Plus there’s the minefield of car ownership to navigate – have you sorted insurance, road tax and an MOT?
To help clear the confusion facing learner drivers or anyone that's just passed their test, our essential guide answers your most pressing questions.
Yes. Your examiner will normally arrange for your provisional licence photocard to be sent off to the DVLA, where it will be upgraded to a full driving licence.
Although it could take up to three weeks for you to receive your updated photocard in the post, you don’t need to wait for it to arrive before you drive.
As long as your car is taxed and insured, you’re good to go.
Contact the DVLA if your new licence hasn’t arrived within three weeks of passing your test.
If you need to make changes to your licence – such as your address or photo – before having it updated, you’ll need to apply for a full licence yourself.
Make sure you do this within two years of passing your test, otherwise you’ll have to take your test all over again – not the most thrilling of prospects.
Some new drivers choose to display green ‘probationary’ P plates on their car, but they’re not compulsory.
P Plates are a way of indicating to other motorists that you’ve recently passed your test and are still getting to grips with the roads.
If fellow drivers see a P on your car, they’ll (hopefully) give you a bit of breathing space at junctions and roundabouts so you don’t feel under too much pressure.
You can display P plates for as long as you want.
If you want to gain more confidence and experience, you could also enrol on a Pass Plus course.
This gives you the opportunity to improve your skills in areas such as night driving, motorway driving and driving in different weather conditions.
An added bonus is that many insurance companies will offer lower premiums to new drivers who’ve completed the Pass Plus course.
If you haven’t got one already, there’s the small matter of buying a car to consider.
While you might be dreaming of cruising down the motorway in a Porsche 911, at this stage it’s probably more practical and cost-effective to settle for a smaller car that falls within the lowest insurance groups and tax bands.
As it’s a big purchase, you may need to borrow some cash to buy a car.
The Bank of Mum and Dad may be willing to help but, if not, you might be able to arrange car finance.
However, if you’re applying for credit for the first time, your credit score is likely to be low.
That means you might have to pay a higher rate of interest on your loan or get a family member to act as a guarantor.
Before getting your new car, make sure you can afford the insurance and factor running costs into your budget, such as fuel and maintenance costs.
