Provisional licence holders beware – it’s actually possible to rack up points on your license before you become a fully-fledged driver.
As long as you’ve acquired fewer than 11 points, you will still be able to take your test.
However, the points are transferred to your full licence after passing, so make sure to keep those learner mistakes to a minimum.
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According to insurance company Veygo, a whopping 74,104 provisional licence holders had points in April 2021, with 1,383 of these having more than 10.
Nevertheless, there are some easy ways for learner drivers to keep their licenses clean.
If your car is not insured as a learner, you’re looking at a £300 fixed fine as well as six penalty points added to your license.
In more serious cases, police can seize your vehicle, and if the case goes to court you could face an unlimited fine or even be temporarily disqualified for driving.
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So, despite the hefty price tag for newbies, you need to get insured right away.
You must also ensure your L plates are correctly displayed, otherwise you could be breaking the law.
In order to be safe, it's best to get two 178mm x 178mm plates and place one on the front of your vehicle and the other on the back; this will guarantee your plates are the right size and in the right place.
To complicate matters further, you must buy them from a legitimate retailer as there are specific dimensions for the red-letter L itself.
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If you fail to comply with this guidance, you could face fines of up to £200 and six points on your licence.
Now it’s time to put your foot on the gas and get to know the rules of the road.
Getting your theory test out of the way is vital to ensure you drive safely and avoid those dreaded fines and points, so get revising.
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Joseph Bell’s story is a cautionary tale for anyone hoping to pass their test.
Back in 2019, the teenager was caught stopping over the line at a set of traffic lights by an automatic camera.
There were no oncoming cars or pedestrians present, but he was handed a fixed-term penalty of £100 and three points on his provisional licence, the Sun reports.
He fought the punishment in court, where he was granted an absolute discharge, but other learners may not be so lucky.
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His instructor, who had dual control of the vehicle, wasn't prosecuted, which sparked a conversation on whether teachers should face some form of punishment for learners' mistakes.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy