Can I lend my powerful car to a novice driver?

You may lend the car only after checking that the driver is allowed to use it. For category B obtained from 14 December 2024, the first three years carry limits of 75 kW/t and 105 kW maximum for M1. Earlier licences followed a one-year regime with different thresholds. Article 117 also addresses the person who provides a vehicle to a driver who is not allowed to use it.

Check the date and the vehicle before handing over the keys

Ask for the exact date the driver obtained category B and check the plate in the Ministry’s novice-driver service. Since 14 December 2024, restrictions last three years: 75 kW per tonne and, for M1 vehicles, a maximum of 105 kW. The previous one-year regime used 55 kW/t for combustion vehicles and 65 kW/t including battery mass for electric or plug-in cars, with a 70 kW cap for M1. The model name and advertised horsepower are not enough.

Checking matters for the owner too. Article 117 sets the novice-driver restriction and provides consequences for someone who makes a vehicle available knowing, or having reason to know, that the driver cannot use it. For a specific case, read the current provision and any notice already received; do not rely on an old summary or an informal calculation.

The instructor exception does not cover every passenger

Power limits may not apply when an instructor sits beside the driver, but only if the legal conditions are met: the instructor must be no older than 65 and hold a valid licence for the same category for at least ten years, or a valid licence for a higher category. A parent or friend is not automatically a qualifying instructor. Check the licence and its history, as well as its current validity.

If the plate checker does not recognise the vehicle, or the car is a plug-in hybrid with unclear data, compare the result with the registration document and ask the Motor Vehicle Office. If you remain unsure, lend a car that clearly complies or wait for confirmation. A responsible loan starts before the trip: the owner’s consent does not make prohibited driving lawful.

You can study novice-driver rules by chapter and practise exam quizzes with Quiz Patente Ufficiale, including a review of your mistakes.