Safety and rules
Can a new driver use a parent’s car?
Yes only if the car and driver meet the applicable limits; family ownership creates no power-limit exemption.
A new driver may use a parent’s car only if the vehicle meets the rules applicable to that licence. For category B licences issued after 14 December 2024, the power limits apply for three years: 75 kW per tonne of tare and, for M1 vehicles, a maximum of 105 kW. The owner’s identity does not change the test.
The rule follows the driver and vehicle
The restriction is not waived because a vehicle belongs to a parent, partner or other family member. For a category B licence issued after the 2024 reform took effect on 14 December, the new-driver limits apply for three years. The vehicle must stay within 75 kW per tonne of tare; if it is classified M1, its power must also be no more than 105 kW.
These limits concern technical data and the driver’s licence issue date. They are separate from who owns the car, who pays insurance or whether the owner is sitting in the passenger seat. Do not assume that permission from a parent makes an otherwise restricted vehicle lawful to drive.
Check before borrowing the car
Check the date on your B licence, then read the vehicle’s registration document for class, power and tare. Divide kilowatts by tare in tonnes and compare with 75 kW/t. For an M1 car, also check the 105 kW cap. MIT’s plate lookup is a useful aid; if the result is unclear, compare its output with the official document.
For example, a family car with 100 kW and a tare of 1.5 tonnes has a ratio of about 66.7 kW/t. If it is M1, it is within those two numerical thresholds; a 110 kW M1 version exceeds the power cap even with a lower ratio. Confirm the actual version and registered data, because trim and powertrain variants differ.
Passenger exceptions are narrow
Article 117 includes a specific exception in certain circumstances when accompanied by a qualifying person, but it has precise requirements. Do not assume that any adult passenger, including the vehicle owner, cancels the power restriction. Check the exact statutory conditions before relying on an exception.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers theory quizzes and review of mistakes to help study the rules. It cannot verify a parent’s car or determine whether a specific exception applies to your trip.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps study theory questions and review mistakes; check your licence date and the family car’s official data before driving.
Frequently asked questions
Does my parent’s permission let me drive a more powerful car?
No. Permission to borrow it does not remove the technical limits applicable to your licence.
Does a parent in the passenger seat automatically remove the limits?
No. Any statutory exception has specific conditions; an ordinary adult passenger is not enough.