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In Queensland, Australia, learner drivers under 25 must record their practice in a logbook and have it approved before they can sit the practical driving test. A feature of particular interest to instructors and families is “triple time”, which credits lessons with an accredited driver trainer at three times their actual length, up to a limit. This article summarises three Queensland Government pages: “Learner logbook”, “Learner logbook app: information for supervisors” and “Steps from a learner to a provisional licence”. It concerns Queensland only. New South Wales has a different system, described in the site’s article on the NSW learner log book. Rules can change, so the Queensland Government pages should be checked before relying on this summary. It is general information.

Who must complete a logbook and how many hours

The Queensland Government says learner drivers under 25 must record at least 100 hours of supervised driving on Australian roads, and at least 10 of those hours must be night hours, between sunset and sunrise. Learners aged 25 or over are not required to complete a logbook. The government says the 25-and-over group may complete it voluntarily. The Steps page adds that the logbook requirement applies to drivers under 25 only.

What each entry must contain

The logbook can be kept on the Queensland Learner Logbook app, on paper from a transport and motoring service centre, or using a combination. Each trip entry must include the date, start and finish times, total driving minutes, whether it was day or night, locations, the vehicle registration, odometer readings, the supervisor’s name and contact details, and whether the supervisor is an accredited driver trainer. Each trip must be signed or approved by the supervisor. On the app, supervisors review trip details sent by email, approve or reject them using links and give reasons when rejecting so the learner can resubmit corrections. The page does not state a minimum length for a trip.

How triple time works

The supervisors page says every hour of driving with an accredited driver trainer counts as three hours in the logbook, up to a maximum of 10 actual hours, or 30 logbook hours. The learner logbook page says that if a trip with a driver trainer takes place at night, it can be counted either as triple time or as night hours, not both. Its example is a trip from 7pm to 8pm, which can count as three hours of daytime driving or as one hour of night driving. Because the 10 night hours are a separate requirement, a learner has to decide how to use each night lesson. The supervisors page also says that driver trainers need students to identify them correctly, together with their driving school name, for triple time to be credited.

For families comparing lesson packages, the practical effect is limited by the cap: no more than 10 hours of lessons can earn the multiple. The additional hours still need to come from supervised practice with a parent or other supervisor. The site’s guide to comparing real lesson costs covers how to weigh package prices.

Submitting the logbook

Learners must submit the logbook at least 12 business days before the driving test and cannot take the test until it has been approved. The Steps page says submission can be through the Queensland Learner Logbook app or by Australia Post, and that processing takes at least 12 business days. The logbook exemption is available only in limited circumstances, and the page says approved exemption holders must hold their learner licence for at least two years.

Where the logbook fits in the wider process

According to the Steps page, a driver must be 17 or older to obtain a P1 licence and must have held a learner licence for at least one year within the last five years before applying. A hazard perception test, mandatory from 1 July 2021, comes before the practical test and can be taken after holding a learner licence for at least six months. The practical test is run through the Q-SAFE programme and can be booked online, by phone or at transport centres. Those who pass before age 25 receive a P1 licence with red plates, and those who pass at 25 or older receive a P2 with green plates.

Tips for learners and supervisors

• Record each trip promptly, while the odometer readings and times are fresh.
• Decide early how many of the 10 night hours will come from family practice, and whether any night lessons are better counted as triple time.
• Check that the instructor is an accredited driver trainer and knows how to be recorded in the app.
• Submit early enough to allow for the 12 business days, so a test booking is not lost.

Common questions

Do lessons with any instructor earn triple time?

The Queensland pages say triple time applies to driving with an accredited driver trainer, up to a maximum of 10 actual hours.

Do I need a logbook if I am 25?

Not required, according to the Queensland Government, which treats it as optional for learners aged 25 or over.

Can driving overseas count?

The learner logbook page refers to supervised driving on Australian roads; the pages read do not describe any allowance for other driving.

The bottom line

Queensland learners under 25 need 100 supervised hours, including 10 at night, recorded in an approved logbook and submitted at least 12 business days before the test. Accredited driver trainer lessons earn triple credit up to 10 actual hours, but night lessons must be counted as either triple time or night hours. Getting the logbook right early avoids delays to the test.

Sources

• Queensland Government, “Learner logbook” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Learner logbook app: information for supervisors” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Steps from a learner to a provisional licence” (qld.gov.au)

Ontario brings new drivers through a staged system rather than a single test. Learners first hold a G1 licence, then a G2, and only after two road tests do they receive a full Class G licence. This article summarises the Government of Ontario’s official Driver’s Handbook chapter on getting a licence and its page on getting a G driver’s licence as a new driver. It concerns Ontario only; other Canadian provinces and territories run their own rules, which these pages do not describe. Details can change, so the Ministry of Transportation and DriveTest pages should be checked before applying. This is general information.

Level One: the G1 licence

Ontario says a driver must be at least 16 years old and an Ontario resident to apply. To enter Level One, the applicant passes a vision test and a knowledge test on traffic rules and signs. The G1 stage lasts 12 months as standard, or eight months if the driver completes an approved driver education course, which the handbook describes as a four-month reduction.

The conditions on a G1 driver are strict:

• The blood-alcohol level must be zero.
• The driver must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver with at least four years of driving experience, who must hold a Class G or higher licence, have a blood-alcohol level below 0.05% and sit in the front passenger seat as the only person there. A driving instructor may accompany the learner anywhere.
• Every person in the vehicle needs a working seatbelt.
• The handbook says a G1 driver cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
• Road restrictions apply: the handbook says a G1 driver cannot use 400-series highways with a posted speed limit above 80km/h, and names expressways including the Queen Elizabeth Way, Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway, E.C. Row Expressway and Conestoga Parkway as off limits, unless accompanied by a driving instructor. The process page summarises this more briefly as no use of 400-series highways, so the handbook’s wording should be treated as the fuller statement.

