Restrictions and Prohibitions for New Drivers Under the Highway Code

We all remember the sense of freedom and independence that came with our first times behind the wheel and the pride we felt as we held our driver’s license in our hands once we’d finally earned it. However, every new driver goes through a “learning” phase, and for this reason, during the first few years of driving, the Highway Code sets forth specific rules designed to increase driver safety. In this article, we’ll look at the restrictions for new drivers in our country—from speed limits to engine power, and including drunk driving.

One of the most frequently asked questions is about what kinds of cars new drivers can drive. For holders of a Class B driver’s license, the Highway Code sets a power limit of 75 kW per metric ton—based on the vehicle’s curb weight— for new drivers during the first three years after the license is issued. For M1-category passenger cars, there is an additional maximum power limit of 105 kW.

Too complicated? Don’t worry—you don’t necessarily have to check this by heart: the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation provides an online service where you can enter your car’s license plate number to verify whether the vehicle can be driven by a new driver.

Speed limits for new drivers are lower than those normally applicable to other drivers. In fact, during the first three years after obtaining their license, new drivers may not exceed 100 km/h on highways, while on major roads outside urban areas, the limit is 90 km/h. These restrictions apply regardless of the car’s horsepower or engine displacement.

Among the driving restrictions for new drivers, one particularly important rule concerns alcohol. In fact, for the first three years after obtaining a Class B driver’s license, it is prohibited to drive after consuming alcoholic beverages: for this category, the permitted blood alcohol concentration is therefore zero. The same rule applies to drivers under the age of 21 and to certain categories of professional drivers.

Failure to comply with the regulation may result in more severe penalties for new drivers than those imposed on other drivers. In particular, penalties related to blood alcohol content for new drivers are governed by Article 186-bis of the Highway Code and apply even when the measured level is between 0 and 0.5 g/l.

The rules for new drivers have changed following the reform of the Highway Code, which took effect on December 14, 2024. For those who obtain a Class B driver’s license on or after that date, some of the main restrictions have been extended from one to three years.

Not all new drivers, however, are subject to exactly the same restrictions: to determine which rules apply, it is therefore important to consider the date the license was obtained and the category of license held.