75% of UK adults back graduated driving licences nationwide
Three-quarters of UK adults support a nationwide rollout of graduated driving licences, according to our survey of 2,000 people - while younger adults remain the least convinced, partly over fears the cost of learning to drive could exceed £1,100 for automatic learners. We surveyed a representative sample of the UK in October 2026 to find out how attitudes to graduated licensing really break down by age, region, and driving experience.
- 75% Of UK adults support graduated driving licences
- 67% Say inexperienced drivers pose a high risk on UK roads
- £1,107 Estimated minimum cost to learn to drive as an automatic learner under a graduated model
- 97% Support in Belfast - the highest of any UK city surveyed
What are graduated driving licences?
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is a phased approach to qualifying as a driver, designed to give new motorists more time to build experience in lower-risk conditions before driving without restrictions. The scheme was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026.
Under the Northern Ireland model, learner drivers cannot sit their practical test until at least six months after their provisional licence becomes valid. Once qualified, new drivers must display an R plate for two years - a blue R plate on a white background for the first six months, then a white R plate on a blue background for the remaining eighteen months.
During that first six months, drivers under 24 cannot carry more than one passenger aged 14-20 between 11pm and 6am, with exemptions for immediate family members and for journeys where someone aged 21 or over who has held a full licence for at least three years sits in the front passenger seat. The restrictions apply to car drivers only, not motorcyclists.
Three-quarters of UK adults support a wider rollout
Our survey of 2,000 UK adults found significant support for extending graduated driving licences across England, Scotland and Wales. Three-quarters (75%) support the idea, with 42% strongly agreeing - while only 5% strongly disagree.
This support is closely tied to how risky people consider new drivers to be. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents believe inexperienced drivers pose a high risk on UK roads, and a third (33%) describe the risk as very high.
Why graduated licences are being discussed
Road safety remains the central argument for graduated licensing. Government figures show that 20% of killed or seriously injured road casualties in 2025 involved a collision with a younger driver, compared with 14% involving an older driver.
Our survey findings echo this concern across age groups - and the concern is not limited to older drivers looking in from the outside. A Brake report found that over half (54%) of 18-24-year-olds said they had either been involved in a crash involving a young driver, or knew someone who had.
What could it cost to learn to drive under a graduated model?
- Manual learner 769 estimated minimum cost over a 6-month mandatory learning period
- Automatic learner 1107 estimated minimum cost over a 6-month mandatory learning period
Covertime survey of 2,000 UK adults, October 2026.
How we calculated the cost
These figures are based on a mandatory six-month learning period and include every cost a learner cannot avoid: a provisional licence (£34), a theory test (£23), and a practical test (£62 on a weekday or £75 during evenings, weekends and bank holidays) - the same across manual and automatic.
The gap comes almost entirely from lesson costs. Manual lessons typically run £25-£35 per hour, totalling roughly £650-£910 across six months. Automatic lessons cost more at £38-£42 per hour, totalling around £988-£1,092 over the same period.
These are minimum estimates based on the mandatory learning period alone and do not include buying or insuring a separate vehicle for practice outside paid lessons.
The generational divide on graduated licensing
Support for graduated driving licences rises sharply with age. Among 55-64-year-olds, 77% either strongly or slightly agree with the idea, including 50% who strongly agree. Among over-65s, 56% strongly agree, and 79% believe inexperienced drivers pose a high risk on UK roads.
18-24-year-olds tell a more mixed story. Almost half (49%) still support graduated licences, but 24% disagree - more than any other age group - and only 47% see inexperienced drivers as a high risk, noticeably lower than older respondents.
The pattern suggests younger adults recognise the risks of inexperience but are less enthusiastic about policies that extend the time, restrictions and cost of learning to drive - understandably, since they are the group most directly affected by all three.
Support for graduated driving licences by city
% of respondents in each city who support a nationwide rollout. Source: Covertime survey of 2,000 UK adults, October 2026.
- Belfast 97%
- Southampton 81%
- Birmingham 80%
- Cardiff 79%
- Edinburgh 78%
- Glasgow 78%
- Sheffield 77%
- Leeds 76%
- London 75%
- Newcastle 74%
- Nottingham 73%
- Bristol 72%
- Liverpool 71%
- Manchester 61%
- Norwich 57%
Covertime survey of 2,000 UK adults, October 2026.
Support holds steady regardless of gender or driving status
Outside of age and location, support for graduated licensing is remarkably consistent. Men and women were equally likely to strongly support the measures.
Support also holds up regardless of whether someone currently drives: 75% of existing licence holders support graduated licences, compared with 70% of people who do not hold a licence. The policy clearly resonates beyond the people it would directly affect.
Our tips for reducing the cost of learning to drive
Tom Warsop, motor insurance expert at Covertime, shared advice on managing costs while building experience behind the wheel under a longer learning period.
- Practise outside your driving lessons. "Driving lessons are usually one of the biggest expenses, so making the most of every lesson is important. If you can safely practise with a parent, family member or friend between lessons, you'll often build confidence quicker and need fewer paid lessons overall."
- Use learner driver insurance for extra practice. "If you have access to a family member's car, learner driver insurance can be a cost-effective way to get additional practice. It allows you to gain real-world driving experience outside of lessons without needing your own car."
- Book lessons consistently. "Long gaps between lessons can slow progress and mean spending more time revisiting skills you've already learned. Even one lesson a week can help you keep improving and make better use of the money you're spending."
- Consider manual if it works for you. "Automatic cars can be easier for some learners, but our research shows they can also be significantly more expensive to learn in. If you're comfortable learning in a manual car, it could help keep costs down."
- Don't rush your practical test. "Taking your test before you're ready can end up costing more in the long run. It's usually cheaper to spend a little longer preparing than it is to pay for repeat tests and additional lessons after a failed attempt."
- Build experience, not just hours. "The goal isn't just passing the test. Try to gain experience driving on different road types, and in different weather conditions and situations where possible. The more varied your experience, the more confident you'll be when you start driving independently."
Expert comment
Tom Warsop added: "The level of support we're seeing for a nationwide GDL rollout suggests that most people recognise the additional risks faced by newly qualified drivers during their first months behind the wheel.
"It's understandable that younger drivers are less supportive of graduated licensing than older age groups though. They're the group most directly affected by longer learning periods, additional restrictions and potentially higher upfront costs.
"However, the findings also show that younger people recognise the risks associated with inexperience behind the wheel. The challenge is finding the right balance between improved road safety and keeping driving accessible and affordable for new motorists."
What already changes once you pass your test
Graduated licensing would add restrictions that do not currently apply in England, Scotland or Wales - but new drivers here are not entirely unrestricted either. Our guide to driving after passing your test covers the new driver penalty points limit and probationary period that already exist, and our theory test pass mark guide and driving test waiting times data cover the rest of the journey to a full licence.
Our report methodology
This research was commissioned by Covertime and surveyed 2,000 UK adults in October 2026. Respondents were segmented by age, gender, nearest city, and whether they held a full UK driving licence, to analyse attitudes towards graduated driving licences, perceptions of inexperienced drivers, and support for a wider rollout.
Information on current Northern Ireland graduated licensing rules is drawn from the Department for Infrastructure. Road casualty figures are drawn from GOV.UK reported road casualties statistics. Cost estimates are based on current UK provisional licence fees, average lesson pricing, and DVSA theory and practical test fees, accurate as of October 2026.
Learning to drive or supervising a learner?
Learner driver insurance from Covertime lets a learner practise in a family member's car, in their own name, without affecting the owner's no claims discount.
Get a price in under 60 seconds!