Passing the first road test moves the driver to Level Two.

Level Two: the G2 licence

The G2 stage lasts at least 12 months. The blood-alcohol level must still be zero, and every person in the vehicle needs a working seatbelt. The process page says the driver can otherwise drive on all roads at any time. There is a restriction for younger drivers on passengers: for drivers aged 19 and under, between midnight and 5 a.m., only one passenger aged 19 or under is allowed in the first six months, rising to three passengers aged 19 or under after six months until the driver turns 20 or gets a full G licence. The handbook lists exemptions where a fully licensed driver is in the front passenger seat or the passengers are immediate family members.

Level Three: the full G licence

After at least 12 months at G2, the driver takes the second road test. Passing it gives full Class G privileges, which the handbook describes as covering cars, vans and small trucks, including combinations up to 11,000kg gross weight with towed vehicles not exceeding 4,600kg.

How long it takes

Adding the stage lengths in the handbook gives a minimum of 24 months at the standard durations (12 months at G1 and 12 at G2), or 20 months with an approved driver education course that shortens G1 to eight months. That sum is an addition of the stated stage lengths, not a figure quoted by the province, and the Ontario pages also describe the overall process with different headline totals, so anyone planning around a date should confirm it with the Ministry of Transportation. A learner who wants the earliest full licence has a reason to compare approved courses, though the pages read do not give course fees or content requirements.

How this compares with Great Britain and the US

Great Britain has no equivalent set of licence stages; the site explains why in its article on why Great Britain still lacks graduated licensing. Its guide to the US approach to graduated driver licensing shows a state-by-state system with features similar in kind. The Ontario details above are specific to Ontario and should not be applied to other regions.

Choosing an instructor in Ontario

Because a driving instructor is the one supervisor who can accompany a G1 driver anywhere, including the expressways otherwise off limits, lessons have a distinct role in the process. General guidance on assessing instructors, such as the site’s how to choose a good driving instructor guide, applies in principle, but the pages read do not describe how instructors are licensed in Ontario, so that should be checked with the province.

Common questions

What is the minimum age for a G1?

Sixteen, and the applicant must be an Ontario resident.

Can a parent supervise a G1 driver?

The accompanying driver must be fully licensed with at least four years of experience, hold Class G or higher, be below 0.05% blood-alcohol and sit in the front passenger seat as the only person there.

Can the process be shortened?

Yes. An approved driver education course reduces the G1 stage from 12 to eight months, according to the Ontario pages.

Does the zero blood-alcohol rule end at G2?

The pages read state that zero applies at G1 and G2 and do not describe the rules for the full G licence.

The bottom line

Ontario’s graduated licence runs from G1 at 16, through G2 after a first road test, to the full G licence after a second road test, with an approved course able to shorten G1 from 12 to eight months. Each stage has conditions on alcohol, supervision, roads, hours and passengers. Anyone planning to learn in Ontario should check the current official pages for the exact rules on their licence stage.

Sources

• Government of Ontario, “Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting your driver’s licence” (ontario.ca)
• Government of Ontario, “Get a G driver’s licence: new drivers” (ontario.ca)

A car licence and a motorcycle licence are different things, and motorcycle entitlement is split into several categories with their own minimum ages and engine limits. For instructors and learners, the choice of category decides which tests are needed, which machines can be ridden and how quickly a rider can move on to larger bikes. This article summarises two GOV.UK pages: “Bike categories, ages and licence requirements” and the overview of the steps to ride a motorcycle or moped. GOV.UK presents these as rules for Great Britain and the pages read do not describe Northern Ireland separately, so learners there should check the Driver and Vehicle Agency. Rules and figures can change, and this is general information.

The four categories

AM: mopeds and small three-wheelers

The minimum age is 16. GOV.UK says the route is compulsory basic training (CBT), a theory test and a practical test. The category covers mopeds with a speed range of 25 to 45km/h, small three-wheelers up to 50cc with output below 4kW and light quadricycles under 350kg with a top speed of 45km/h.

A1: light motorcycles

The minimum age is 17. A1 allows motorcycles of up to 125cc and a maximum of 11kW, with a power-to-weight ratio of not more than 0.1kW per kg. It also covers motor tricycles with output not exceeding 15kW. The route is CBT, theory test and practical test.

A2: standard motorcycles

The minimum age is 19. A2 covers bikes up to 35kW with a power-to-weight ratio of not more than 0.2kW per kg. There are two routes. Direct access requires the theory and practical tests. Progressive access requires two years of experience on an A1 motorbike and a further practical test.

A: unrestricted

The category has no size or power limit, with or without a sidecar. There are two ages of entry: 24 by direct access (CBT, theory and practical) or 21 by progressive access, which needs an A2 licence held for at least two years and a practical test.

Reading the table for a learner

The key distinction is between direct and progressive access. A learner who is 24 or older can go straight to the unrestricted category. Younger riders reach it by stages, moving from A1 at 17 to A2 and then to A. GOV.UK’s description of the progressive route to A2 requires two years’ experience on an A1 motorbike, and the route to A requires two years on A2, so the earliest path is 17, then 19, then 21 or later. Someone aiming at a larger motorcycle in the near future should compare the time and test costs of staged progression with waiting for direct access, and ask a motorcycle instructor which route fits their age. The site does not quote test fees here because they are set by DVSA on GOV.UK and change.

