Safety and rules
Hybrid car for a new driver: which power figure counts?
Use the official vehicle data and check both 75 kW per tonne and, for M1, the 105 kW ceiling for three years.
For category B licences issued after 14 December 2024, new-driver power limits apply for three years: no more than 75 kW per tonne of tare and, for M1 vehicles, an additional maximum of 105 kW. With a hybrid, use the official data relevant to its registered vehicle class, not a marketing figure alone.
Two limits may apply together
The post-2024 rule applies to category B licences issued after the new provisions entered into force on 14 December 2024. It lasts three years. The power-to-tare ratio must not exceed 75 kW per tonne. For a vehicle classified M1, there is also a maximum power limit of 105 kW. If the car is M1, it must satisfy both tests.
Hybrid systems can be described using several power figures: engine output, electric motor output or a combined marketing figure. The legal check must use the vehicle’s official classification and technical data, including the power value relevant to the rule. Do not add engine and motor figures yourself or assume a brochure number is the registered value.
How to check a hybrid
Read the registration certificate for vehicle class, power and tare. Calculate the ratio as kilowatts divided by tare in tonnes, then compare it with 75 kW/t. If the car is M1, compare its relevant power figure with 105 kW too. The MIT plate checker can help, but verify the result against the document, especially for hybrid models.
Example: an M1 hybrid recorded at 90 kW and 1.4 tonnes of tare has a ratio of about 64.3 kW/t and is below both stated limits. An M1 car recorded at 108 kW exceeds the additional cap even if its ratio is low. A different class can change which test applies, so confirm the actual registration entry.
Do not rely on a model name
The same commercial model can have engine, battery and approval variants with different official data. Confirm the precise version and the date your B licence was issued. Older licences follow the earlier rules applicable to their date; do not infer that the post-2024 limits apply to every new driver.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps study theory questions and review mistakes. It cannot determine a particular hybrid’s certified power or confirm eligibility without the vehicle documents.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps review theory questions and mistakes; check the hybrid’s official power and class before applying the new-driver limits.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the combined power advertised by the manufacturer?
Do not assume so. Use the official technical data for the exact registered vehicle and verify the value used by the applicable rule.
Do the 75 kW/t and 105 kW limits replace each other?
For an M1 vehicle, they are cumulative: it must meet the ratio limit and stay at or below 105 kW.