N-Plates & More Penalty Points

I’ll never ever forget the day I passed my driving test, I took my mother’s car for a 5 hour drive showing off my independence from those stigmatic stickers. Unfortunately, From today on (August 1st) a person who passes their driving test will be considered as a novice driver for 2 years. This means they must display N-plates on their cars for 2 years and adhere to a much stricter penalty point system.

If a novice driver is caught speeding, using a mobile phone or not wearing their seat belt they will get 3 penalty points – as opposed to 2 for regular drivers. If they accumulate just 7 penalty points they will be banned from driving for 6 months. They must also adhere to a stricter blood alcohol limit – just 20mg instead of 50mg.

What many people did before was simply not display their L plates, however if a novice driver does this they can expect a €60 fine.

What most newly qualified drivers will be worried about is their insurance premium. Dominic Finlay, head of corporate affairs for Liberty Insurance has said “initially we see no significant difference in insurance rates for those on N-plates as opposed to those passing their tests right now…we will be looking at it, though, and if there is a need to raise rates then that will have to happen.”

The good news: novice drivers do not need to be accompanied by a qualified driver!

Stay safe on the roads!

Words by Niall