Steps common to all routes

The GOV.UK overview lists the steps to ride on public roads. First, a provisional licence covering the right motorcycle category for the rider’s age and experience. Second, CBT, which produces a certificate before further testing. Third, the motorcycle theory test. Fourth, the practical test, which has two modules, and GOV.UK says both parts must be passed within two years of taking the theory test or the process has to be restarted. Learners must also have appropriate legal helmets, a registered, taxed and tested vehicle with the right documents and adequate insurance. The page read does not detail L plates, passengers, motorway rules or supervision beyond the CBT framework, so those points need to be checked separately. The site’s article on CBT and the motorcycle test covers how the learning route differs from learning to drive.

Where a car licence fits

GOV.UK says a rider needs the right entitlement on their licence and must be old enough for it, and that a provisional licence is the starting point. It also notes that moped entitlement is shown differently on licences than before, but that a person must still be at least 16 to ride one, and that a motor tricycle of any power can be driven by someone over 21 who holds a full car licence. Anyone holding an older licence should check the categories on the photocard itself.

Choosing an instructor for motorcycle training

Motorcycle training is a different specialism from car tuition, and the site’s guide to how to choose a good driving instructor lists general checks that transfer, such as asking about qualifications, pass rates and cancellation policies. Ask specifically which category the instructor trains for and whether the bike supplied is suited to the tier being taught, for example a machine within the A1 limits for A1 training.

Common questions

How old do I have to be to ride a 125cc motorcycle?

GOV.UK gives 17 as the minimum age for category A1, up to 125cc and 11kW.

Can I go straight to a large motorcycle?

Direct access to category A is available from age 24, through CBT, theory and practical tests. Riders aged 21 can reach it progressively after two years on A2.

What is the time limit for the practical test?

Both modules must be passed within two years of taking the theory test, otherwise the process must be restarted.

Is the CBT required for every category?

The GOV.UK page lists CBT in the routes for AM, A1 and direct access to A, and for A2 it lists theory and practical for the direct route. Check the current page for any exceptions.

The bottom line

Motorcycle licences run from AM at 16, through A1 at 17 and A2 at 19, to unrestricted A at 24 by direct access or 21 by progressive access after two years on A2. Every route starts with a provisional licence, and the practical test’s two modules have to be passed within two years of the theory test. Choosing the route that matches age and goals is the first decision before booking lessons.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Ride a motorcycle or moped: Bike categories, ages and licence requirements”
• GOV.UK, “Ride a motorcycle or moped: Overview”

Lessons and tests do not always take place in dry, clear conditions. The Highway Code has a dedicated section on adverse weather, rules 226 to 237, and new drivers are expected to know it. The Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. This article summarises what those rules say about wet weather, ice and snow, wind, fog and hot weather, along with the related rule on gaps between vehicles. The Highway Code’s introduction explains that rules using the words MUST or MUST NOT are legal requirements, and that failing to follow other rules can be used in evidence in court proceedings under the Traffic Acts.

When visibility is seriously reduced (rule 226)

Rule 226 says a driver MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when they cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). Front or rear fog lights may also be used, but they must be switched off when visibility improves. Rule 236 repeats this: a driver MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced, because they dazzle other road users and can obscure brake lights.

Wet weather (rule 227)

The Code says stopping distances in wet weather will be at least double those on dry roads, because tyres have less grip. It advises keeping well back from the vehicle in front, and says that if the steering becomes unresponsive it probably means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road; the driver should ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. It also warns about spray, spilt diesel and vulnerable road users. The general rule on gaps, rule 126, says the gap behind the vehicle in front should be at least doubled on wet roads and up to ten times greater on icy roads.

Icy and snowy weather (rules 228 to 231)

Rule 228 tells drivers to check the local forecast for warnings of ice or snow and not to drive in those conditions unless the journey is essential. If it is, the Code says to take great care, allow more time, and carry an emergency kit including a de-icer and ice scraper, torch, warm clothing and boots, first aid kit, jump leads and a shovel, together with a warm drink and emergency food. Before setting off, rule 229 says a driver MUST be able to see, so all snow and ice must be cleared from all windows, lights must be clean and number plates clear and legible, and mirrors and windows must be clear and demisted.

On the move, rule 230 says to keep well back because stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads, to take care overtaking gritters, and to be wary of snowploughs. Rule 231 advises driving slowly in as high a gear as possible, accelerating and braking very gently, slowing on the straight before a bend, and testing grip by braking gently in a safe place. It adds that if the steering feels unresponsive this may indicate ice, and that on ice tyres make virtually no noise.

Windy weather (rules 232 and 233)

High-sided vehicles are most affected by wind, but the Code says strong gusts can also blow a car, cyclist, motorcyclist or horse rider off course, particularly on open stretches with crosswinds or when passing bridges or gaps in hedges. In very windy weather turbulence from large vehicles can affect other road users, and the Code says motorcyclists are particularly affected and should keep well back when large vehicles overtake high-sided ones.

Fog (rules 234 to 236)

Rule 234 says to check mirrors and slow down before entering fog and that, where a “fog” sign is shown but the road is clear, drivers should be prepared for a bank of fog ahead. Rule 235 lists what to do in fog: use lights as required, keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front because rear lights can give a false sense of security, be able to stop well within the distance that can be seen clearly, use wipers and demisters, beware of drivers not using headlights, not accelerate away from a vehicle that is too close behind, and check mirrors before slowing so that brake lights warn following drivers. At a junction with limited visibility, the Code says to stop in the correct position and listen for traffic, emerging positively when sure it is safe.

Hot weather (rule 237)

Rule 237 says to keep the vehicle well ventilated to avoid drowsiness, and warns that the road surface may become soft, or slippery if it rains after a dry spell, which could affect steering and braking. It adds that a driver dazzled by bright sunlight should slow down and, if necessary, stop.

