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Supervising a learner driver: your responsibilities

If you’ve been asked to supervise a learner driver during practice sessions, you’ll need to know that certain rules apply. You may also have your own questions about who’s responsible for what and what the consequences might be if they don’t have the correct learner driver insurance, have an accident, or are fined.  

30.04.25

By Alan Boswell Group

A supervised learner driver looking at a road sign that reads, “Please drive carefully.”

To put your mind at rest, we look at your responsibilities so everyone’s clear about their obligations. 

Who can supervise a learner driver? 

Friends and family can supervise learner drivers, but to do so, you must:  

  • be at least 21 years old; 

  • be qualified to drive the type of car the learner is using (for example, if they’re practising in a manual car, you’ll need to have a manual car licence); 

  • have held a full driving licence for at least three years (the licence will need to be from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein); 

  • not be currently banned from driving.  

You’re also not allowed to accept payment to supervise a learner driver. In the UK, only trainee or approved driving instructors (ADIs) can be paid for driving lessons.  

What type of learner driver can I supervise? 

The person you’re supervising must be at least 17 years old and have a provisional driving licence. They’ll also need to meet the minimum eyesight rules, which you can find here.  

What are the insurance requirements to supervise learner drivers? 

It’s vital to make sure that both you and the learner driver are properly insured. If not, any policy you have automatically becomes invalid. Additionally, learner drivers without suitable insurance can be given an unlimited fine and up to eight penalty points; they may even be banned from driving. Here’s what to consider: 

Insuring the car 

The car being used must be insured for learner drivers. If the learner driver owns their car, this should be covered under their own learner driver insurance. These policies are usually very flexible, for example, at Alan Boswell Group, you can buy insurance on a monthly or annual basis.  

Learner driver policies should also cover you as the supervisor in case you need to take control of the car at any point. Having appropriate insurance also ensures third-party damage is covered if you cause an accident. 

If you own the car, you can add the learner driver to your policy as a named driver, or they can take out their own learner driver insurance that allows them to use your car.   

You’ll both need to remember that although you can legally supervise a learner if you’re at least 21 years old, some insurers require supervisors to be at least 25 years old.  

Named driver vs. learner driver insurance, which is better? 

Adding a learner as a named driver can be cheaper than them taking out their own policy. Whether it is will ultimately depend on your circumstances (for example, the car you have, how long you’ve held a licence, and your driving history).  

However, the biggest drawback is that if there’s an accident and you need to make a claim, it will affect your no claims bonus. On the other hand, if a learner takes out their own learner driver insurance, any claims will be made on their own policy, leaving your no claims unaffected. Provided they don’t make a claim, if the learner takes out an annual policy they would also accrue no claims bonus. 

What are my responsibilities as a supervising driver? 

When you supervise a learner driver, the same rules apply as if you were behind the wheel. So, even though you’re not technically driving, you must not: 

  • hold or use a mobile phone or other electronic device (like a tablet or sat nav); 

  • be over the legal blood alcohol limit; 

  • supervise when you have taken drugs or medicine that could affect your judgment or ability to react. 

As the supervisor, it’s also up to you to: 

Ensure the learner driver is safe 

As a full driving licence holder, it’s up to you to ensure the learner is safe and driving responsibly. This can include looking further ahead for potential hazards, such as pedestrian crossings, junctions, and roadworks. Don’t assume that the learner driver will be able to identify risk in the same way as an experienced driver.  

Provide guidance and instruction 

It’s a good idea to plan your route before you set off and check if there’s anything the learner wants to focus on (such as manoeuvres). Consider the roads you’ll use, the time of day, and weather conditions. You could also speak to the learner’s driving instructor to get a better understanding of what to focus on. 

When you’re in the car, any directions you give should be clear and straightforward. You should also give instructions in good time so the learner can plan and react.  

Monitor the learner’s driving 

As an experienced driver, most driving skills will be second nature to you, but learner drivers may need more prompting to remember the basics. Gentle reminders about indicators, blind spots, and staying within the speed limit all help develop their driving skills.  

At the end of the practice session, it’s worth talking about how you both felt it went. This should help you improve next time and give you ideas on what to focus on.  

Who has liability for learner driver errors? 

When they’re behind the wheel, learner drivers have the same responsibilities as fully qualified drivers. So, if a learner driver has an accident and is at fault, liability lies with them.  

If they have their own learner driver insurance, any claims would be made on their policy. If they are a named driver on your car insurance, any claims you make on your policy will affect your no claims bonus. Making a claim can also affect the price you’ll pay for insurance in the future.  

Learner drivers are also responsible for any fines and tickets they receive while in charge of the vehicle, including speeding fines and parking tickets.  

While the learner driver is responsible for their actions, you’ll need to follow the rules set out for supervisors (such as not using your mobile phone).  

FAQs

Flexible learner driver insurance  

Being asked to supervise a learner driver might feel daunting at first, and while there are some rules to follow, your main role is to support and advise – including making sure the learner has the right insurance.  

Need help with your insurance?

To give you peace of mind, you can speak to one of our experts , who’ll be able to explain all your options. You and the learner driver can then choose what’s best based on your circumstances. As well as offering flexible monthly or annual policies, you can also add helpful extras, including breakdown cover.  

For more help and information, take a look at our advice hub where you can find out about rules for learner drivers, owning a car with a provisional licence and how cars in lower insurance groups help lower premiums.

Speak to us:  01603 301770

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