in at first: mirrors, pedals, other traffic, directions and an instructor talking, all at once. For some autistic learners and people with ADHD, dyspraxia or dyslexia, the load can feel heavier, or the way lessons are usually taught just does not suit how they learn. That can be changed. This guide covers the official rules first, then how lessons can be set up to work for you.

Do you need to tell DVLA about autism or ADHD?

This is the question most people ask first, and the gov.uk answer is more relaxed than many expect.

Autism. gov.uk's autism spectrum disorder and driving page says you must tell DVLA if you have autism and it affects your ability to drive safely. If your driving is not affected, you do not need to tell them, and you can ask your doctor if you are unsure. For learners with a provisional licence, it says you do not usually need to tell DVLA, because your driving test will assess your ability to drive safely. Tell DVLA (form A1) if you have not taken your test yet and your doctor has told you that your autism affects your ability to drive safely.

ADHD. The ADHD and driving page follows the same pattern, and adds medication: you must tell DVLA if your ADHD or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely. Learners do not usually need to tell DVLA, unless your doctor has told you that your ADHD or medication affects your ability to drive safely.

Learning disabilities and learning difficulties. gov.uk's learning disabilities and driving page says you must tell DVLA if you have a learning disability that affects your ability to drive safely. It also says you do not need to tell DVLA if you have learning difficulties, giving dyslexia as an example.

All three pages say you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that affects your ability to drive safely. If you are not sure where you stand, ask your GP or specialist. You can check other conditions on the health conditions and driving list.

Help with the theory test

gov.uk's theory test support page says you should tell DVSA when you book if you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.

If you have reading difficulties, you can ask to hear the test through headphones, in English or Welsh, as many times as you need. If you send proof of your reading difficulties, you can also get:

• extra time for the multiple-choice questions
• someone to read what is on the screen and record your answers
• someone to reword the questions (they cannot change the technical words, and you still answer each question yourself)

The proof can be an email, letter or report from a teacher or other educational professional, a doctor or medical professional, an occupational therapist, or an online dyslexia screening product. You will be told how to send it when you book.

For other disabilities or health conditions, gov.uk says to contact DVSA before you book to discuss what you need. The contact listed is theorycustomerservices@dvsa.gov.uk or 0300 200 1122 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm).

One more thing: gov.uk's theory test booking page says you can take the theory test from your 16th birthday, a year early, if you get or have applied for the higher weekly rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Adjustments on the practical driving test

gov.uk's driving test adjustments page says you should tell DVSA when you book your driving test if you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty. You still have to drive to the same standard to pass, but the examiner can make adjustments. The page says:

• If you have learning difficulties, the examiner will make adjustments for the independent driving part of the test. They might ask if you would prefer to follow traffic signs instead of directions from a sat nav.
• If you have a disability, you will have time with the examiner at the start to talk about it, and they might agree to give you more time for instructions and directions.
• If you have reading difficulties, you can write down the number plate in the eyesight check instead of reading it out loud.

How lessons can be adapted

Every learner is different, and the best starting point is a first lesson where you and your instructor talk about what helps and what gets in the way. These are approaches instructors and learners commonly use.

• Shorter lessons, or planned breaks. If concentration drops after 45 minutes, a two-hour lesson may not be the best value. Some learners do better with regular shorter lessons, others with longer ones that include a proper break.
• The same time and pick-up each week. A predictable routine can take away a lot of stress before the lesson even starts.
• Familiar routes first. Practising on the same quiet roads until a skill feels automatic, then moving to new areas one step at a time.
• A plan before you move. Knowing what the lesson will cover, and roughly where you are going, means fewer surprises.
• Clear, step-by-step instructions. One instruction at a time, said the same way each time, with the literal meaning. “Take the second road on the left” is easier to act on than a vague hint.
• Diagrams and written notes. Drawing a roundabout or a manoeuvre, and a short written summary after each lesson, gives you something to go back over at your own pace.
• Breaking skills into small pieces. Clutch control on its own, then with steering, then at a junction, before putting it all together.
• Agreeing how feedback is given. Some people want direct feedback straight away; others prefer to pull over and talk it through. Say which works for you.

