Yes. In life, there are a lot of rules to follow. And many people will tell you that rules are meant to be disregarded and/or ignored. True. However, it is critical to obey and follow the rules when it comes to learner driver insurance. There are a few rules that you should be aware of as a learner driver if you want to obtain the essential experience behind the wheel to help you pass your test. At the same time, if you’re considering supervising a trainee driver, you must follow some precise guidelines. As it stands, this guide has all the information you need on learner driver insurance rules in the UK, as well as driver insurance’s own car rules.
Learner Driver Insurance
Accidents might happen when you’re unfamiliar with how cars and roads work. Because learner drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents, it’s no surprise that learning to drive without insurance is unlawful.
For new drivers learning to drive, you must have the correct insurance cover in place and be conversant with the learner driver insurance rules when you are getting extra practice behind the wheel.
Learner driver insurance, also known as provisional insurance, covers a new driver so that they can drive with a family member or friend. In addition, the learner is essentially adding short-term, fully comprehensive insurance to the car of the person overseeing them. This cover can last anywhere from two hours to ninety days. This gives both the learner and the car owner peace of mind, knowing that in the unfortunate event of an accident, the driver, supervisor, and car are all fully protected.
Learner driver insurance covers provisional drivers for a limited time. It covers both private lessons and driving practice before your driving test. Depending on how long it takes you to pass, you can get learner insurance for as little as one day or as many as five months. If you find yourself in need of a top-up, don’t worry; you can do it at any moment by going online.
Provisional insurance is distinct from the vehicle owner’s existing annual car insurance coverage. As a result, if you have an accident, it will not affect their no-claims discount. Plus, provisional learner insurance isn’t the same as having a black box. So if you’re driving your car, you’ll be able to drive whenever it’s convenient for you.
Why You Need Learner Driver Insurance
When you take driving lessons from a professional driving school, it usually includes insurance, as well as all taxes and gasoline costs.
Before taking your test, the DVSA recommends that you obtain roughly 47 hours of expert instruction. However, driving courses, on the other hand, may not be sufficient to prepare you. This is why the DVSA suggests that trainees acquire roughly 20 hours of private practice in addition to their lessons. This is to make sure they can get familiar with driving outside of the lesson or training.
To sum it up, you’ll need to arrange your own car insurance as a learner driver if you’re driving privately. It is prohibited for any driver, even those with a provisional license, to drive without insurance. You don’t want to add to the expense of learning to drive by paying a big fine. But, more importantly, you don’t want to accrue points on a license that you haven’t yet obtained.
Learner Driver Insurance Rules UK
Typically, it is an exciting time if you are about to take to the road, maybe after you just acquired your provisional license. Your focus will be on learning the rules of the road as a learner driver. However, there is also a set of learner driver insurance rules that everyone learning to drive must observe before and throughout private lessons to keep themselves and other drivers safe. You can see them in detail below.
Getting Ready for the Road
Before purchasing learner driver insurance or provisional driver insurance, you need to be aware of a few handy things.
The Provisional License
You should already have a provisional driving license. When you’re 15 years and 9 months old, you are eligible to apply for a provisional driver’s license. And with that in place, you can start driving on your 17th birthday. However, you can start learning to drive at 16 if you receive the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). A provisional license allows you to drive everywhere, except on highways, as long as you’re accompanied by a qualified person and the car you’re driving has ‘L’ plates.
Driving Eyesight Rules
Your eyesight must meet the minimum standard for driving. You should be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away. This was made after September 2001 under the legal vision requirement. Drivers must also have an adequate field of vision and a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale. If necessary, use glasses or contact lenses to drive safely, using both eyes together or one eye only if the driver only has sight in one eye.
In addition, before learning to drive, provisional license holders should consult an optometrist to check that their eyesight satisfies the minimum standards.
Prepare for Driving Practice
Now you have a provisional license (policy) in place. There are a few more learner driver insurance rules that you will need to take note of and follow.
Learner Plates
The car must show L-plates front and rear. That is, you must display an L plate on the front and rear of your car so that it may be visible. These plates must have a red L on a white background and be a specific size; if they aren’t, you could face up to six penalty points, which would be a bad start to your driving career.
Likewise, you can also display green ‘probationary’ ‘P’ plates to demonstrate that you’ve recently passed your driving test. However, this isn’t required by law. Some freshly certified drivers do this to demonstrate their significant success, while others prefer to use them to request patience from other motorists. You are free to leave them in your car for as long as you choose.
Also,
- The car you drive must be in safe and legal condition. Put another way, before you drive any car, you must make sure that it’s roadworthy, as well as properly insured and taxed
- You must practice in the vehicle for which you have an insurance policy. You can’t just get into any vehicle. If you’re practicing in your car, you’ll need your learner driver’s insurance. Make sure you have coverage as a learner driver if you’re learning in someone else’s car.
- You should be supervised by a qualified driver who is at least 21 years old. And also has at least three years of driving experience when practicing. However, some insurance companies require that the person monitoring you be above 25 years old. Therefore, check the policy’s terms and conditions carefully; failing to do so could result in an infinite fine, a driving ban, and up to eight penalty points for driving without insurance.
