Driving Lessons Videos Test Tips and Advice

Hi,

Been reading a few things on this blog - my wife is learning to drive and has started practicing with me. But I have a query with the L plates. Specifically, we have bought two sets of magnetic plates - one with the top and bottom strips, one all-over magnetic - and on the the last three drives, pretty much as soon as she went over 30mph the plate on the bonnet came off and disappeared in the slipstream.

I thought about putting an 'L' sticker on the bonnet and leaving the remaining magnetic one at the back. But I don't want it there when I'm driving alone as a) there wouldn't be one at the back of the car and b) according to ROSPA's website it's illegal for a non-learner to display plates. The latter makes me ask why they're even sold - I doubt people take them off after each practice and buy a new set...

Could you suggest what to do? Ideally I'd like a transparent decal for inside the windscreen on the passenger side, though I've never seen such a thing. Alternatively, does anyone make magnetic L-plates that actually hold? The only places I could tie something on would obscure the numberplate or be below it, too low to be legal?

If it helps, the car is a Renault Megane.

Cheers,
Graham

Graham, I use the all magnetic type L plates for my Ford Fiesta car, and don't have problems with them flying off the bonnet, even at 70mph on the dual carriageways.

I think they are £6.99 from halfords.

Hi,
I am currently learning to drive. I have a provsional license and i am now insured on my own car, i am also driving with someone over 21 who has more than 5 years of driving experience but we can't find any information about driving with additional passengers and wondered what the regulations on this are. I have been learning for 4 years and i am a very confident driver, i just have problems taking my test and get very nervous. Can you confirm if you can take additional passengers in a car on a provisional license??

You can carry passengers in your car as long as their are no restrictions on your insurance (not usually a problem), up to the legal maximum for the car, so a 7 seater MPV would allow you to carry 5 additional passengers excluding your supervising driver, a normal salon car would be 3 passengers in the back.

Hi,

I want to ask a question. I currently have my provisional licence and am taking lessons with a qualified instructor.

My father owns a car (and has been driving for 30 years) and is insured fully comprehensive. With my father's permission and with him being present, am I allowed to practice driving with him in his car? Or do I have to pay for insurance on his name in order to drive his car?

When I first got my provisional licence, the only stipulation from the DVLA was that in order to drive, I had to be accompanied by a driver with a full valid UK licence for more than 3 years. Nothing was stated anywhere about me having to be insured.

Thank you and I hope someone can help me!

Cheers,
Shafiq

You can not drive without insurance, whether it is your dad's car or someone else's. You need to have an insurance policy that allows you to drive, usually most provisional licence holders get themselves added to their parent's car policy which then allows them to drive their parent's car, and this is what you need to do with your dad.

It doesn't matter if he is the one supervising your or not, as long as you are a named driver on his policy you can drive his car provided you are accompanied by someone 21yrs old who has held a licence for 3 years.

Thanks a bunch, saved me making one nasty mistake.

Hi, i have my own car and am in the process of getting it insured. I havent passed my test yet but have a provisional licence. If i insure my car as Third Party, Fire and Theft, am i ok to drive my car aslong as i am supervised by someone over twenty one that has had a licence for more than 3 years?

Thanks

Once you have the car insured by a UK insurance company, you can legally drive the car with a provisional licence as long as you are being supervised as you mentioned. You don't need to wait until you pass the driving test.

Thanks, so i dont have to have full comprehensive insurance in order to drive supervised? I am ok with just Third Party, Fire and Theft as my insurance? This is all very confusing for me!

Thank you for your help.

For more information about insurance for provisional or full driving licence holders read driving without insurance.

Hi,
I'm thinking about driving with my sister, she's been driving long enough and has a full lisense but she has points on her lisense. Does that make a difference?

As long as your supervising driver has not been banned from driving, then it is okay for your sister to accompany you while driving. You still need to make sure you full your obligations as stated in the article.

hi there

im 16 years old and i ahve just sent off for my provisional license and im just wondering when it comes through could i drive my parents car if there in the car with me ??