If sensory things bother you, such as the radio, air freshener, a scratchy seat cover or bright sun, mention them. Most are easy to change.

Automatic or manual?

An automatic car takes away the clutch and gears, so there are fewer things to do at once. For some learners that frees up attention for the road, junctions and other traffic. The trade-off is the licence: gov.uk's driving licence categories page says a category B auto licence lets you drive a car, but only an automatic one. Our guide to manual vs automatic driving lessons goes through the pros and cons in more detail.

Choosing an instructor

Check the basics first. gov.uk's taking driving lessons page says anyone you pay to teach you must be an approved driving instructor (green badge) or a trainee (pink badge). Our checklist for finding a good driving instructor covers the rest. Then ask:

• Have you taught learners with autism, ADHD or learning difficulties before? Ask how they changed their teaching for them.
• How do you explain new skills? Listen for words like step by step, diagrams, practice while parked.
• What happens if I have a bad day? A patient instructor will slow things down or change the plan rather than push on.
• Can we keep a regular slot? If routine matters to you, ask up front.
• Can I try a single lesson first? How you feel after one lesson tells you a lot.

It is fine to change instructor if it does not feel right. You are the one paying, and feeling safe and understood makes learning much easier.

Driving lessons in Birmingham with Craig Miller

Craig Miller teaches on PassReady. On his profile he describes himself in his own words as a “Patient BSL level 3 instructor. 17 years experience with special needs”.

He teaches in both an automatic and a manual car, and offers one and two hour lessons, so you can choose what suits you. Prices and areas were taken from his page on 19 September 2026, and his page always shows the current ones.

For parents and carers: practising between lessons

Extra practice with family can help skills stick, and gov.uk says there is no minimum number of lessons or practice hours. How many you need depends on how quickly you learn. The rules for supervising are on gov.uk's practising with family or friends page. The person supervising, if you are not paying them, must:

• be over 21
• be qualified to drive the type of car you are learning in (a manual licence to supervise in a manual car)
• have had their full licence for 3 years

They must not use a mobile phone while supervising, and you cannot drive on a motorway when practising with family or friends. You also need insurance that covers you as a learner in that car.

A few things that often help: ask the instructor what to practise so you are both working on the same thing, start on roads the learner already knows, keep instructions in the same words the instructor uses, and keep sessions short enough to end on a good note. Our guide to private practice for learner drivers has more, and how many driving lessons it takes to pass has the usual numbers.

Common questions

Do I need to tell DVLA I am autistic before I start learning?

Not usually. gov.uk says learners do not usually need to tell DVLA about autism, because the driving test will assess whether you drive safely. You need to tell DVLA if your doctor has told you that your autism affects your ability to drive safely.

Do I need to tell DVLA about ADHD or ADHD medication?

Only if your ADHD or your medication affects your ability to drive safely. gov.uk says learners do not usually need to tell DVLA unless their doctor has said it does. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Can I get extra time on the theory test?

If you have reading difficulties and send proof (for example from a teacher, doctor, occupational therapist or an online dyslexia screening product), gov.uk says you can get extra time for the multiple-choice questions, or someone to read the screen or reword the questions. For other conditions, contact DVSA before you book to discuss support.

Can the driving test be adjusted for learning difficulties?

Yes. Tell DVSA when you book. gov.uk says the examiner will make adjustments for the independent driving part of the test, and might ask if you would prefer to follow traffic signs instead of a sat nav. You still drive to the same standard to pass.

Is there a driving instructor in Birmingham with special needs experience?

Craig Miller is a DVSA approved instructor covering Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Redditch and Tamworth, who describes himself as having “17 years experience with special needs”. He teaches automatic and manual, from £37 an hour, and you can see his free times on his PassReady page.