Just passed: your first car checklist

Congratulations, you've passed! You can drive on your own as soon as you pass, as long as you're insured. The first two years are when new drivers are most at risk of losing their licence, so here's what to know, what to sort out, and what to keep in your first car.

Checked on 17 October 2026 against GOV.UK (new drivers, phone law, L and P plates, Pass Plus, insurance and tax) and the Highway Code.

The big one: 6 points and your licence is gone

GOV.UK is clear: your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test. Any points still on your provisional licence carry over too. If it happens, you have to apply for a new provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again.

That's easier to do than most people think:

  • Holding and using a phone while driving: 6 points and a £200 fine. That alone means losing your licence.
  • Driving without insurance: a £300 fixed penalty and 6 points.
  • Not having a full view of the road ahead or proper control of the car can mean 3 points.

Phones: what's allowed

It's illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav or any device that can send or receive data while driving, even at traffic lights or in a queue. You can use it hands-free, for example through Bluetooth, voice commands or a dashboard or windscreen holder, as long as you don't hold it and it doesn't block your view of the road. Set up your sat nav before you set off.

P plates

You can display green P plates to show you've just passed, but GOV.UK says you don't have to, and you can leave them on for as long as you like. Many new drivers find other drivers give them more space. (In Northern Ireland, new drivers must display R plates for a year.) See our learner and new driver range.

Before you drive your first car

  • Insurance: you must have a policy that lets you drive without supervision. Make sure you're the main driver if you are.
  • Tax: tax doesn't transfer with a used car, so tax it before you drive it.
  • MOT: if it's over three years old it needs a valid MOT. Check its MOT history free on CheckMOT. Mileage should only go up from test to test. Read our used car checklist before you buy.
  • Pass Plus: a course of at least 6 hours with an approved instructor. GOV.UK says it may help you get an insurance discount.

Learn your car

Spend 20 minutes with the handbook and the car on the drive:

  • Tyres: cars need at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre. Check the pressures every couple of weeks.
  • Warning lights: learn what the main dashboard lights mean, especially oil pressure, battery, brakes and the engine light.
  • Fluids: find the oil dipstick, coolant, brake fluid and screenwash.
  • Lights: know how to switch on headlights, fog lights and hazard lights.
  • Fuel: check which fuel it takes. It's on the fuel cap or in the handbook.

What to keep in your first car

Shop the first car kit

  • First car kit, £53.99: heavy-duty jump leads, tyre tread depth gauge, digital tyre pressure gauge, car first aid kit and a hi-vis vest.
  • Phone holders from £9.99, so you can use your sat nav hands-free.
See the new driver range.

Never miss an MOT or tax date

New drivers have enough to remember. Set a free MOT and tax reminder on CheckMOT and it'll tell you before they're due.

FAQs

How many points can a new driver get?

If you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence is cancelled and you have to retake both the theory and practical tests. Points on your provisional licence count towards the 6.

Do I have to display P plates?

No. GOV.UK says you can display green P plates to show you've just passed, but you don't have to, and you can leave them on as long as you like. Northern Ireland is different: new drivers must use R plates for a year.

What happens if a new driver is caught using a phone?

Holding and using a phone while driving carries 6 points and a £200 fine, so a driver who passed within the last 2 years will lose their licence.

Can I drive on my own straight after passing?

Yes. You can start driving as soon as you pass, but you must have an insurance policy that lets you drive without supervision.

Does Pass Plus lower insurance?

It may. GOV.UK says completing the course may help you get a car insurance discount. It takes at least 6 hours with a Pass Plus registered instructor.

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026:

This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the official sources linked above.