You can not drive a car until you are 17 in the UK, unless you are 16 and on the higher disability benefit. So unless the above applies to you, then you will have to wait till your 17th birthday.

This is an interesting discussion. I wonder if anyone can advise me in my situation. I am a provisional license holder taking lessons with an ADI. While I've held a valid American license for over 30 years, my residency here requires a UK license.
I've been looking for a way to practice my driving privately in addition to my lessons. My flatmate and her brother both will go with me in their cars but I need to get insurance. So, I have two questions:

Can a provisional driver get insurance that covers them in any car they use to practice?

Will having a license from another country for some time and without violations help to alleviate the sticker shock of insuring me as a provisional/new driver?

Thanks for any information that might be offered.

If i only have a single seated car / vehicle can i drive it on L plates on my own as i cant have some to supervise me in the vehicle at the same time???

Hi,

I want to buy my own car and have looked in to the insurance I need as a provisional license holder however I want to know if the person teaching me needs to be insured on my car as well? (I realise they have to be 21 and 3 yrs with license). For instance if my dad was to give me lessons in my car could he do them without being insured on my car as well?

thanks

Your supervising driver does not need to be insured to drive your car unless they intend to show you how to do things practically such as demonstrate how to perform the left reverse round the corner.

So no your dad does not need to be a named driver of your car. He might still be able to drive your car with 3rd party cover if he has comprehensive insurance of his own.

hi..

my brother is looking for car insurance quotes with a provisional driving license.. when insured my dad will go out with him.. my dad has been driving for 25 years and is insured on his own car.. does he need to be insured on my brothers car to go out with him?

thanks

it doesnt matter.. ive just read your response to the comment before! sorry!

Hi, I Am Currently 16 But 17 In About A Month, I Just Sent Off My Provisional License, Do You Think I'll Be Accepted ??

Your driving licence application will be accepted, but you MUST not drive until you reach the age of 17, otherwise you will be breaking the laws, and that won't be a good start of your driving career.

I have a provisional although my wife has been driving for 9 years she holds a international drivers license, is it still ok to drive with her in the car supervising me or does she need a UK license?

Thanks

hey,
ive just turned 17 and my dad is helping me sort out getting my provisional and is getting me insured on his car but do i need to passed my theory test before i can drive wth him??

Hi
i have my car and insurance and all you need to learn but i was wondering...
can my brother come with me he is 21 and been driving for 4 years overall however he was temporarily banned last year so does the 3 years start again or can he supervise me legally??
please help

Hi, My 17-year-old daughter has a provisional license and is taking lessons with an instructor. She is insured to drive my car. I am currently unable to drive, due to a broken leg, but would like to supervise my daughter in my car. Is this or do I have to be able to take over in case of emergencies?

Andy

Andy, yes you need to be able to drive the car in case of any event, and therefore it doesn't look like you are currenty in a position to supervise your 17 year old daugher on her provisional licence.

Hi, I'll be learning to drive soon and currently hold a provisional licence. I will also be buying my own car soon and would like to use this car whilst I practice my driving under supervision. What i'd like to know is whether these temporary learner driver insurance plans are to real deal or are they a scam?

Hi, I am 16 years old & I have already sent off for my provisional licence. My dad has a car which he is all legal for, He has been driving well over 3 years & he is over the age of 21. So i was wondering if i could drive his car with L plates & my dad sat in the passenger seat.
I would appreciate it if you got back to me, Thanks.

How long does a provisional licence last?

Some answers to recent questions:

You the provisional licence holder needs to be insured to drive a car, either by being a named driver on someone else's insurance (parent, spouse or friend) or by getting your own insurance. Your supervisor does not need to be insured as long as they don't intend to drive the car, but must hold a full licence.

Your provisional licence lasts till your 70th birthday.

You can only be supervised by a full british licence holder, no international permit holders.

Hi

I'm sixteen and am able to drive i march, or so i thought.

A friend of mine told me that I am able to apply for a provisional now and start leaning. Is this true ?

Cheers

Hi, my parent get higher disability and im 16 will i be able to apply for a provisional and learn?

