The current age for a provisional licence is 17, and not changing to 18 or 21, you can still apply for a provisional driving licence at any post office or online at the DSA website. There is no truth in rumours that the provisional driving age will be changing to 18 in April 2008, neither is it true that after April 2008 you will not be allowed to take the UK driving test until you are aged 18 or 21.
While there has been a lot of discussion in the press about the driving age for obtaining a provisional driving licence being raised, the government has not even had a consultation in parliarment, and it is definately not law yet, neither is there any law being passed in parliament to change the provisional licence or driving test age to 18 or 21!
If you are 17 and thinking of getting a provisional driving licence, then why not go to the nearest post office and get you application form and start filling it in. If you have a new digital passport, you are able to apply for the provisional licence from the comfort of your home.
Obtaining your licence at the driving age of 17 means you can start early in obtaining a life skill that will be very helpful in your later years even if you don't need to drive now. Your provisional licence could be the start of new doors opening up in your life, and remember that the cost of living is going up not down, so the cost of learning to drive will not come down but up. My BSM driving lessons cost me £15 per hour in London in the year 1991, that price has almost doubled in 2008!
Get your provisional licence today!
Revoking Provisional Licence
As a provisional licence holder you should know that if you get more than 12 points on your licence within a 3 year period, then your provisional licence will be revoked, and you will not be able to learn to drive for 6 months.
If you are disqualified a second time within 3 years of your first provisional licence ban then your licence is revoked for 12 months.
If you get a third provisional licence ban, then you will be prevented from driving for 2 years.
While you might say I won't go that far, I wonder why a provisional driving licence holder should get points on their licence in the first place. You shouldn't be driving unsupervised, therefore you shouldn't get caught speeding, as your accompanying driver should warn you when you are breaking the speed limit.
You shouldn't be running red lights, as again your supervising driver should be keeping a close eye on you, neither will a provisional driver be driving a car without insurance!
Abide by the law, and keep that provisional licence clean
If you are disqualified a second time within 3 years of your first provisional licence ban then your licence is revoked for 12 months.
If you get a third provisional licence ban, then you will be prevented from driving for 2 years.
While you might say I won't go that far, I wonder why a provisional driving licence holder should get points on their licence in the first place. You shouldn't be driving unsupervised, therefore you shouldn't get caught speeding, as your accompanying driver should warn you when you are breaking the speed limit.
You shouldn't be running red lights, as again your supervising driver should be keeping a close eye on you, neither will a provisional driver be driving a car without insurance!
Abide by the law, and keep that provisional licence clean
Under 17 Provisional Licence not needed on private land
Under 17 driving courses or experiences
You don't need a provisional driving licence to drive a car on private land. Many under 17's want to start early on their road to passing the UK driving test, so these driving experience days or courses offer the perfect chance to learn to drive while under the official driving age.
All these under 17 driving courses and usually run on private farm land or estates with permission from the land owner, and some are very successful to the extent that proper roads with the official highway code signs and markings are built to provide a real driving experience for these teenagers. If you know of someone under 17 years age to obtain a provisional licence, but are interested in getting a head start learning to drive a car in the UK, then this could be something that you should consider buying for them.
While booking these under 17 driving experiences that don't require a provisional driving licence, it is important to check what type of insurance is provided for the participants, as while accidents are rare with the highly trained driving instructors used for these courses, they still do happen, and you need to be prepared.
I hope your under 17 year old does enjoy the driving experience and will go on to obtain a provisional licence at 17 and pass the driving test.
Under 17 driving on supermarket car parks
Are you under 17 years and would like to gain some driving experience before you can obtain a provisional licence, then the idea of learning to drive in a private supermarket car park might have crossed your mind, after all you'll be driving as an under 17 year old on private property. You need to know that a driving licence and insurance is required to drive legally in a supermarket car park.
Provisional Licence and Passengers
There are no restrictions on the number of passengers a provisional licence holder can carry in a car within the normal limits that would be expected for that category of car.
What you do need to ensure as a provisional licence holder is that the car is insured, thus covering the passengers, and that you are being supervised by a full british licence holder. If you do carry passengers make sure there are no conditions on your insurance restricting you carrying passengers, that the car is fully road worthy and has a current MOT certificate.
