Rules of the Road

Hint

Make a note of the date that your MOT
certificate expires. Some garages remind
you that your vehicle is due an MOT but
not all do. You may take your vehicle for
MOT up to to one month in advance and
have the certificate post dated.

Hint

Sometimes an insurance company will
issue a temporary insurance certificate
called a cover note. It gives you the same
insurance cover as your certificate, but
lasts for a limited period, usually one
month.

Hint

If you accumulate six or more penalty
points within two years of gaining your first
full licence it will be revoked. The six or
more points include any gained due to
offences you committed before passing
your test. If this happens you may only
drive as a learner until you pass both the
theory and practical tests again.

Hint

A SORN declaration allows you to keep a
vehicle off road and untaxed for 12 months.
If you want to keep your vehicle off road
beyond that you must send a further SORN
form to DVLA, or DVA in Northern Ireland. If
the vehicle is sold SORN will end and the
new owner becomes responsible
immediately.

Hint

If you want to keep a vehicle off the public
road you must declare SORN. It is an
offence not to do so. You then won’t have
to pay road tax. If you don’t renew the
SORN declaration or re-license the vehicle,
you will incur a penalty.

Hint

This will enable you to keep a vehicle off
the public road for 12 months without
having to pay road tax. You must send a
further SORN declaration after 12 months.

Hint

If you want to keep a vehicle off the public
road you must declare SORN. It is an
offence not to do so. You then won’t have
to pay road tax for that vehicle. You will
incur a penalty after 12 months if you don’t
renew the SORN declaration, or re-license
the vehicle. If you sell the vehicle the SORN
declaration ends and the new owner
should declare SORN or re-license the
vehicle.

Hint

If you are keeping a vehicle, or vehicles, off
road and don’t want to pay road tax you
must declare SORN. You must still do this
even if the vehicle is incapable of being
used, for example it may be under
restoration or being stored. After 12
months you must send another SORN
declaration or re-license your vehicle. You
will be fined if you don’t do this. The SORN
will end if you sell the vehicle and the new
owner will be responsible immediately.

Hint

It is a serious offence to drive without
insurance. As well as a heavy fine you may
be disqualified or incur penalty points.

Hint

It is your legal responsibility to keep the
details of your Vehicle Registration
Certificate (V5C) up to date. You should tell
the licensing authority of any changes.
These include your name, address, or
vehicle details. If you don’t do this you may
have problems when you sell your vehicle.

Hint

You MUST be able to produce your valid
insurance certificate when requested by a
police officer. If you can’t do this
immediately you may be asked to take it to
a police station. Other documents you may
be asked to produce are your driving
licence and MOT certificate.

Hint

You MUST have valid insurance before you
can apply for a tax disc. Your vehicle will
also need to have a valid MOT certificate, if
applicable. You can apply on-line, at certain
post offices or by post. It is illegal and can
be dangerous to drive without valid
insurance or an MOT.

Hint

If your vehicle is required to have an MOT
certificate you will need to make sure this is
current before you are able to renew your
tax disc (also known as vehicle excise
duty). You can renew online, by phone or
by post.

Hint

Using a vehicle on the road illegally carries
a heavy fine and can lead to penalty points
on your licence. Things you MUST have
include, a valid driving licence, a current
valid tax disc, and proper insurance cover.

Hint

Tax discs can be renewed at post offices,
vehicle registration offices, online, or by
post. When applying make sure you have
all the relevant valid documents, including
MOT where applicable.

Hint

You don’t have to carry the documents for
your vehicle around with you. If a police
officer asks to see them and you don’t
have them with you, you may be asked to
produce them at a police station within
seven days.

Hint

Tax discs can be renewed, online, at most
post offices, your nearest vehicle
registration office or by post to the licensing
authority. Make sure you have or take all
the relevant documents with your
application.

Hint

As the registered keeper of a vehicle it is up
to you to inform DVLA (DVA in Northern
Ireland) of any changes in your vehicle or
personal details, for example, change of
name or address. You do this by
completing the relevant section of the
Registration Certificate and sending it to
them.

Hint

Before you drive on the road you MUST
have a valid provisional licence, for the
category of vehicle that you’re driving. It
must show your signature, it isn’t valid
without it.

Hint

Driving a vehicle without insurance cover is
illegal. If you cause injury to anyone or
damage to property, it could be very
expensive and you could also be subject to
a criminal prosecution. You can arrange
insurance cover with, an insurance
company, a broker and some motor
manufacturers or dealers.

Hint

If your vehicle requires an MOT certificate,
it’s illegal to drive it without one. The only
exceptions are that you may drive to a prearranged
MOT test appointment, or to a
garage for repairs required for the test. As
well as being illegal, the vehicle may also
be unsafe for use on the road and could
endanger you, any passengers, and other
road users.

Hint

As well as being at least 21 years old you
must hold a full EC/EEA driving licence for
the category of vehicle being driven and
have held that licence for at least three
years.

Hint

It is your responsibility to make sure you
are properly insured for the vehicle you are
driving.

Hint

Third party insurance doesn’t cover
damage to your own vehicle or injury to
yourself. If you have a crash and your
vehicle is damaged you might have to carry
out the repairs at your own expense

Hint

The tax disc should be displayed at the
bottom of the windscreen on the nearside
(left-hand side). This allows it to be easily
seen from the kerbside. It must be current,
and you can’t transfer the disc from vehicle
to vehicle.

