Can You TikTok Your Way to Test Success?

All you need to do is a quick scroll – or perhaps a doomscroll – through TikTok or YouTube to discover a mass of videos promoting quick fire tips to mastering any driving skill. From parallel-parking demonstrations to driving-test walkthroughs, if you need it, you got it.

You could be forgiven for thinking then that such free advice is a great way to learn as the cost of learning to drive is not ‘insubstantial’. For instance, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s October 2025 survey revealed that half of responding driving instructors charged £36–£40 an hour – while almost three in ten charged £41 or more.

Growing trend

Using online video as a source of info is a genuine trend as shown in a recent BBC report that explored how learners are using online videos to support their lessons. Their experiences reveal why these resources can be valuable – so long as you choose the right content from the right provider.

So, if you’re looking to TikTok your way to a driving licence, it’s first important to understand the benefits and the risks:

The pros: extra learning without the fee

Make more of your lessons

Think of a good video as a great way to absorb a technique or skill that your instructor has already explained to you. It can help drive home what is needed or better still, help you revisit the topic and potentially identify what confuses you so you can ask your instructor about it during your next lesson.

“I would learn all the content with my instructor but then I was able to revisit content and then if there was something in a YouTube video that I didn’t know, that I didn’t fully understand, I was able to go back to my instructor and ask him.”

Learner Megan Kielthy to the BBC

Pause & rewind

Even with the best instructor in the world, lessons can pack in a ton of information, all while you’re driving, steering and monitoring traffic. Checking out a video later gives you the breathing space to completely focus on the explanation alone, plus you can replay the clip as often as necessary.

“I was practicing how to do an emergency stop and I was watching videos on how to do that and it really helped to see like where to put my foot on the clutch and stuff like that.”

Learner Betsi Seward to the BBC

Expertise for free

While you need to keep your wits about you – see below – there is plenty of worthwhile driving advice on social media. And the data backs it up. For instance, in a 2025 review, Auto Trader judged 68% of the driving-tip videos it examined helpful, with many produced by instructors.

The cons: what a video cannot give you

Accuracy not guaranteed

Always remember an authoritative voice, convincing graphics and thousands of likes does not mean the influencer’s advice is actually correct. There are numerous anecdotal examples of learners being given shoddy or just plain dangerous advice from supposed experts.

For instance, according to the BBC report, Betsi says she’s seen accounts where mock tests featuring supposed routes are misleading. While clearly created by AI, she says, “if you’re just learning to drive and you haven’t had a few lessons, you wouldn’t know that … if you take that information into the car with you … then it’s quite dangerous actually and quite scary.”

Feedback first

While a video can explain, say, mirror checks, it can’t tell whether you’ve actually understood what you saw in the mirror or if you acted on it appropriately. Now compare that to a living, breathing instructor who observes your decisions, identifies what needs work and adjusts the lesson to you.

They can tell if you’ve nailed a technique in real-world traffic or have understood the basic principle but need more training. Those kinds of insights are gold dust – and are worth every penny.

Be selective

To ensure you’re getting the best quality information from videos:

Stick to official resources from organisations such as DVSA or content from identifiable, qualified Approved Driving Instructors whose credentials can be checked.
Look for current guidance relevant to where you are learning – and do ask your own instructor to recommend useful channels.
Use videos to prepare, revisit and ask better questions. Be wary of anyone promising shortcuts or presenting attention-grabbing tricks without explaining the safety considerations.

Get the balance right

As Mark Born, Head of Training at the AA Driving School told the BBC: “Good quality videos can help learners prepare for a lesson, revisit something they have already been taught or better understand a particular manoeuvre.”

However, he explains, there is no guarantee that everything posted online is accurate, current or produced by someone qualified to give driving advice, particularly with the growth of AI-generated content. “That is why it is important that learners know they are getting information from a trusted source,” says Mark.

Our rule of thumb? TikTok and YouTube can be highly useful companions to driving lessons – but always remember that nothing can replace a great instructor.

Know Your Code

Main image by ChatGPT