Can Learner Drivers Go on the Motorway? The Rules Explained

Plenty of new drivers pass their test without ever having driven on a motorway, then find themselves joining the M25 alone a week later. It does not have to be that way. Learner drivers have been allowed on motorways since 2018, but only under strict conditions, and a lot of people still have the rules muddled. Here is what is allowed, what is not, and why a motorway lesson is worth asking for.

Yes, learners can drive on motorways, with conditions

Learner drivers in England, Scotland and Wales have been able to take motorway lessons since 4 June 2018. The conditions are written into Rule 253 of the Highway Code. A provisional car licence holder must not drive on a motorway unless:

they are with a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), the car shows red L plates (D plates in Wales), and the car has dual controls.

All three must be true. Miss one and you are breaking the law, not bending a rule.

Who cannot take you

This is where people get it wrong. You cannot practise on a motorway with a parent, partner or friend, however experienced they are. The gov.uk page on practising with family or friends says plainly that it is illegal to drive on the motorway when practising with them.

Trainee instructors are also out. The 2018 announcement says trainee driving instructors will not be allowed to take learners on the motorway, so it has to be a fully qualified ADI. And the change only covers car learners: learner motorcyclists are still not allowed on motorways, which Rule 253 also confirms for provisional motorcycle licence holders.

Motorway lessons are optional. Your instructor decides when you are competent enough, so do not be surprised if they want you confident on dual carriageways first.

It is not on the driving test

Motorway driving was not added to the practical test as part of the 2018 change. The gov.uk announcement is clear on that. You may still get a fast dual carriageway on your test, and you certainly get motorway questions in the theory test, so the rules are worth knowing either way.

My honest view: if your instructor offers a motorway lesson, take it, even though it will not be examined. The first time you merge at 70mph should not be the first time you have ever done it without someone beside you who can brake.

What you will practise

The 2018 announcement lists the aims: joining and leaving the motorway, overtaking, using lanes correctly, driving at higher speeds, understanding motorway signs, and knowing what to do if you break down. The Highway Code rules behind those are the same ones the theory test asks about.

Joining (Rule 259): give way to traffic already on the motorway, adjust your speed to fit into the flow, and stay in the left lane long enough to get used to it before you think about overtaking.

Lane discipline (Rule 264): keep in the left lane unless you are overtaking, and move back to the left once it is safe. Sitting in the middle lane on an empty motorway is a classic exam question and a real annoyance on the road.

Overtaking (Rules 267 and 268): overtake on the right, not the left, and do not weave in and out of lanes. We go into undertaking in detail in our overtaking and undertaking guide.

Leaving (Rule 273): get into the left lane well before your exit, signal left in good time, and slow down on the slip road. Check your speedometer, because after a stretch at 70 your speed can feel lower than it really is. If you miss your exit, Rule 263 says carry on to the next one. Never reverse or turn back.

Signals that matter more on a motorway

Traffic is faster, so you have less time to react. Rule 254 asks you to use your mirrors earlier and look much further ahead. The signals in Rules 255 to 258 are worth learning by heart: flashing amber means slow down and be ready for a hazard; a red X or red flashing lights over a lane mean that lane is closed and you must not drive in it.

The hard shoulder is for emergencies only unless signs, police or a traffic officer tell you otherwise (Rule 269). On some motorways it becomes a running lane, shown by a speed limit sign above it. A red X or a blank sign means it is closed. Emergency areas are marked by blue signs with an orange SOS symbol. At night, the coloured studs tell you where you are, which our post on reflective road studs explains.

Learn it before you drive it

A motorway lesson goes much better when the rules are already in your head and you can spend your attention on the traffic. Theory Test Passed is DVSA licensed, with practice questions covering motorway rules, signals and lane discipline. Start free at theorytestpassed.co.uk, or download the app for iPhone or Android.