13/07/2026
🚗 Penalty points can start before you pass your driving test
Newly published DVLA figures reportedly show that more than 192,000 endorsements were recorded against provisional licence holders between 2022 and 2025.
The most frequently recorded offences were:
⚠️ Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
⚠️ Driving without the required insurance
⚠️ Speeding
This is an important reminder that learning to drive involves much more than controlling the vehicle and preparing for the test.
When practising privately, learners and supervising drivers must make sure:
✅ The learner is properly insured
✅ Correct L plates are displayed at the front and rear
✅ The supervising driver is legally eligible
✅ The vehicle is roadworthy, taxed and insured
✅ All speed limits and other road laws are followed
Points received while learning do not simply disappear after passing. Any valid points normally transfer to the full licence, potentially leaving a newly qualified driver much closer to having their licence revoked if they receive further points during their first two years.
Private practice can be extremely valuable when it is legal, properly supervised and supports what the learner is being taught professionally. The key message is not to avoid private practice—it is to make sure everyone understands the responsibilities that come with it.