Hint

When you renew your road tax disc you
need to produce a current, valid MOT
certificate for your vehicle.

Hint

Every vehicle used on the road has a
registration certificate. This is issued by the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
or Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in
Northern Ireland. The document shows
vehicle details including, date of first
registration, registration number, previous
keeper, registered keeper, make of vehicle,
engine size and chassis number, year of
manufacture and colour.

Hint

The licensing authority need to keep their
records up to date. They send out a
reminder when your road tax is due and
need your current address to send this to
you. Every vehicle in the country is
registered, so it’s possible to trace its
history.

Hint

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
(DVLA) hold the records of all vehicles and
drivers in Great Britain (DVA in Northern
Ireland). They need to know of any change
in circumstances so that they can keep
their records up to date. Your health might
affect your ability to drive safely. Don’t risk
endangering your own safety or that of
other road users.

Hint

The cost of insurance varies with your age
and how long you have been driving.
Usually, the younger you are the more
expensive it is, especially if you are under
25 years of age.
The Pass Plus scheme provides additional
training to newly qualified drivers. Pass Plus
is recognised by many insurance
companies and taking this extra training
could give you reduced insurance
premiums, as well as improving your skills
and experience.

Hint

The aim of the Pass Plus course is to build
up your skills and experience. It is
recognised by some insurance companies,
who reward people completing the scheme
with cheaper insurance premiums.

Hint

Don’t just take someone’s word that they
are qualified to supervise you. The person
who sits alongside you while you are
learning should be a responsible adult and
an experienced driver.

Hint

When a car is three years old (four years old in Northern Ireland), it must pass an MOT test and have a valid MOT certificate before it can be used on the road. Exceptionally, you may

• drive to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage for repairs required for the test
• drive vehicles that are more than 40 years old without an MOT test, but they must be in a roadworthy condition before being used on the road. See GOV.UK for more details.

Hint

The vehicle you drive must be roadworthy and in good condition. If it’s over three years old, it must pass an MOT test to remain in use on the road (unless it’s exempt from the MOT test – see GOV.UK).

Hint

New drivers are far more vulnerable on the
road and more likely to be involved in
incidents and collisions. The Pass Plus
scheme has been designed to improve
new drivers’ basic skills and help widen
their driving experience.

Hint

This type of insurance cover is usually
cheaper than comprehensive. However, it
does not cover any damage to your own
vehicle or property. It only covers damage
and injury to others.

Hint

The minimum insurance required by law is
third party cover. This covers others
involved in a collision but not damage to
your vehicle. Basic third party insurance
won’t cover theft or fire damage. Check
with your insurance company for advice on
the best cover for you and make sure that
you read the policy carefully.

Hint

Having an excess on your policy will help to
keep down the premium, but if you make a
claim you will have to pay the excess
yourself, in this case £100.

Hint

After passing your practical driving test you
can take further training. This is known as
the Pass Plus scheme. It is designed to
improve your basic driving skills and
involves a series of modules including night
time and motorway driving. The sort of
things you may not have covered whilst
learning.

Hint

The Pass Plus scheme can be taken after
you’ve passed your practical driving test.
Ask your ADI for details. It is designed to
improve your basic driving skills. By
successfully completing the course you
may get a discount on your insurance.

Hint

The Pass Plus scheme was created by
DSA for newly qualified drivers. It aim’s to
widen their driving experience and improve
basic skills. After passing the practical
driving test additional professional training
can be taken with an Approved Driving
Instructor (ADI). Some insurance
companies also offer discounts to holders
of a Pass Plus certificate. You will find more
information in Drive On magazine.

Hint

Novice drivers are in much more danger
than experienced drivers. They can often
be involved in collisions soon after passing
their test, sometimes with tragic results.
The Pass Plus scheme gives structured
training to help new drivers improve basic
skills and widen their experience. Approved
Driving Instructors (ADIs) will be able to
advise of the benefits.

Hint

The Pass Plus scheme provides a wide
range of driving experience accompanied
by a qualified instructor. There is no test
and when completed you may get a
reduction in insurance costs. It can help to
improve basic skills, reduce the risk of
having a collision and make you a safer
driver.

Hint

When you take out motor insurance you’ll
be issued with a certificate. This contains
details explaining who and what is insured.
If a police officer asks to see your
insurance certificate you must produce it at
the time or at a police station within a
specified period. You also need to have
current valid insurance when renewing your
vehicle excise duty (road tax).

Hint

Make sure that you have a valid driving
licence and proper insurance cover before
driving any vehicle. These are legal
requirements, as is displaying a valid tax
disc in the vehicle.

Hint

Helping someone to drive is a responsible
task. Before learning to drive you’re
advised to find a qualified Approved Driving
Instructor (ADI) to teach you. This will
ensure that you’re taught the correct
procedures from the start.

Hint

This is a method used by insurance
companies to keep annual premiums
down. Generally, the higher the excess you
choose to pay, the lower the annual
premium you will be charged.

Hint

Any motorcycle you ride must be in good condition and roadworthy. If it’s over three years old, it must have a valid MOT test certificate (unless it’s exempt from the MOT test – see GOV.UK).