Can Learner Drivers Drive on the Motorway?

Last checked: 26 September 2026

Until June 2018, learners weren’t allowed on motorways at all, and plenty of people still think that’s the rule. The law changed on 4 June 2018, but only for learners in one specific situation. Outside that, a learner on a motorway is still breaking the law.

Here’s exactly when it’s allowed, what happens if it goes wrong, and what motorway lessons are for.

The rules for learners on motorways

Rule 253 of the Highway Code says provisional car licence holders must not drive on the motorway unless they’re accompanied by a DVSA approved driving instructor and driving a car displaying red L plates (or D plates in Wales) with dual controls. GOV.UK adds that this only applies in England, Scotland and Wales.

Situation	Allowed on a motorway?
With an ADI, in a dual-control car with L plates, in England, Scotland or Wales	Yes
Practising with a parent, partner or friend	No
With a trainee instructor (pink badge)	No
With an ADI, but in a car without dual controls	No
Learning on a provisional motorcycle licence	No
Learning to drive in Northern Ireland	No: the GOV.UK rules only allow it in England, Scotland and Wales

Qualified instructors display a green badge in their windscreen and trainees display a pink one, so check the badge if you’re unsure. If the instructor removes a rooftop driving school sign for a motorway lesson, the car must still display L plates on the front and back.

Why learners are allowed on motorways

Before the change, you could only have motorway lessons after passing your test. When it announced the change, the government said it would let learners:

• get broader driving experience before taking their driving test
• learn how to join and leave the motorway, overtake and use lanes correctly
• practise driving at higher speeds
• understand motorway-specific traffic signs
• know what to do if a vehicle breaks down on a motorway
• feel more confident driving on the motorway on their own after passing

Are motorway lessons compulsory?

No. Motorway lessons are voluntary, and it’s up to your driving instructor to decide when you’re competent enough to have one. Motorway driving isn’t part of the driving test either: GOV.UK says you’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions on your test, but not on motorways.

That doesn’t make them a waste of time. Once you pass, nothing stops you driving on a motorway alone the next day, so it’s worth talking to your instructor about whether a lesson would help. Our guides to what happens on the driving test and how the test is marked cover what you will be tested on.

Can a learner driver go 70mph?

Yes, when it’s legal and safe. In England, Scotland and Wales the speed limits when driving with L plates are the same as after you’ve passed your test, and the national speed limit for cars on motorways is 70mph. As GOV.UK points out, a speed limit is the absolute maximum, not a target: it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at that speed in all conditions.

Northern Ireland is different. Learners there have a speed limit of 45mph.

What if a learner accidentally drives onto a motorway?

GOV.UK is clear that it’s illegal for a learner to drive on the motorway when practising with family or friends. It doesn’t list a separate penalty for this, but it does say you can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points on your provisional licence if you drive without the right supervision.

If you do end up on one by mistake, don’t make it worse. Highway Code rule 263 says you must not reverse along any part of a motorway, including slip roads, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic flow. If you’ve taken the wrong route, carry on to the next exit, then get back onto roads you’re allowed to use.

Points picked up as a learner matter later too. Unexpired points on your provisional licence carry over when you pass, and our guide to the new driver 6-point rule explains why that can cost you your licence.

Where else can learner drivers go?

Motorways are the only type of road GOV.UK restricts for learner car drivers. You can drive at any time, day or night, and use other roads, including dual carriageways, as long as you have the right supervision. Anyone you practise with, without paying them, must:

• be over 21
• have held a full driving licence for 3 years
• be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you’re learning in

They mustn’t use a mobile phone while supervising you, and you need the right insurance and L plates. Our guide to applying for a provisional licence covers getting started.

Driving near a learner on the motorway

If you’re the experienced driver, the government’s advice is to keep a safe distance from a learner in front, as you would with any vehicle, and increase the gap on wet or icy roads or in fog. Be patient: learners may not be as quick at anticipating and responding to events.

Sources: The Highway Code, rules 253 and 263; GOV.UK Driving lessons and learning to drive, Speed limits, What happens during the driving test and Learner drivers on motorways from 4 June 2018.