Photo: Antoni Shkraba / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
Passed your driving test in Great Britain? You can drive alone straight away, as long as your insurance covers you without supervision. You do not have to wait for your full licence to arrive. This guide covers the licence paperwork, P plates, the New Drivers Act rule that 6 points in 2 years cancels your licence, and the first-year habits the Highway Code’s safety code for new drivers recommends.
Your first-day checklist
- Licence: decide whether the examiner sends your licence off automatically (you hand over your provisional), or you apply yourself.
- Insurance: switch from learner cover to a policy that lets you drive unsupervised before you drive away.
- L plates: take them off when the car is not being driven by a learner.
- P plates: optional. Put them on if they help you.
- Points: remember the 2-year New Drivers Act period starts from the day you pass.
Getting your full licence
At the end of the test the examiner gives you a pass certificate and asks whether you want your full licence sent to you automatically. If you say yes, you hand over your provisional licence.
- If you do not use the automatic option, you must apply for your full licence within 2 years of passing.
- If your full licence has not arrived 3 weeks after you applied, contact DVLA.
- You can drive in the meantime. You do not need to wait for the new licence.
Do you have to display P plates in Great Britain?
No. Green P plates are voluntary in Great Britain, and you can leave them on for as long as you like. Northern Ireland is different: new drivers there must display R plates. See Northern Ireland R plates explained.
The New Drivers Act: 6 points in 2 years
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 6 or more points within 2 years of passing | Your licence is cancelled (revoked). |
| Points from your provisional licence | Unexpired points carry over and count towards the 6. |
| After revocation | Apply and pay for a new provisional licence, then pass the theory and practical tests again. |
Two common offences can do it on their own. Holding and using a phone while driving can mean 6 points and a £200 fine, which for a new driver also means losing your licence, as explained in mobile phones and the law. The minimum speeding penalty is a £100 fine and 3 points, so two speeding offences reach 6. More detail: the New Drivers Act explained.
Motorways, night driving and passengers
Motorways
As a learner you could only drive on a motorway with an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car. Once you pass, you can use motorways alone. Plan your first trip using your first motorway drive after passing.
Night driving
The Highway Code’s safety code for new drivers advises avoiding driving between midnight and 6am unless it is really necessary. See driving at night as a new driver.
Passengers
You are responsible for your passengers’ safety. Do not let them distract you or push you into taking risks. See carrying passengers for the first time.
The safety code for new drivers (Highway Code Annex 8)
- Avoid driving between midnight and 6am unless it is really necessary.
- Do not show off or compete with other drivers.
- Do not drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, and check whether any medicine affects your driving.
- Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt.
- Keep your speed down, especially on bends.
- Build up experience before driving a high-powered or sporty car.
- Consider further training such as Pass Plus, which takes at least 6 hours and may help lower your insurance cost.
Common questions
Can I drive home alone straight after passing?
Yes, if your insurance covers you to drive without supervision. Your learner policy does not.
How long do I have to claim my full licence?
If you did not have it sent automatically, apply within 2 years of passing.
Can I supervise a learner after I pass?
Not yet. A supervisor must be over 21 and have held a full licence for that type of car for 3 years. See supervising a learner driver.
Is my insurance going to be expensive?
New driver premiums are high. See why insurance costs so much after passing, and never use fronting (a parent as main driver of your car), which is illegal.
Do the 6 points rules apply if I passed abroad?
GOV.UK says the new driver rules can also apply after exchanging a foreign licence. Check your own case with DVLA.
Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Great Britain.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “Driving test faults and your result” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Book your driving test” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Using L and P plates” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Penalty points (endorsements): new drivers” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive: practising with family or friends” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Annex 8, safety code for new drivers” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Pass Plus” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Using mobile phones when driving: the law” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Speeding penalties” (gov.uk)