What this means for lessons and tests

These rules are guidance and law that apply to every driver, including learners. The Code says nothing about whether a lesson or test will go ahead in a given weather condition, so that is a matter for the instructor and, for tests, the testing authority; the site’s guide to the four parts of the driving test explains what is assessed. Vehicle-check questions are covered in the guide to show me, tell me questions, and the guide to test-day nerves covers preparation.

Common questions

When must I use headlights in daytime? The Code says a driver MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when they cannot see for more than 100 metres.

How much more room do I need in the wet? Rule 227 says stopping distances will be at least double; rule 126 says the gap to the vehicle ahead should be at least doubled.

The bottom line

The Highway Code’s adverse-weather rules require headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, warn that wet-weather stopping distances are at least double and icy-road distances can be ten times greater, tell drivers to avoid ice and snow unless a journey is essential, and set out how to handle wind, fog and heat. Fog lights must be used only when visibility is seriously reduced. These rules apply to learners and qualified drivers alike. This is general information; the Highway Code itself is the authority.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “The Highway Code: Driving in adverse weather conditions (226 to 237)”
• GOV.UK, “The Highway Code: Introduction”
• GOV.UK, “The Highway Code: General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158)”

Every approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain has passed three tests, and the last of them, the Part 3, is the one that examines whether a candidate can actually teach. This article summarises GOV.UK’s description of the ADI Part 3 test, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). It applies to Great Britain: GOV.UK notes that the Part 3 test works differently in Northern Ireland, and that there is a different process to qualify there. GOV.UK’s separate overview of becoming an ADI covers the qualifying route as a whole.

What the Part 3 test is

GOV.UK says the Part 3 test is the last of three tests a person must pass to qualify as an ADI and that it is a test of the candidate’s ability to teach pupils. It can be booked once the ADI Part 2 test has been passed. The standard against which candidates are judged is the national standard for driver and rider training, which GOV.UK says sets out everything a candidate must be able to do to pass.

The lesson the examiner watches

A DVSA examiner watches the candidate give a client-centred driving lesson to one of their own pupils for about 45 minutes. At the start, the candidate discusses the goals for the lesson and risk management with the pupil, which should take no more than three minutes. The pupil must drive for about 40 minutes of the lesson. The candidate cannot spend the whole lesson teaching a manoeuvre, though a short recap of one taught earlier is allowed, and can stop safely to give immediate feedback. At the end, the pupil is given no more than three minutes to reflect on their performance.

The pupil can be a partly trained learner, a fully trained learner or a full licence holder. GOV.UK says a partly trained learner should be able to drive for 40 minutes without frequently stopping, and that the pupil cannot be an ADI or someone preparing for the Part 3 test.

How the marking works

The candidate is marked on 17 areas of competence grouped into three categories: lesson planning, risk management, and teaching and learning strategies. The examiner scores each of the 17 competences from 0 to 3, and the scores are added up to decide whether the candidate passes and what grade they receive. GOV.UK gives the results as follows:

• 0 to 30: fail. The performance is unsatisfactory and the candidate does not join the ADI register.
• 31 to 42: Grade B. The candidate may join the ADI register.
• 43 to 51: Grade A. The candidate has shown a high standard of instruction and may join the register.

There are automatic fails. A candidate fails if they score 7 or less in the risk management category, or if the examiner stops the lesson because the candidate has put themselves or someone else in danger. The candidate receives the grade and the completed test report by email.

Rules for the car

The candidate’s car must have no warning lights showing, no tyre damage and legal tread depth on every tyre, with no space-saver spare, be roadworthy, and carry an extra interior rear-view mirror plus a passenger seatbelt and head restraint for the examiner. It must reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer, and have four wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass limit. It must be taxed, have a current MOT if over three years old, and be insured for an ADI Part 3 test. A hire car fitted with dual controls is allowed. A test can be cancelled without a refund if the car does not meet the rules.

Manual and automatic licences

A candidate with a manual licence can take the test in a manual or automatic car and will be able to train in both types once qualified. A candidate with an automatic licence must take the test in an automatic car and will only be able to train people in an automatic car. This matters to learners who want an automatic lesson, since it affects which instructors can offer it; see the site’s guide to manual versus automatic lessons.

After the result

A candidate who passes can apply for a first ADI badge, and must do so within 12 months of passing or must pass all three qualifying tests again. Someone who fails the first or second attempt can retake the test, booking the next attempt within two years of passing the Part 1 test. GOV.UK says that failing the third attempt means the candidate must stop giving paid-for lessons immediately, because it is illegal to give paid-for lessons after a third failure, that a trainee licence becomes invalid, and that Parts 1 and 2 must be retaken after a wait of two years from the original Part 1 pass. For the trainee stage, see the site’s guide to trainee licences and the six-month rule.

What learners can take from it

The Part 3 grades of A and B both allow registration, and the test is a snapshot of one lesson rather than a continuing measure. The ongoing check on registered instructors is the standards check described in the site’s guide to the ADI standards check, and questions to put to an instructor are in the guide to ADI and PDI qualifications.

Common questions

Does a Grade A instructor teach better than a Grade B? GOV.UK describes Grade A as a high standard of instruction and Grade B as sufficient to join the register; it does not compare ongoing teaching quality.

The bottom line

The ADI Part 3 test is a roughly 45-minute observed lesson marked on 17 competences, with a score of 31 or more needed to pass, 43 or more for Grade A, and automatic failure for a risk management score of 7 or less or a dangerous lesson. Three failed attempts end a candidate’s ability to give paid lessons until the earlier tests are retaken. Learners can ask an instructor about their grade and checks. This is general information for Great Britain; Northern Ireland differs.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test”
• GOV.UK, “Check if you can become a driving instructor”

Many learners begin to think about a first car well before they pass. A used car is the usual choice, and the paperwork around it is a common source of problems: a vehicle with a doubtful log book, a missing MOT record or an outstanding safety recall. GOV.UK publishes a short set of steps for checking a used vehicle, backed by free online services. This article summarises what those official pages say. It is general information about the rules that apply in England, Scotland and Wales, with points noted for Northern Ireland where GOV.UK identifies a difference.