Hi my girlfriend had an international licence for over 5 years. she just had it changed to a full uk licence about a month ago. can she supervise me driving or do i have to wait for her to have held the uk licence for 3 years

thanks
kevin

Anyone supervising a provisional licence holder in the UK while driving needs to have held a full British licence for 3 years for the category of car being driven.

Automatic licence holders can't supervise in a manual car.

hi i am the person who asked about my girlfriend with the internatioal licence changed to a uk licence. thank you for answering my question so quick. but i just wanted to be sure . was your answer no. she can not supervise me.
thanks
kevin

Hi, The answer I am looking for could be interesting and helpful to my friend who is being held back. A friend of mine who has bought a car is insured and put his daughter (22 yrs old) as a 2nd driver as a provisinal driving license holder on his insurance policy.

Can my friend who has held his full uk driving license for more than 15 yrs supervise his daughter?? The answer could be Yes or No as my friend's arrival to settle in the UK is in Oct 2006 and started driving his car in the UK is from Apr 2007 to this date (32 months) although he is a holder of full UK driving license issued to him in 1986 or 87 (as per him)while he was serving in the British Army based in Hongkong.

Subject to Driving Experience in the UK or duration of full UK license he held will permit to supervise his daughter who has already attended more than 20 driving lessons from Qualified Driving Instructor??

Please advise me on his behalf accordingly.

If the licence is a full UK one, then it doesn't matter if it was issued in Hong Kong (which was under British control then), it is valid.

If you have any doubt as to it's validity, then contact the DVLA, as they have the final say, even the police will call them if they are not sure if a document is valid or not.

Remember the provisional licence holder has to be insured to drive a car, and the supervisor has to be a full holder for 3years or more (don't need to be insured unless supervisor also wants to drive the car).

I notice in a previous thread you spoke to a chap with a broken leg and you stated that a supervisor must be able to take over and drive the car if needed..

if as a supervisor you are not insured on the car then broken leg or no broken leg he is still not allowed to drive the car.

are there any clauses for a non insured person (ie the supervisor) to drive the car in any exceptional circumstances?

Graham, my earlier comment about the broken leg was slightly incorrect.
For convinience sake it is a good idea to be able to drive the car in the case of an event, but there is NO LEGAL requirement for this in the road traffic act.

There are no circumstances that allows you to take over from a provisional licence holder and drive their car if you aren't insured.

Most drivers with comprehensive insurance can drive any car within their licence category with the owner's permission under 3rd party only cover.

Hi I am still learning to drive, just bought my own car and am insured with my mum. But can i go out with someone different other than my mum? If they have more than 3 years experience and over 21?

Hi,
Can I ride a 50cc moped on a provisional licence?

hi is there a set amount of time a provisional license holder can drive a week??????

hi,
I have my provisional driving licence and I wonder if I can use a car with foreign number plates. The car has equivalent of mot and I'm insured. Is it ok to drive it as long as i have my "l" plates displayed and a driver with me?

hi, im 21 and it will be my 3rd year driving in a couple of months, can i have a learner on my license now or do i have to wait till the date i passed?

Hi,

I have been reading most of the questions and responses on this blog but unfortunately, the question I want to ask was not answered.
I am 18 years of age with a provisional license, I would like to find out if I can use public car parks to learn to drive, obviously I would be accompanied by my dad.

Thats pretty much all.

Thanks

Julian

You will still need to be insured to cover any 3rd party should you be involved in an incident.

Also remember that others have a right to use the car park as well, and you can be asked to leave if causing too much inconvinience.

Hi,
I have a Provisional License and have passed my theory test with good marks, and I can drive a manual properly and I am very confident on the road. and I am superivsed when I drive.

Bmy question is that I made a mistake twice (which I know I shouldn't have) I was driving on a dual carrige way and all of a sudden I took a wrong turn and ended up on a M1 motorway, I couldn't tur around so I carried on for a long distance untill I saw a service station and turn around and drove back the same distance ot get back on from where I took wrong turn, AND I wanted to ask you the police anyone watch the camera's might taken pic my car with L plates driving on M1 twice in a row!!! Please HELP I am really worried, I hope it's not gonna affect my license!!

