Driving Alone on a Provisional Licence: What You Need to Know

The short and simple answer is no. In the UK, it is illegal for provisional licence holders to drive alone. A supervising driver must always be present in the front passenger seat. If you're not adhering to this rule, then you're driving illegally.

These rules and restrictions are in place to help keep you and other road users safe. As a learner driver, you're still building on your knowledge, experience, and confidence. Without the guidance of an experienced driver or an instructor to lean on, you may find it difficult to handle unexpected situations on the road.

Having a provisional licence allows learner drivers to practice driving on the road before their driving test. However, there are strict rules that learner drivers must follow when driving on a provisional licence. These are designed to keep you, your passengers and other road users safe while you gain experience. 

As a provisional licence holder, you cannot:

• Drive without supervision: Until you pass your test, all learners must drive with a qualified driver who meets all the right criteria. At no point are learner drivers permitted to drive alone.
• Drive on motorways unless with an approved driving instructor in a vehicle with dual controls: Motorway driving is considered a significant factor in learning to drive and in becoming competent and confident behind the wheel. As road conditions can change rapidly on a motorway, learner drivers are only permitted to drive on motorways when accompanied by a DVSA-approved driving instructor. The car must also have dual controls so the instructor can step in if needed. Learners are not allowed to practise motorway driving with just a friend or family member supervising.

As a provisional driving licence holder, you must:

• Always display L plates: Learner drivers need to display L plates clearly on both the front and rear of their cars. This signals to other road users that you're gaining driving experience and might need more time to make decisions, require extra space for manoeuvres, and that other drivers might need to allow more time for you to move.
• Adhere to your learner driver's insurance conditions: Whenever you're behind the wheel, you must be covered by valid insurance. You could have learner driver insurance or be on a parent's policy. Whatever the policy type, it's essential to follow the conditions of that cover; otherwise, your insurer could refuse a claim or, in serious cases, cancel or void your policy altogether.
• Follow all standard road rules: Learners are subject to the same rules as fully licenced drivers under the Highway Code.

To be legal and ensure safety on the road, a supervising driver must meet specific criteria. The law is clear — not everyone can take on this role, and learners must always be properly supervised.

The supervising driver must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Hold a full driving licence for at least three years
• Must always sit in the front passenger seat
• Remain alert and responsible
• Be sober and fit to drive

How you choose to learn to drive is up to you; however, under no circumstances can a provisional licence holder drive alone.

Remember, driving alone with a provisional licence is illegal. This means you're not only putting yourself and other road users at risk, but if caught, you could face a range of legal consequences that will have both long and short-term effects. 

Here are the possible consequences you could face:

• An unlimited fine
• Up to six penalty points on your licence
• Your learner's insurance policy may be invalidated
• Your vehicle could be seized

If you’re caught driving alone on a provisional licence, there are also long-term effects that could follow you well beyond the initial punishment:

• Penalty points are carried over to your full licence once you pass your test
• Reaching six or more points within two years of passing will result in your licence being revoked
• A driving ban, particularly if you were also caught driving without insurance, can seriously delay your ability to get a full licence
• Insurance premiums are likely to rise significantly with this offence on your record

With these risks in mind, both immediate and long-term, driving alone with just a provisional licence simply isn’t worth it.

Yes. Even if you're driving with a provisional licence, you'll still need to have the correct insurance in place. Learner drivers can either be added to a parent's or guardian's insurance policy or take out dedicated learner driver insurance.

Your policy will cover you during your supervised practice sessions; however, if you're having driving lessons with an instructor, you won't need to worry about having an insurance policy in place to drive their vehicle.