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.