Who Can Supervise a Learner Driver?
You can learn to drive with a professional driving instructor for a fee. Or with friends and relatives who meet certain requirements. This requirement includes being over 21 and having held a full UK driving license for at least three years. While supervising you, it is a crime for your friend or family member to use a cell phone. In addition, when your supervisor is overseeing you, they must be in a fit state to drive the car. If they believe it is risky for you to continue driving while you are both on the road, they should be able to take charge.
Your supervisor, however:
- Must be completely sober.
- If they need their glasses or contact lenses to drive, they should bring them with them.
- Must be physically fit to drive. (e.g., if they have a cast on their arm or leg, they will be unable to supervise you.)
- Should not be taking any medications that could impair their driving ability (e.g. those that cause drowsiness)
- They must not use their phones when they are supervising them.
NOTE: If you drive without proper supervision, you might be fined up to £1,000 and receive up to 6 penalty points on your provisional license.
While driving, you can have additional passengers with you. You can take as many people as your car can legally hold, so you’re free to take your friends for a ride as long as your supervisor is in the front seat with you.
Learner Drivers Insurance Restrictions
There are several limitations to learner-driving insurance. If you don’t follow these rules, it may lead to the cancellation of your insurance. If you don’t own a car, you can only drive between 6 a.m. and midnight. Displaying L plates on both the front and back of the vehicle is a must. You must be accompanied by a competent driver with a full UK driving license for at least three years. The vehicle must be in good working order and safe to drive.
When and Where Can You Drive While Learning?
Night Driving
Driving at night is legal as long as you have the proper insurance and supervision.
Even though nighttime driving presents additional problems, it is not advisable to practice after dark. This is because :
- Other road users’ vision is reduced.
- Road markings are less visible.
- It’s more difficult to judge distance and speed.
You should be aware that certain learner driver insurance policies will not cover you if you decide to drive after a certain period has passed. Before driving at night, check with your insurance company.
Driving on the Highway
Learner drivers do not have the privilege to drive on UK highways until 2018. However, in June 2018, the rule was altered to allow pupils to attend highway driving instruction. To drive on the highway, you must have a car with dual controls and be accompanied by a qualified driving instructor.
Driving on the highway isn’t part of the test. Your instructor will determine when you’re ready or whether to take you on the highway at all if you opt for highway instruction.
After Passing the Practical Test
The cover automatically stops when you pass your test. After passing your practical driving exam, you can apply for your full driver’s license, which should arrive within three weeks.
You can also choose to keep your green P plates on display for as long as you like to demonstrate that you’ve recently completed your test.
Once you’ve passed your test, your learner driver insurance will no longer cover you. Thus, you’ll need to get new coverage. Insurers perceive new and young drivers as high-risk’ customers. And this is why they frequently receive exorbitant insurance quotes, which isn’t ideal when you’re just starting out.
If you’re looking for a less expensive solution, black box insurance might be the way to go. It’s intended for drivers who wish to be recognized for their safe driving practices, with safe drivers receiving premium savings. You’ll also receive feedback and suggestions about how to improve your driving skills.
Learner Driver Insurance Own Car Rules
Learner drivers can now get experience by purchasing short-term car insurance in their name and driving their own car. If you’ve already purchased your first car, this is a terrific way to get your short-term insurance policy in place while you build driving experience in between courses.
Sure, why not? Black Box Insurance allows learners to have their insurance on their automobiles. This will cover them both before and after their test. The coverage is comprehensive, covering trainees as they learn, take the test (if they choose to use their vehicle), and, of course, after they pass!
If you’re a learner driver with your car, comprehensive black box insurance allows you to track and improve your driving skills using an insurer’s smart app. This is useful while you’re learning to see where you’re doing well and where you need to improve. At the same time, it’s also necessary for maintaining and developing driving skills once you have your full license.
You can use the box to verify that you’re a safe driver. You can do this by recording your acceleration, braking, turning, speed, and phone usage. At the same time, you can start collecting your No Claims Discount sooner if you insure and drive your car while learning. Furthermore, there are no curfews, so you can drive at any time of day or night.
FAQs
Does the person sitting next to a learner driver have to be insured?
Do I need insurance to supervise a learner driver? The learner driver must be insured to drive the vehicle they intend to practice in. … If they are practicing in someone else’s car, such as a family or friend’s car, they may be insured to drive the vehicle on the owner’s car insurance.
Can you drive with L plates if not a learner UK?
Driving with L plates when not a learner
it is not illegal to keep them on, but you could get pulled over by the police who may ask you to remove them. If you’re a new driver, you may use the green probationary P plates instead to let other road users that you’ve just passed your test.
Can learner drivers get speeding tickets?
The law states that the driver of any vehicle is liable for breaching traffic laws, even if they are a learner.
What happens if you get caught driving with a learners license?
It is against the law for learner drivers to drive a vehicle unless accompanied by someone with a full driving license and who has been on the road for at least two years. At the moment, if found, unaccompanied learner permit drivers will pick up two penalty points and a fixed fine.
