When can I start driving?

[Meckity1]

I passed my driving test. The instructor took my provisional licence. I would like to get driving asap and there are some good deals at a reputable dealer near me. Do I have to wait until I get my actual new licence in the post?

I've also signed up for Pass Plus, motorway driving lessons etc and would like to get started on those

Also, general advice welcome. It's a big step for me.

No, the blue pass certificate is sufficient until your license arrives. Congratulations!

Well done!!! I passed last month. It's a brilliant feeling

No you don't have to wait until your licence comes back, so long as you carry your driving test pass certificate with you when you drive. You can crack straight on with your lessons when you're ready. Obviously you have to get new insurance to be able to drive your own car

I've been driving on my own for 5 weeks now and its definitely feeling better and more natural. I was absolutely terrified for the first couple of weeks but it honestly does get better

I drove to Tesco after passing!!

My 17 yo cousin drove from Newcastle to Leicester the same day!!

As soon as you are insured!

Thank you for helping me out. I haven't got a clue about buying cars etc. I know that I'll need insurance (heaven help me!) and I think I would also like breakdown cover. DH has good cover with the AA so I'll look into them.

And thanks for the congratulations. Very much appreciated.

And Newcastle to Leicester! I didn't even take the wheel to come home!
Utter respect

You're not actually allowed to drive your examiner's car home due to insurance

ChipintheSugar - I didn't know that. I wasn't in a fit state anyway. I'd hesitated for ages at a junction and been a little straight on the roundabout. I was unfamiliar with a few of the roads as well. I expected to fail. I think that some of the crazier encounters I had during the test swayed it in my favour. As it was, I just wanted to cry.

But you did it! Congratulations

ChipintheSugar - thank you!

I heard a story that a woman bottled her test at some traffic lights.
She left the vehicle and walked off.
The examiner isn't insured to drive the car.

He had to sit like a plank while someone was dropped off to drive the car back to the test centre!!

Chocolateisfab - Poor woman, I hope she passed later. On the run up to my test I saw one of the examiners walking back to the centre with what looked like a candidate. My instructor (who is amazing!) said that sometimes examiners get the driver to pull over and then everyone gets out and walks, if it is really bad.

Didn't happen to me, thank goodness.

Yeah, a "walkback" will happen if the test is stopped for any reason and the instructor (or someone else insured to drive) isn't in the car. It's one reason I had my instructor in the back on my tests. About 1% of tests are abandoned though not all mean walkbacks.

Congratulations!
You can drive straight away if you're insured on a car. My dds has their pass certificate emailed to them straight away and that's all you need.
Their full licence was through in about a week.