Can A Learner Driver Drive Alone?

How Can You Drive as a Learner?

Since you can’t be on the road on your own, you must have a supervisor in the passenger seat at all times if you only have a provisional licence. This isn’t just about having someone with you; they need to meet specific legal requirements regarding their age and how long they’ve held their licence.

If your passenger doesn’t meet these strict criteria, the law treats it exactly the same as if you were driving entirely alone. You could still face fines and points even with someone next to you.

For the full breakdown of exactly who is legal to supervise you, check out our guide on who can sit with a learner driver.

You might assume that motorway driving offers a loophole or that it requires different rules. While learners can access motorways, the rules are actually stricter than on normal roads. You certainly cannot drive alone on them, and you can’t even drive with friends or family members.

To stay on the right side of the law, you need to be with a professional instructor in a dual-controlled car. If you want to understand where you can and can’t practice, read our article on are learner drivers allowed on the motorway.

Can The Police Seize My Car for Driving Alone?

If you’re stopped for driving without a supervisor, the police have the power to seize the vehicle you are driving. This applies even if it’s your parents’ car. Reclaiming a seized vehicle is expensive and stressful, and in some cases, the car could even be crushed. You’ll also need to take out specific impound release insurance to recover the car. 

The rules around driving alone with a provisional licence are there for everyone’s safety, so don’t risk your car or your licence for a quick solo trip.

How To Practice on a Provisional Licence Legally

We know that getting extra practice outside of professional lessons is one of the best ways to pass your test faster. The DVSA actually recommends it. You just need to do it the right way.

Instead of risking driving alone, ask a friend or family member who meets the criteria to supervise you. To make this easy and affordable, you can use temporary learner driver insurance.

Temporary cover is perfect for this because:

• It’s flexible: You can get cover from 1 hour to 6 months.
• It protects the owner’s No Claims Bonus: If you have a bump while practising, the car owner’s annual policy isn’t affected.
• It’s fast: You can get a quote in minutes.

Many people wonder what’s the best way to insure a learner driver, and for short-term practice, a temporary policy is often much cheaper and easier than being added to an annual policy. If you are considering the alternative, you can compare how much it costs to add a learner driver to your insurance versus a short-term top-up.

As a learner, can I drive alone on private land?

You can drive without a licence or insurance on private land only if there is absolutely no public access. However, many areas people think are private (like supermarket car parks or industrial estates) are actually accessible to the public and therefore subject to road traffic laws. If the public can access it, you need a supervisor, a licence, and insurance. Plus, you should ask yourself whether it is safe to drive alone. Just because it’s private land doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt if you’re driving dangerously without supervision. 

Can you drive alone with a provisional licence if you have a test booked?

No. Even if your test is tomorrow, or you’re driving to the test centre, you must be accompanied by an instructor or supervisor. You’re a learner, and your provisional licence rules apply until the moment you pass the practical test.

What happens if you drive without a permit?

In the UK, we refer to it as a provisional licence rather than a permit. Driving without one (or driving alone with one) carries the same risks: fines, points, and vehicle seizure. You must have your provisional licence in your possession to legally drive a car, so you should never forget to take it out with you on lessons and practice sessions.