New driving licence rules for young drivers: accompanied driving

Why is this scheme being introduced?

The countries in the EU and EEA have different rules for driver training. In a number of countries, opportunities for private driving practice are limited or non-existent. The accompanied driving scheme is intended to give young drivers more experience before driving alone, and to contribute to more equal driving licence rules across countries.

In Norway, young people can already practise driving with a private supervisor from the age of 16, and the scheme will therefore have less significance here than in some other European countries.

What does this mean in practice?

• You can get a driving licence for passenger cars from the age of 17, but will need an accompanying person until you turn 18.
• Your driving licence will carry a separate code (98.02).
• You will be able to gain more experience before you start driving alone.

Driving practice and accompanied driving

The scheme comes in addition to the current rules for driving practice. You can still practise driving with a private supervisor from the age of 16, like today.

The difference between driving practice (for learner drivers) and accompanied driving is that

• driving practice refers to the driving you do as a learner driver before you get your licence, when your accompanying person (supervisor) is considered the responsible driver.
• accompanied driving refers to the driving you do when you have obtained a licence and are considered the responsible driver, but you still need to have an accompanying person in the car with you.

You should note that the rules that apply to the accompanying person are somewhat different for driving practice and accompanied driving.

Requirements applying to the accompanying person during accompanied driving

The accompanying person must

• be at least 24 years old
• have held a Category B driving license issued in an EEA country for at least five years, and must not have been disqualified from driving within the last five years
• sit in the front passenger seat and be able to give the driver advice while driving
• follow the rules regarding the influence of alcohol and other drugs

We are considering whether more requirements should be placed on the accompanying person.