If you’ve received your provisional driving licence before you turn 17 years of age, then you must wait until your 17th birthday before you can legally learn to drive.
The only exception is at 16 years of age, you can ride a moped or light quad bike, or if you receive, or have applied for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). In this instance, you can drive a car at 16 years of age.
What is Personal Independence Payment?
Personal Independence Payment is a welfare benefit that helps those living with a health condition or disability. The mobility component is designed to help those with a physical disability or a cognitive or mental health condition, that need help going out or moving around.
Can I Apply for a Provisional Driving Licence Before I turn 17?
Yes, you can apply for a provisional driving licence when you’re 15 years and 9 months old.
What Happens if I get Caught Driving Before I turn 17?
Even if you’ve received your provisional driving licence but have decided to drive before you turn 17, your car insurance will almost certainly be invalid.
Drivers, whether fully qualified, or provisional licence holders that are caught driving without a valid insurance policy can face fines of £300 and 6 penalty points on their licence.
This means that you’ll receive 6 penalty points on your provisional licence. You can receive up to a maximum of 11 points on a provisional driving licence. If the 6 penalty points have not expired by the time you pass your driving test, they will be transferred to your full driver’s licence.
Once you’ve passed the driving test, you’ll have a 2 year probationary period. Within this time, if you receive 6 penalty points or more, your licence will be revoked and you’ll need to take the test again.
However, the 6 penalty points that get transferred from your provisional to your full licence doesn’t mean it’ll be revoked, but if you receive just one more penalty point within the 2 year period, your licence will be revoked and only reinstated once you pass the driving test again.