What to do after passing your driving test
Congratulations. Here's the short version of what matters in the first week — the full detail, including what insurance actually costs, is one click away.
The essentials, fast
- Your licence. If you handed in your provisional, your full licence arrives by post in about three weeks; if you kept it, you apply yourself. Either way, you can drive immediately using your pass certificate.
- Insurance before you drive. A learner policy usually ends the moment you pass — check the car you're about to drive is actually insured for you as a full licence holder before you set off.
- Stay under 6 points for two years. Under the New Drivers Act, reaching 6 penalty points within two years of passing revokes your licence and you're back to a provisional, retaking both tests.
The part that catches new drivers out: cost
New-driver insurance is expensive because insurers have no claims history to price against — the car's insurance group, where it's parked overnight, your mileage and how you pay all move the price significantly. Our full guide breaks down each type of cover, what actually reduces the price, and what's worth doing in your first month.
Read the full first-week guideStill helping someone else get there?
If a friend or family member is still waiting on their own test, they can swap their date with another learner for free — no fees, no middlemen, arranged properly through DVSA. See how a swap works.
Swap a driving test — freeQuestions
Can I drive alone straight after passing?
Yes, as soon as you pass you can drive unaccompanied — but only in a car that's actually insured for you to drive. Learner policies usually end the moment you pass, so check your cover first.
Why is insurance so expensive right after passing?
Insurers price on claims history, and a newly qualified driver has none yet. The car's insurance group, where it's kept overnight, your mileage and how you pay all move the price — see the full guide for what actually helps.
What happens if I get 6 points in my first two years?
Under the New Drivers Act, reaching 6 penalty points within two years of passing revokes your licence — you go back to a provisional and have to pass both tests again.
Do I need to do anything with DVLA myself?
Only if you kept your provisional licence rather than handing it to the examiner — in that case you apply to DVLA yourself. If the examiner sent it off, your full licence just arrives by post.