M1 driver: And yeh I am inusred with 3rd party fire and theft!!!!

You should be okay, but best wait for at least 2 weeks to see if you get any letters from the police which will normally be sent to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle on the DVLA database.

All cameras on the Motorways are maintained and monitored by the highway agency, so unless the operator thought you were a danger to other traffic, then it is most likely not going to be reported, as it not against the law to display 'L' plates on the motorway but it is illegal for learners (provisional licence holders) to drive there alone or supervised.

hi, i am a provisional holder with third party fire and theft insurance on my car, was just wondering i know as a provisional licence holder you have to be insured on your car and be supervised with a driver who had there licence over 3 years and over the age of 21 but i was just wondering if i can drive with kids in the car and doing the above correct! thank x

Yes you can drive with children in the car, but if you are still learning skills (ie not at driving test standard), kids can be distracting and have a negative effect on lessons.

thank you very much for that infomation :)

hi l an an assylum seeker and l hold an arc card from the home office,is it possible for me to apply for a provisional licence?will be grateful for an advice since i do not want to break the law thank u.

hello. quick question. i have just completed a driving ban so my insurance is very expensive, my girlfriend has a provisional license and i would like to get her insured so that when she passes she can drive the car without having to be added onto the policy at a later date (which would cost even more) so is it possible to insure her as if she has already passed so that when she eventually does pass we dont have to add her on?

hi i am insured on my car under my provisional, and was wondering if my friend who is over 21 and had his licence for 1 and a half years then lost it, then got it back and has now had it for 2 years, is he able to accompany me when i drive my car?

In response Anonymous to who asked:
Can I ride a 50cc moped on a provisional licence?

You must add a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate to your provisional licence before you can take your 50cc out on the road.

HI I am a 22 year old who has had my provisional since i was seventeen. recently my boyfriend rang up his insurance company and they advised that they it was against the law to insure me on his car because i have had my provisional for more than 2 years is this true?

No, it is not against the law to insure a provisional driving licence holder no matter how long they have held it for.

The insurance company can refuse to cover someone if they don't like the risk, so they are not doing anything illegal, but I would question the excuse that was given.

Your boyfriend can always look for quotes from a specialist online car insurance brooker to see if he can get a cheaper policy and cover you as a provisional licence holder.

driving instructor at least you could have shared your opinions with an assylum seeker as you do with others whats up with bieng a ignorant

@assylum seeker. Sorry your question got missed. I don't know what an ARC card is, and I think your question would be best answered by the home office, as they are the ones that place restrictions on what you can or can not do while your assylum application is being processed.

I am currently having driving lessons at the moment. My driving instructor says i am comptentant to go out with my mum. I have been put on the insurance for my mums car. My question is whilst having private practice with her, am i legally allowed to have my 3 year old son in the car with me?
Thanks

Yes you can legally drive with your 3 year old son or any other passengers in the car.

You need to decide if he will not be a distraction, because your attention needs to be fully on the learning process, not just getting from A to B but doing it the way your driving instructor has taught you and dealing with faults as they occur.

Hi,
i have a full motorcylce license and i want to learn to drive, do i need to send off for a provisional license(even though they took that off me once i passed my bike test)or can i use my full bike license. thanks

Your motorcycle licence is your provisional licence for driving cars.

i have a full provisional license and 3rd party fire a theft insurance under provisional ... but my mum only has an automatic license is she allowed to be my "provisional passenger" even though its a manual car ?

You need someone with a Manual full licence to supervise you.

Your mum does not qualify as she is only allowed to drive automatic cars.

Hi,
My boyfriend has a provisional licence.
I am South African, and obtained my full licence there in 1999. I moved to the UK a couple of years ago, and converted my SA licence into a UK licence in June last year.
Am I eligible to supervise my boyfriend when he drives? It is unclear whether having had a full South African licence for 12 years counts, or only the years I have had a full licence in the UK (i.e. less than a year, which would make me ineligible to supervise him).
Hope you can clarify this! Thanks!

