More than 192,000 learner driver endorsements were issued to provisional licence holders between 2022 and 2025, according to new data obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
The research, commissioned by Tempcover, found that 192,560 endorsements were recorded over the four-year period, with annual totals increasing from 37,118 in 2022 to 53,502 in 2025.
For Driver Trainers, the findings reinforce the importance of ensuring learners understand not only how to drive safely, but also the legal responsibilities that come with holding a provisional licence.
The most common endorsement was LC20 – Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, with 52,748 endorsements recorded. This offence can include driving without displaying L plates, driving without an eligible supervising driver, or failing to comply with other conditions attached to a provisional licence.
The second most common offence was IN10 – Using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks, which accounted for 50,013 endorsements. Exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road (SP30) ranked third, with 44,452 endorsements.
Together, these three offences represented more than 76% of all endorsements recorded during the period.
The data also highlights that penalty points received while holding a provisional licence remain on a driver’s record after they pass their practical test.
Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, newly qualified drivers who accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of passing their test have their licence revoked. This means learners who qualify with existing penalty points have significantly less scope for further mistakes before facing the loss of their full licence.
While many learners receive professional tuition from Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs), increasing numbers also gain experience through private practice with family members or friends. These findings serve as a reminder that everyone supervising a learner has a role to play in ensuring provisional licence conditions are followed, appropriate insurance is in place, and learners understand the consequences of committing motoring offences before they qualify.
For Driver Trainers, the research provides another opportunity to reinforce the importance of legal compliance alongside safe driving skills. Explaining the conditions of a provisional licence, encouraging responsible attitudes towards speed and road safety, and ensuring learners understand how penalty points affect their future driving career can all help reduce avoidable offences.
The research was commissioned by Tempcover using data obtained from the DVLA through a Freedom of Information request. Further information, including learner driver insurance guidance, is available from Tempcover: https://www.tempcover.com/learner-driver-insurance/
