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If you get your provisional license during that first 12 months, you are not required to show L-plates during that first 12 months (the time that your foreign licence is still valid). You also don't need to be accompanied, and you can drive on motorways (again, just during the first 12 months). After that first 12 months, you must show L-plates and be accompanied, so it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

What will be triggering date of these 12 months? When the residence permit (RP) is issued or when the resident reached the UK (which could be a few weeks or months later than the RP issue date).

phoog
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Muhammad
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1 Answers1

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The 12 months period starts on the date you entered the UK on your visa.

From gov.uk:

You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident

(my emphasis)

Martin Bonner supports Monica
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Michael Harvey
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    I think that it leads naturally from the fact that having the provisional doesn't actually affect the entitlement to drive without plates. When you begin residence in the UK, you are allowed to drive for 12 months on a foreign licence. Getting the provisional licence doesn't extend that period. – MJeffryes Nov 22 '18 at 14:53
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    https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-resident-of-great-britain/full-car-and-or-motorcycle/any-other-country – MJeffryes Nov 22 '18 at 14:53
  • I have edited the answer to incorporate the link that @MJeffryes found, and extracted the relevant quote. If you like the change, please approve it. If not, feel free to discard it. – Martin Bonner supports Monica Nov 23 '18 at 11:53
  • Original comment on requesting reference deleted and upvoted answer. – B.Liu Nov 23 '18 at 15:36