Hello, I have had my provisional licence for a very sad 7 years now due to having to give up lessons when I was younger due to money. Have now got back behind the wheel but I am unable to be added to my partners car insurance to get some extra practice in as apparently I have had my licence too long? IS this true, is this lawful? I have never taken a test its purely been down to money as to why I havent yet passed!

No, it is not against the law to insure a provisional driving licence holder no matter how long they have held it for.

The insurance company can refuse to cover someone if they don't like the risk, so they are not doing anything illegal, but I would question the excuse that was given.

You can always look for quotes from a specialist online car insurance brooker to see if he can get a cheaper policy and cover you as a provisional licence holder, but the recent new car insurance laws has meant companies are now being more picky on who they insure.

Hi, can you drive in europe with a provisional licence.

What are we paying when we pay 50 pounds to get a provisional driver licence?

Just for the licence?

(i.g. books and dates to the full driver licence)

Thanks
Pablo

hi what is the youngest age to get a provisional licence and what can you do and drive with it??

Could I just clarify this: can my daughter drive me (to the shops) as a provisional license holder and insured on our car insurance with me in a plaster cast? If she had an 'event' would the insurance cover any damages for example?

You need to ask your insurance company that question. Legally there is nothing stopping that as long as she is insured to drive and you have a valid licence older than 3 years for the type of vehicle being driven.

hi i am a learner driver, i have also brought a car which i have had taxed m.o.d't and im now insured on a learner drivers insurance.... my question is... what would happen to me and or my car if i was to be caught driving unsupervised??

was wondering if i get insured on my car with a uk provisional license on a learner insurance policy would my other half have to b present for me to drive the car or would he have to b the named/main driver or policy holder and add me to his insurance for me to drive the car without him ??

You need to be insured to drive the car. It doesn't matter who sits beside you as long as they have held a full licence for 3yrs and are over 21.

hi there i have been reading this blog - i have been learning to driver for ages and is able to drive. i am wondering 2 things.
1. i am on my mums insurance as a named driver but can anyone who is over 21 n driving for 3years sit next to me?.
2. my mum has broken her leg is it illegal for her to sit next to me while i drive? i am very capabler to drive the car and i will drive there and back, i will not need her to drive can she still sit next to me or can i get in alot of trouble with the police??
thanks for reading this i hope to hear from you soon

1. As long as you are insured to drive the car, anyone over 21 with 3 years full licence for the type of car you are driving can supervise you. An auto licence holder can not supervise in manual car.

2. There is no legal requirement that your supervisor must be able to drive the car, so legally your mum can sit in the front with you with a broken leg, s long as she is fully qualified and icenced to drive the car.

Whether it is a sensible thing to do, is something that both of you have to consider. The police will have no legal ground to stand on just because your mum has a broken leg, as long as she is able to supervise you (not drunk, sleeping).

hi ive just bought my own car, i still hav a provisional licence, if i get provisional insurance can i drive it as long as im supervised. this is all so confusing lol, thanks

As long as you are insured and supervised by an appropriately licensed driver, then you are ok.

Hi
can I drive a single seater 250 quad bike on provisional car licence if i put L plates on it and insure, tax, Mot .
Thanks

Hi if someone had a ban and recently got it back can they supervise a learner driver or do they need to have their licence for 3 years too x

Hi,

I have a car, fully insured and have everything I need to drive legally but was wondering.. My boyfriend was banned for a year, the ban has been lifted now and he has reapplied for his license, I know the ban doesn't count just as long as he's over 21 and been driving for 3 or more years but he has sent off for his license 2 weeks ago, is he allowed to supervise me while he waits or does he have to wait for the card part to arrive? And would it be on the dvla system as having a license yet?

Thanks!
Justine

Hey there
I'm a provisional licence holder and I'm insured on my partners car (fully comp) my partner works alot so we were thinking about my dad possibly teaching me (I have done and failed my test so I am experienced) in our car. Does my dad need to be insured on our car to supervise me he has had his licence for over 5years and is well over 21?

You Dad DOES NOT need to be insured on your car unless he intends to drive it, and is not covered on his own comprehensive insurance policy.

IT IS ALWAYS THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE INSURED, not the supervisor.