While they aren’t required by law, P plates can be a great way to give new drivers more confidence on the road.
Green P plates show other drivers that you've recently passed your driving test.
The P stands for ‘probationary’ and they aren’t mandatory, so it’s up to you if you want to display one – they won’t affect the cost of your car insurance.
P plates show other drivers that you aren’t an experienced driver, so they might be more understanding if you make small mistakes. This can give you time to become more confident when driving alone.
Display your P plates in the same place as you would your L plates - on the front and rear of your car. Don’t put them on your front and rear windscreen as they’ll block your view.
P Plates are entirely voluntary and aren’t required by law, so they won’t make a difference to your car insurance.
There’s no direct correlation between displaying P plates and road accidents. But because you’ve recently passed your test, you can expect to pay more for your car insurance than experienced drivers.
P plates give other drivers fair warning of an inexperienced driver, particularly at danger points such as junctions, roundabouts and on the motorwayMatt Oliver - Motoring expert at GoCompare
Displaying P plates won’t be taken into account by your insurer as it’s unlikely to even ask if you display them
Here’s what you can do to keep costs down: