What you need to know about supervising a learner driver
Learning to drive can be stressful for beginners, but supervising a learner can be even harder. To keep practice sessions safe and useful, there are important rules for supervisors. These rules help protect both the learner and the supervisor and make sure the learner gets the most out of their practice time.
Who can supervise a learner driver?
All learners must be supervised when driving a car. Supervisors can be either a driving instructor or a family member or friend, who meet the following criteria:
- Must be over 21 years old (some insurers may require you to be over 25)
- Must have had a full driving licence for 3 years (from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein)
- Be qualified to drive the type of vehicle they’re driving - for example, you must have a manual car licence if you’re supervising someone in a manual car
- You must not currently be banned from driving
It is important to remember that learner drivers can be fined up to £1,000 if they drive without the right supervision. They can also get up to 6 penalty points on their provisional licence. If a learner is caught driving alone, there are more severe consequences in addition to penalty points and a fine including a permanent mark on your driving record, insurance invalidation and a potential driving ban.
Supervising a learner driver
Does the person supervising a learner driver need to be insured?
Yes, to supervise a learner driver, supervisors need to hold a car insurance policy that allows them to take control of the vehicle if necessary, during a practice session. It’s up to the supervisor to ensure their policy provides appropriate cover, which will vary depending on the car used for the practice.
Practising in the learner's car
If you’re supervising a learner that intends to practice in their own car, they must get their own learner insurance. They must also be the registered keeper of the vehicle.
The supervisor will also need to be covered in the learner’s vehicle as they may need to take control of the car during the practise. An affordable way to do this is by taking out temporary car insurance, which allows you to get cover for as little as one hour.
Practising in someone else's car
The supervisor should add the learner to their car insurance policy as a ‘named’ driver’ or take out a separate learner driver insurance policy which sits alongside their annual policy. This will protect their No Claims Discount should the learner have an incident whilst driving their car.
If a learner intends to practise in the supervisor’s car, they’ll either need to take out a separate temporary learner driver policy on the supervisor’s car or need to become a named driver on the supervisor’s insurance policy. A learner driver can get an unlimited fine, a driving ban and up to 8 penalty points if they drive without insurance.
RAC Insurance
Here at the RAC, we understand the importance of supervised driving, and having the right insurance to accompany it. Where many insurers insist on a minimum of one month for their cover, we offer policies from 1 day to 140 days. This gives learners the opportunity to get extra time behind the wheel before taking their driving test. Supervising drivers must have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years and be between the age of 25-75.
If you need to insure your vehicle for a short period of time, the RAC’s temporary car insurance option is perfect for you. Get cover for your car from one hour to 30 days.
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Rules of supervising learner drivers
To supervise a learner driver, you should be experienced, familiar with the Highway Code, and careful not to pass on bad habits. Always sit in the front seat, avoid using your phone, and stay off motorways. Choose quiet areas for practice, and ensure the car is roadworthy, registered, taxed, has a valid MOT, and is properly insured.
Here are some of the requirements to supervise a learner driver:
As a learner, you must:
Have a valid UK provisional driving licence
Be at least 17 years old
Meet the minimum eyesight rules as established by GOV.UK
Ensure your vehicle has L plates (or D plates in Wales) on the front and back of your car
Ensure your vehicle is taxed, has a valid MOT, is appropriately insured and is registered with the DVLA
Drive with an appropriate supervisor and never practice alone
As a supervisor, you must not:
Hold or use a mobile phone, tablet or sat nav. If you’re caught you may receive up to 6 penalty points and get a £200 fine.
Go on motorways: learner drivers can only drive on motorways with an approved driving instructor (ADI) in a car fitted with dual controls.
Have a breath alcohol or blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit.
Be under the influence of drugs or medicine. This includes having illegal drugs or certain medicines in your blood above specified limits.
Accept any payment, including money for fuel, when you’re supervising someone who’s learning to drive.
Whether you’re learning to drive or supervising a learner, be sure to follow all learner driver rules to keep practice sessions safe and compliant with the law.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 21 years old to supervise a learner driver (and you’ll need to have passed your driving test at least 3 years ago).
The minimum age required to supervise a learner driver can vary depending on the insurance policy. For instance, with RAC Learner Driver Insurance, the supervising driver must be between 25 and 75 years old.
Insuring a learner driver is easy, and doesn’t affect your normal car insurance. Just book a policy for as long as you need – from 1 day to 5 months, with RAC Learner Driver Insurance. If you need more time to practise, you can easily extend online with the RAC.
A learner driver can technically carry as many passengers as a qualified driver can – i.e. as many as the car can legally hold, providing they have an appropriate supervisor.
A learner driver has the same duty of care as a qualified driver – which means they’re liable in an accident, not the supervisor. That’s why you legally need to have learner driver insurance.
No, you can’t charge for private lessons if you aren’t qualified. You can only take money for driving lessons if you’re licensed as an approved driving instructor (ADI) by the Driving Standards Agency.
Yes. The learner driver needs their own learner driver insurance, but you also need to have valid car insurance in place, as you need to be able to take over driving at any time.
If you’re currently disqualified from driving, you cannot supervise a learner driver. However, someone who was previously disqualified may still be eligible to do so.
To supervise a learner, you must have held a valid licence for at least 3 years. For example, if you've had your licence for 7 years but were disqualified for 6 months, you would still qualify, as you've held a valid licence for 6 years and 6 months.
On the other hand, if you've had your licence for 3 years but were disqualified for 6 months, this would mean you’ve only had a valid licence for 2 years and 6 months, and you wouldn’t be able to supervise a learner driver.
A learner driver can be supervised by an international driver as long as the supervisor has a valid licence from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
No, a supervisor must be in good physical shape to take control of the car in an emergency. Conditions like a broken leg, or anything that slows down quick reactions, are not allowed.
Yes, if you're the supervisor, you must have car insurance that covers taking control of the vehicle during a practice session if needed. Passengers, however, don't need to have insurance.