Before seeing the car

GOV.UK’s guide to checking a used vehicle says the aim is to make sure a buyer is not buying a stolen or unsafe vehicle. Before viewing, it tells the buyer to:

• ask the seller for the registration number, make and model, and MOT test number;
• check that the details given match the information held by the DVLA;
• check that the MOT status and history match what the seller says; and
• check whether the vehicle has been recalled because of a serious safety issue.

The DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service needs only the registration number. GOV.UK says it shows the current tax rate and when it expires, SORN status, when the MOT expires, the date of first registration, the last log book (V5C) issue date, year of manufacture, weight, engine size, fuel type, emissions and export status. It also points to askMID for checking whether a vehicle is insured. Information about the current or previous registered keeper is not available online: GOV.UK says a request for that must be made to DVLA in writing.

What the MOT history shows

The MOT history service on GOV.UK shows past test results, including whether the vehicle passed or failed and the mileage recorded at each test, and it can show when the next MOT is due and offer copies of current and previous certificates. For tests done in England, Scotland or Wales it also shows where each test was done, using the 11-digit number from the V5C, and which parts failed or had minor problems. GOV.UK says results for cars, motorcycles and vans are available only for tests done since 2005, and for tests in Northern Ireland only since 2017. The history may also show whether the vehicle has been recalled for safety reasons, depending on the manufacturer.

At the viewing: the V5C and the numbers

When going to see the vehicle, GOV.UK says to ask to see the V5C registration certificate, commonly called the log book. It says to make sure it has a “DVL” watermark and that its serial number is not between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000. If it is, the V5C might be stolen, and the guidance says to call the police as soon as it is safe to do so. It also says to check that the log book details match what the seller has said, and to check the vehicle identification number and engine number against the log book.

After buying: tax and insurance

GOV.UK’s advice for buyers is to tax the vehicle immediately, using the green “new keeper” slip from the log book. The tax service accepts a reference number from a recent DVLA reminder, the V5C in the buyer’s name, or the green new keeper slip, and GOV.UK adds that a vehicle must be taxed even where no payment is due because it is exempt. The guidance says a driver must meet all the legal obligations before driving.

Insurance is a separate legal requirement. GOV.UK says motor insurance is required to drive a vehicle on UK roads and that third-party insurance is the legal minimum. Learners who are the registered keeper should read the site’s guide to learner driver insurance before collecting a car, and those budgeting for the wider costs of learning can look at the guide to provisional licence fees and processing times.

Learner-specific points

A learner who buys a car must still have a provisional licence and be supervised, and the car must display L plates, according to GOV.UK’s guide to learning to drive. Practising in a car the learner owns requires the learner’s own insurance, the same guide says, and the supervisor will usually be covered on that policy. The site’s guide to who can supervise a learner driver covers the supervision rules.

Common questions

Can I find out who owned the car before? Not online. GOV.UK says a written request to DVLA is needed for information about the current or previous registered keeper.

What should I do if the V5C serial number is in the listed ranges? GOV.UK says the V5C might be stolen and to call the police as soon as it is safe.

The bottom line

GOV.UK’s official checks for a used vehicle are to compare the seller’s details with DVLA records, review the MOT history and recall status, inspect the V5C for the watermark and stolen-serial ranges, match the vehicle and engine numbers, then tax the vehicle immediately and hold insurance before driving. The MOT history record goes back to 2005 for cars in Great Britain, and 2017 in Northern Ireland. These checks reduce risk but do not replace a mechanical inspection. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Check a used vehicle you’re buying”
• GOV.UK, “Check the MOT history of a vehicle”
• GOV.UK, “Get vehicle information from DVLA”
• GOV.UK, “Tax your vehicle”
• GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive”
• GOV.UK, “Vehicle insurance”

Speed limits look simple until a learner crosses a border or sits in a different kind of vehicle. In Great Britain the limit depends on the road, the vehicle and, since 2023, the nation: Wales has a different default in built-up areas. Northern Ireland changed its learner rules on 1 October 2026, when graduated driver licensing (GDL) removed the 45mph learner limit for new learners, although the old limit still applies to some people who started learning before that date. This article sets out what GOV.UK, nidirect, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Welsh Government say, so that a learner practising with an instructor or a supervisor knows what the limits are before the first lesson on an unfamiliar road.

Limits for learners in each nation

GOV.UK’s guide to learning to drive says that in England, Scotland and Wales the speed limits when driving with L plates are the same as after passing the test. Northern Ireland works differently, and its rule depends on when a learner’s provisional entitlement started, as the next section explains. The site’s guide to learning to drive in Northern Ireland covers the wider system there, including the new GDL training requirements. The rest of this article, after the Northern Ireland section, concerns Great Britain.

Northern Ireland: the 45mph learner limit after 1 October 2026

For anyone whose Northern Ireland provisional entitlement for a car (category B) began on or after 1 October 2026, GDL applies, and nidirect says the scheme removes the 45mph speed restriction on learner and newly qualified drivers. DfI’s GDL FAQs say newly qualified drivers can drive up to posted speeds under GDL. In practice, a GDL learner follows the signed limit for the road, the same as any other driver in Northern Ireland, and so does a GDL driver displaying the new R plates after passing.

