Legal Requirements
Rules for learner drivers
Before you start
to drive, you must:
1: hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland
2: make sure that any vehicle you drive is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured
It is important
to learn safe driving practice from the beginning of your driving career because bad habits are hard to break.
It
is unlikely that anyone except an approved driving instructor (ADI) would have the experience, knowledge and training to teach
you properly. Learning safe driving habits from the start will improve the safety of yourself and other road users.
If you want to practise your driving with an accompanying driver, the accompanying driver must be over the age of 21
and must have held (and still hold) a full licence, in the relevant vehicle category, for three years.
As a learner
driver you must display 'L' plates ('L' or 'D' plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on the front
and rear of the vehicle you are driving.
Minimum age you can take a test
You can take your
theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid.
Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional
licence can become valid is your 17th birthday, however you can apply for the licence up to three months before your 17th
birthday.
So, if you apply for your provisional licence before you are 17 you will still have to wait until your
birthday before you can take your theory test.
For more information about applying for a provisional licence,
please phone me on 07913 551489 or email me on kevin@solent-driving.com.
Disability living allowance
If you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher
rate your provisional licence will come into effect when you are 16, but you can apply for it within three months of your
16th birthday.