Many people think that once they have passed their test that they are immediately ready to get on the roads and drive alone. However, there are many things you need to do after passing your exam to ensure you are driving safely and correctly. Here we have a list of top tips from Beverly Slater to make sure that newly qualified drivers take the appropriate measures.

Maintain What You Learnt in Lessons

Once you have passed your driving test, you will be so ecstatic that the typical driving principles you have spent hours learning and practicing could easily go out of the window. You may struggle to focus on what your examiner says to you after you have passed due to the sheer excitement but try your best to concentrate – what they have to say could include crucial information that you may not hear again. You are going to be driving on your own for the very first time after this so the final pieces of information could prove dividends. It is essential that you carry out what you have learnt into your solo driving. Driving by yourself is completely different as there is nobody making sure you are doing the right things. Try to avoid minor faults you may have made in your exam to ensure your standard of driving remains as high as possible.

Obtain Your Driving Licence

After you have passed your driving exam, you will have to pass your provisional driving licence onto your examiner. However, many people worry that this means they are unable to drive until their full driving licence arrives – luckily for you, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can drive straight away after passing your exam and the certificate you receive acts as proof that your full driving licence is on its way. On this day, the provisional licence you gave away will be sent to the DVLA and within three weeks you will have your full driving licence with you.

Update Your Insurance

Whilst you were having driving lessons, you may well have had a learner’s insurance so that you could drive in a parent or guardian’s car with them in the passenger seat. Once you have passed your driving exam, you will no longer qualify as a learner driver, thus meaning your learner insurance policy is not valid anymore. It does not take long to cancel your learner insurance and once you have done it, you can then focus on securing a full car insurance.

You will not be able to drive your vehicle until you have a full car insurance on the vehicle in question. Although you now have your certificate or your driving license in hand, it is still a criminal offence to drive a vehicle without having full insurance on it. It is essential that you insure yourself on the vehicle before you begin driving.

Pay Vehicle Tax

If the vehicle you are driving in has been bought recently, it is pivotal that you pay car tax on said vehicle. Luckily, if you took your exam or had driving lessons in your own vehicle, you will have taxed the vehicle already. If you don’t pay your car tax, it is highly likely that your vehicle will be crushed or clamped. This highlights how vital it is that you make sure your car is taxed all the time.

P Plates

Contrary to popular belief, P Plates are extremely useful for newly qualified drivers. Using P Plates protects both yourself, your passengers and your vehicle – other drivers on the road are clearly notified that you are a newly qualified driver and they will be more careful and lenient, allowing a safer driving experience for all. It is not the law to use P Plates after passing your exam, but it could certainly improve your first few months driving.

For more information, visit Beverly Slater today.