The 45mph limit has not disappeared for everyone yet. The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 keeps the learner limit in force for six months, until 31 March 2027, for people whose provisional licence was granted before 1 October 2026. nidirect says these learners have until 31 March 2027 to book and pass their practical test under the current system. DfI’s FAQs say anyone who passes under the old rules (before 1 October 2026, or between 1 October 2026 and 31 March 2027 with an entitlement that started earlier) must display the amber R plate and keep to 45mph for 12 months after passing. A learner from the old system who has not passed by 31 March 2027 must be enrolled in GDL to retake the test from 1 April 2027.

Northern Ireland situation (cars)	Speed limit that applies
Provisional entitlement started on or after 1 October 2026 (GDL), learning or newly passed	Posted limits
Provisional licence granted before 1 October 2026, still learning	45mph, until 31 March 2027
Passed before 1 October 2026, or passed under the old rules by 31 March 2027	45mph for 12 months after passing, with amber R plates

Some pages have not caught up. GOV.UK’s learning to drive guide and some older nidirect pages still state a flat 45mph limit for Northern Ireland learners; that wording predates GDL. DfI’s GDL pages and nidirect’s GDL guidance are the current position.

The default in built-up areas

GOV.UK says the national speed limits apply to all single and dual carriageways with street lights unless signs show otherwise: 30 miles per hour in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and 20 miles per hour in Wales. Its table applies the same built-up limit to cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans, motorhomes, buses, coaches, minibuses and goods vehicles. The page describes the speed limit as the absolute maximum, and says it does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed in all conditions.

Wales: a 20mph default with exceptions

The Welsh Government says it introduced a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales in September 2023. It describes restricted roads as usually in residential and built-up areas, often with street lights placed no more than 200 yards apart, which historically had a 30mph limit. Local authorities are responsible for county roads and Trunk Road Agents operate the strategic road network for the Welsh Government, and both were to identify roads that could stay at 30mph, using guidance issued by the Government. The Government says it provided new guidance to highway authorities in July 2024 to help them assess which roads the limit could return to 30mph.

Any change must be made through a traffic regulation order, a statutory process the Government says takes several months. A map on DataMapWales shows which roads remain at 30mph. For a learner, the key practical point is that road signs mark changes: because 20mph is now the default in Wales, the Welsh Government says there will not be repeater signs, which are the smaller signs that often appear on street lights. The Welsh Government’s page was last updated on 25 September 2024, so the current list of roads is best checked on the map.

Open roads: cars and car-derived vans

GOV.UK’s table gives the following limits for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles: 60mph on single carriageways, 70mph on dual carriageways and 70mph on motorways. When towing a caravan or trailer the limits fall to 50mph, 60mph and 60mph respectively. The page adds that most vans have a lower limit than cars and must follow the limits for goods vehicles of the same weight, while vehicles weighing no more than 2 tonnes laden may qualify as car-derived vans, and vehicles weighing no more than 2.04 tonnes unladen as dual-purpose vehicles, which share the limits of cars. This matters for a learner who moves from lessons to hiring a van.

The guide also notes that a learner car is subject to the ordinary limits, but a learner may only drive on motorways in England, Scotland or Wales if with an approved driving instructor in a car fitted with dual controls. The site’s guide to learner drivers on motorways explains that rule.

Locally set limits

GOV.UK says local councils can set their own limits in certain areas, which must be clearly signed. Its examples are a 20mph zone in a built-up area near a school, and a 50mph limit instead of 60mph on a stretch of road with sharp bends. The practical lesson for learners is to look for signs rather than rely on the road type; the site’s guide to what to expect in your first driving lesson covers what a first session involves.

Speed limiters

GOV.UK says a speed limiter must be fitted on vehicles with more than eight passenger seats, such as buses, minibuses, coaches and stretch limousines, and on goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight above 3.5 tonnes. It notes that a limiter may mean a vehicle cannot reach the speed limit. This is more relevant to those training for larger vehicles than to a learner in a car.

Common questions

Do learners have a lower speed limit in England? No. GOV.UK says the limits with L plates in England, Scotland and Wales are the same as after passing the test.

Is there still a 45mph limit for learners in Northern Ireland? Only for learners whose provisional licence was granted before 1 October 2026, and only until 31 March 2027. Learners under GDL, whose entitlement started on or after 1 October 2026, follow posted limits.

Do newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland still have a 45mph limit? Drivers who passed before 1 October 2026, or who pass under the old rules by 31 March 2027, keep to 45mph with amber R plates for 12 months. DfI says GDL itself sets no speed limit for newly qualified drivers.

What is the limit on a street-lit road in Wales? The default is 20mph, unless signs show otherwise, according to GOV.UK and the Welsh Government.

The bottom line

In Great Britain, learners follow the same speed limits as qualified drivers: 30mph on street-lit roads in England and Scotland, 20mph in Wales unless signs show otherwise, and 60, 70 and 70mph on single carriageways, dual carriageways and motorways for cars. In Northern Ireland, learners under GDL (entitlement from 1 October 2026) also follow posted limits, while the 45mph limit continues for earlier learners until 31 March 2027 and for 12 months after an old-rules pass.

Vehicle type, towing and local signed limits all change the figure, so reading signs matters more than assuming a road’s type. This is general information; signs and current legislation take priority.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Speed limits” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive” (gov.uk)
• Welsh Government, “Introducing default 20mph speed limits” (gov.wales)
• nidirect, “What Graduated Driver Licensing means for learner drivers” (nidirect.gov.uk)
• nidirect, “Graduated Driver Licensing for newly qualified drivers” (nidirect.gov.uk)
• Department for Infrastructure, “Graduated Driver Licensing: FAQs” (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)
• legislation.gov.uk, “Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016” (legislation.gov.uk)

Passing the car test does not mean a driver can take any vehicle with four wheels. A driving licence carries “entitlements” for particular categories, and Category B, the ordinary car category, comes with weight and seating limits. Those limits matter to new drivers who plan to hire a van, drive an electric vehicle or borrow a larger family vehicle. This article summarises what GOV.UK says Category B allows in Great Britain. Driving licence categories are different in Northern Ireland, as GOV.UK notes, so this article does not cover the Northern Ireland position.