Any responsible provisional licence holder will always abide by the terms of the licence, not drink and drive, drive without insurance, or drive unsupervised or without displaying 'L' plates. Speeding is also something a provisional licence holder should avoid, as these could cause you to end up with penalty points on your provisional licence.
What you do need to ensure as a provisional licence holder is that the car is insured, thus covering the passengers, and that you are being supervised by a full british licence holder. If you do carry passengers make sure there are no conditions on your insurance restricting you carrying passengers, that the car is fully road worthy and has a current MOT certificate.
Any responsible provisional licence holder will always abide by the terms of the licence, not drink and drive, drive without insurance, or drive unsupervised or without displaying 'L' plates. Speeding is also something a provisional licence holder should avoid, as these could cause you to end up with penalty points on your provisional licence.
Terms of Provisional Licence
As a provisional licence holder you must fully understand the terms and conditions governing the use of your provisional driving license while learning to drive and preparing for the UK driving test.
Conditions of Provisional Licence in the UK
1. A provisional licence holder, can not drive a car unsupervised. It is a condition of your licence that you must be supervised by a full British licence holder who is over 21 and has held their licence for at least 3 years or more. Many provisional licence holders are caught every day in the UK driving unsupervised, resulting in fines, points on licence. and prosecution. An exception to this rule is a foreign licence holder (international driving permit) within the first 12 months of their arriving in the UK.
2. You must display 'L' plates when driving a car in the UK if you are a provisional licence holder. Another condition of being a learner driver (provisional licence holder) is you MUST display regulation sized 'L' plates when driving a car, the 'L' plates must be clearly visible from both the front and rear of the car you are driving, and not obstruct your view.
3. You need insurance to drive the car you are learning in. If you are learning to drive with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or (PDI), they will usually have the necessary insurance to cover provisional licence holders, but make sure that your instructor's registration badge has not expired, and if in doubt you should ask for proof that you are covered. It is YOUR responsibility as a driver to know that the car is insured, as in the case of an accident, the 3rd party will pursue you in the first instance as the one in charge of the car, though your supervisor or instructor could be seen as an accomplice.
4. As a provisional licence holder, your car must be road worthy while driving it on pubic roads, this does not just mean having a current MOT, but includes all tyres being legal, the lights being in good working order, and the exhaust system performing properly, you can expect the police to stop any car they suspect is not roadworthy.
Make sure you are fully aware of rules, as Ignorance is no excuse in the sight of the law, so check the conditions of your provisional licence and abide by them.
Conditions of Provisional Licence in the UK
1. A provisional licence holder, can not drive a car unsupervised. It is a condition of your licence that you must be supervised by a full British licence holder who is over 21 and has held their licence for at least 3 years or more. Many provisional licence holders are caught every day in the UK driving unsupervised, resulting in fines, points on licence. and prosecution. An exception to this rule is a foreign licence holder (international driving permit) within the first 12 months of their arriving in the UK.
2. You must display 'L' plates when driving a car in the UK if you are a provisional licence holder. Another condition of being a learner driver (provisional licence holder) is you MUST display regulation sized 'L' plates when driving a car, the 'L' plates must be clearly visible from both the front and rear of the car you are driving, and not obstruct your view.
3. You need insurance to drive the car you are learning in. If you are learning to drive with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or (PDI), they will usually have the necessary insurance to cover provisional licence holders, but make sure that your instructor's registration badge has not expired, and if in doubt you should ask for proof that you are covered. It is YOUR responsibility as a driver to know that the car is insured, as in the case of an accident, the 3rd party will pursue you in the first instance as the one in charge of the car, though your supervisor or instructor could be seen as an accomplice.
4. As a provisional licence holder, your car must be road worthy while driving it on pubic roads, this does not just mean having a current MOT, but includes all tyres being legal, the lights being in good working order, and the exhaust system performing properly, you can expect the police to stop any car they suspect is not roadworthy.
Make sure you are fully aware of rules, as Ignorance is no excuse in the sight of the law, so check the conditions of your provisional licence and abide by them.
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