The basic Category B entitlement

For a driver who passed their test on or after 1 January 1997, GOV.UK says Category B allows vehicles with up to eight passenger seats and a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg for petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrid vehicles. MAM is defined in GOV.UK’s guide to vehicle weights as the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load it can carry safely on the road, also known as gross vehicle weight or permissible maximum weight. The guide says it will be listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle. In practice, the figure that matters for a hire van or a large camper is the plated MAM, not the empty weight.

The higher limit for zero-emission vehicles

GOV.UK says the allowance is 4,250kg for electric or hydrogen vehicles, and it applies to zero-emission vehicles only. If an electric or hydrogen vehicle has extra equipment for disabled passengers, it can have an additional MAM of 750kg, but the guidance says this additional MAM must only be used for that equipment.

Passing before 1 January 1997

The rules differ for older licences. GOV.UK says a driver who passed before 1 January 1997 is usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM, and is also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM, and directs readers to check their driving licence information online. The dividing line is the date the test was passed, so newer drivers should not assume the same rights.

Towing with Category B

With a petrol, diesel, electric or hydrogen vehicle, GOV.UK says a Category B driver can tow a trailer with a MAM up to 3,500kg, provided the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 7,000kg. Larger combinations involve Category BE, which the guidance describes as a vehicle with a MAM of 3,500kg with a trailer, where the permitted trailer size depends on the “valid from” date of the BE entitlement on the licence. The site’s guide to towing a trailer or caravan explains when a separate test is needed.

Automatic-only licences

GOV.UK describes Category B auto as allowing a driver to drive a Category B vehicle but only an automatic one. The route to a manual entitlement is covered in the site’s guide to upgrading an automatic licence to manual, and the choice of lesson type in the guide to manual versus automatic lessons.

Categories that need another test

GOV.UK’s list separates vehicles by weight and use. Medium-sized vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg MAM fall under Category C1, larger vehicles over 3,500kg under Category C, and minibuses with no more than 16 passenger seats and a maximum length of eight metres under D1. Buses with more than eight passenger seats need Category D. Anyone wanting to drive such vehicles professionally should also look at the site’s guide to Driver CPC. GOV.UK also says entitlements may have additional restrictions and directs drivers to check the restriction codes on their licence.

Checking your own licence

The guidance says a driver can check online to see what vehicles they can drive, and that the categories shown on the licence, together with any restriction codes, are what count. Someone about to hire a van should check the vehicle’s plated MAM against the licence before collecting it, and should also check the hire company’s own terms, which this article does not cover.

Common questions

Can a new driver drive a 4,000kg electric van on a car licence? GOV.UK says the 4,250kg allowance applies to electric or hydrogen zero-emission vehicles for those who passed on or after 1 January 1997, so a plated MAM under that figure falls within Category B.

What is MAM? The maximum authorised mass: the weight of a vehicle including the maximum load it can carry safely on the road.

The bottom line

In Great Britain, a driver who passed the car test on or after 1 January 1997 holds Category B, which allows vehicles with up to eight passenger seats and a MAM of 3,500kg for petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles and 4,250kg for zero-emission electric or hydrogen vehicles. Older licences have different trailer rights, and heavier or larger vehicles need further categories. The plated MAM and the licence’s entitlement and restriction codes decide what can be driven. This is general information; the licence itself and GOV.UK are the authorities.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Driving licence categories”
• GOV.UK, “Vehicle weights explained”

Passing a car driving test and passing the tests needed to drive a lorry, bus or coach for a living are two different things, and even after qualifying to drive one of those larger vehicles, a professional driver has an ongoing legal training obligation that a car licence holder never encounters.

What Driver CPC actually is

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, or Driver CPC, is a professional driving qualification required by anyone who drives a lorry, bus or coach for work, on top of holding the relevant category of driving licence for that vehicle. The physical proof of the qualification is sometimes called a driver qualification card, or DQC, which a professional driver needs to be able to produce alongside their licence.

The 35-hour rule

Official government guidance sets out that a driver’s Driver CPC qualification lasts for five years, and to keep it, a driver has to complete 35 hours of periodic training before that five-year deadline. This is not a one-off requirement completed once and then forgotten; it recurs every five years for as long as someone continues to drive professionally in one of the covered categories. It is illegal to continue driving professionally once the training is not complete by the relevant deadline, and a driver who does so can be fined up to £1,000.

How the hours can be completed

Training only counts toward the 35-hour requirement where it is delivered through an approved course with an approved training centre; informal or unaccredited training does not satisfy the requirement no matter how relevant its content. Drivers can check their own progress against the current five-year cycle through DVSA’s own checking service, rather than having to rely purely on their own records or a training provider’s paperwork.

Northern Ireland runs the same requirement through its own agency

The 35-hour, five-year periodic training requirement is not limited to Great Britain. Official Northern Ireland guidance confirms that professional lorry, bus and coach drivers there must also complete 35 hours periodic training every five years to maintain a Driver CPC card, with the same consequence of being unable to legally drive professionally once a deadline is missed. The practical difference is administrative rather than substantive: Northern Ireland drivers deal with the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) rather than DVSA for test bookings, and check their approved training providers through the same UK-wide JAUPT register used across the country, so the underlying 35-hour obligation is consistent even though the day-to-day contact points differ.

Why this matters even for someone not yet driving professionally

For a learner or a qualified car driver considering a move into professional driving, Driver CPC is a separate, additional qualification layer on top of the relevant vocational licence category, not something that comes automatically with passing the vocational driving test itself. Understanding that the 35-hour requirement recurs every five years, indefinitely, for as long as someone drives professionally, is relevant to weighing up the ongoing time and cost commitment of a career in professional driving, not just the upfront cost of the initial qualification.

Common questions

Does Driver CPC apply to every driving licence category? No. It applies specifically to professional drivers of lorries, buses and coaches; car drivers holding a standard category B licence, including newly qualified ones, are not brought into the Driver CPC system by that licence alone.

Can the 35 hours be done all in one go, close to the deadline? The requirement is to complete the 35 hours before the five-year deadline, but leaving all of it until close to that date leaves no room for a course being unavailable, cancelled or fully booked, so spreading the hours across the five-year cycle is the more reliable approach in practice.

What happens if I stop driving professionally and then want to come back to it later? Because the training requirement is tied to keeping the Driver CPC qualification current, a driver returning to professional driving after a gap needs to check whether their qualification and training hours are still valid for their current five-year cycle before driving professionally again.

The bottom line

Driver CPC is a standing professional requirement for anyone driving a lorry, bus or coach for work, on top of holding the right driving licence category, and it does not end once achieved: a driver has to complete 35 hours of periodic training, only through DVSA-approved courses and centres, before each five-year deadline, with fines of up to £1,000 for driving professionally once that deadline has passed. Northern Ireland applies the identical 35-hour, five-year rule through its own DVA and JAUPT-registered providers, so the obligation itself does not change depending on which part of the UK a professional driver works in.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Driver CPC training for qualified drivers: How much training you need to do”
• nidirect, “CPC for existing lorry, bus and coach drivers” (nidirect.gov.uk)

A learner focused on avoiding the 15-fault limit can be forgiven for not realising the examiner is quietly watching something else throughout the test too: how efficiently, rather than just how safely, the car is being driven. It is real, it is recorded, and it has no bearing on whether the test is passed.

What the examiner actually assesses

Official DVSA guidance on understanding a driving test result confirms that the examiner assesses a candidate’s ability to drive with economy and the environment in mind throughout the test, but explicitly states that this assessment does not affect the overall result. The observation runs in the background of the whole test rather than being a separate section, and covers things such as planning ahead, gear selection, braking and engine management, the practical habits that determine how much fuel a given journey actually uses.

Why it cannot cause a fail

The pass/fail structure of the car driving test is built entirely around driving faults, serious faults and dangerous faults: a pass requires no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults at all. Eco-safe driving observations sit completely outside that structure. A candidate who drives safely and within the fault limit passes regardless of how fuel-efficient their gear changes or acceleration were, and a candidate who fails does so because of the standard fault categories, never because of eco-driving performance on its own.

What the feedback actually covers

At the end of the test, a candidate gets feedback on their eco-driving performance covering both how they physically controlled the car, such as gear selection and use of the accelerator and brakes, and how well they planned ahead to avoid unnecessary acceleration or braking in the first place. This split between physical control and forward planning reflects the two main ways a driver’s habits affect fuel use: smooth, well-timed inputs waste less fuel than harsh or late ones, and driving that anticipates hazards early avoids the repeated braking and re-accelerating that a reactive driving style produces.

Why DVSA assesses something that cannot fail you

Building eco-safe observations into the test without making them pass/fail criteria lets DVSA give every candidate structured feedback on a skill that matters for cost and environmental impact over a driving lifetime, without adding a new way to fail a test that is already primarily about safety. Because the feedback is delivered regardless of the outcome, a candidate who passes still receives it, and a learning driver can use it going into the years of driving that follow the test, when fuel and running costs become a genuinely ongoing consideration rather than a one-off assessment.

What this means for lesson planning

Because eco-safe driving is assessed throughout the test rather than during a specific manoeuvre, it is realistic to build habits like earlier anticipation of traffic and smoother gear changes into ordinary lessons well before test day, rather than treating it as a separate topic to revise only once core fault-avoidance skills are solid. Since it cannot cause a fail, there is no reason to prioritise it over safety-critical skills, but building the habits early tends to happen naturally alongside good general car control rather than requiring dedicated extra lesson time.

Common questions

Will the examiner tell me during the test if my eco-driving is poor? No. Because eco-safe driving is assessed throughout the whole test rather than at a single checkpoint, feedback is given as a summary at the end, alongside the fault-based result, rather than as an in-test comment or warning.

Is eco-safe driving the same thing as driving too slowly or cautiously? No. The assessment covers planning and car control, such as smooth gear changes and early anticipation of hazards, not deliberately slow driving; driving unnecessarily slowly for the road and traffic conditions can itself count as a driving fault under the standard fault categories, separately from anything eco-related.

Should instructors spend lesson time specifically teaching eco-driving? Because it cannot cause a fail, it is reasonable to treat it as a natural by-product of teaching good anticipation, smooth control and early planning for the standard fault categories, rather than as a separate topic requiring dedicated lesson time of its own.

The bottom line

DVSA examiners assess eco-safe driving, covering car control and forward planning, throughout every car driving test, and give feedback on it at the end regardless of the outcome, but official guidance is explicit that this assessment does not affect whether the test is passed or failed. The only things that determine a pass or fail are the standard driving fault, serious fault and dangerous fault categories, with a limit of 15 driving faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. Eco-safe driving feedback exists to build habits for a driving lifetime after the test, not to add a new way to fail it.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Understanding your driving test result: Car driving test”