Learner's permit

A driver's permit, learner's permit, student permit, learner's license or provisional license is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive, but has not yet satisfied the prerequisite to obtain a driver's license. Having a learner's permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements for applying for a full driver's license. To get a learner's permit, one must typically pass a written permit test, take a basic competency test in the vehicle, or both.

Australia

Laws regarding learner's permits in Australia differ between each state. However, all states require a number of hours supervised driving to be undertaken and for the permit to be held for a set period. The age to get a Learner Permit is 16 in all states and territories except the ACT where it is 15 and 9 months. When a person is on their learner's permit, they have to log 50–120 hours depending on the state they are in and must obtain at least 5-20 night hours. They can be supervised or taught in their log book hours by any person/persons holding a full license. They must sign the log book for allocated hours. Learner drivers must display an 'L' plate on their car and have a 0% Blood alcohol content. Some states, do provide online applications to log these hours digitally. Upon passing the practical test, drivers are provided with a provisional licence that enforces some restrictions on them for between 2 and 3 years.

Belgium

A provisional learners license can be obtained after passing a theoretical exam less than three years prior. The minimum age for a learners permit is 17 years of age. The learner needs to be accompanied by a designated person with a valid driving license. The vehicle needs to bear a clearly visible, predesignated "learners" sign, sporting the letter "L".
If the learner goes to a driving school and follows 20 hours of lessons, he or she gets another learner's permit. With this, he or she can drive with maximum two people who have had their driver's license for at least 8 years, or the learner can drive by him/herself, but with some restrictions: the learner cannot drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and the learner cannot drive on the evenings before a legal holiday, or the evening of the holiday itself.

Canada

The minimum age to get a learner's licence in Canada varies from 14 in Alberta to 16 in all other provinces, with the minimum age being 15 in the territories.

Ontario

A G1 Licence is issued to new drivers at the age of 16 after completing a written test. G1 license restrictions include the following:

The driver must maintain a blood alcohol level of zero at all times.
Each passenger must wear a seatbelt.
No driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.
Driving on the following highways are forbidden, unless accompanied by a licensed driving instructor:
* 400-series highways
* Queen Elizabeth Way
* Don Valley Parkway
* Gardiner Expressway in the Greater Toronto Area
* E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor
* Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener-Waterloo
The driver must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver who has at least 4 years driving experience and a blood alcohol level of zero.
Nova Scotia

A beginner's permit is issued to new drivers in Nova Scotia who are 16 years of age or older, after the person passes a written test. The L license restrictions include:

A fully licensed driver must sit in the seat adjacent the new driver
There cannot be additional passengers
The learner must have a blood alcohol count of 0
No time or road restrictions
Alberta

A Class 7 licence is issued to those who are 14 years of age or older and complete a knowledge test and eye exam. They are then put into a graduated driver licensing program with restrictions. These restrictions include:

No driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.
A fully licensed driver must be in the passenger seat at all times.
Having a blood alcohol level of zero.
No more people than there are seat belts.
Drivers are allowed a maximum of 8 demerit points.

Drivers with the Class 7 GDL licence must hold said license for one year before upgrading at which point a driver will be able take a road test if they are 16 years of age or older. If they pass, they become eligible to upgrade their licence to a Class 5 GDL. A Class 5 GDL licence carries some of the same restrictions as the Class 7 licence, but no longer requires a fully licensed Class 5 non-GDL driver in the passenger seat. Once the person becomes 18 and holds the Class 5 GDL license for at least 2 years, they can transition their licence to a full class 5 licence without having to take a road test again.

France

In France, there is a graduated driver licensing program for people between the ages of 15 and 17 and half, for the B driving licence. There are some restrictions: for instance, a fully qualified driver must accompany the learner.
At age 18, the learner's permit can apply to a normal driving license, that it can pass more easily due to its previous experience; additionally, the length of the probation period is lowered to two years.
This graduated driver licensing is valid only within France; thus one cannot use it to cross borders.
For people over 18, there is a system similar to Graduated driver licensing, but the rules are slightly different: for instance there is no reduction from three to two years for the probation licence.
Furthermore, once receiving a full driving license for the first time, the following restrictions apply for two or three years, known as permis probatoire:

Maximum speed 110 km/h instead of 130 on motorways, 100 km/h instead of 110, and 80 km/h instead of 90 on rural roads.
The permis probatoire has only six points while the regular permit has 12 points.
At the end of the two or three-year period, assuming the driver made no infraction, the "permis probatoire" is automatically converted to a regular driver's licence.

When	General case	Apprentissage anticipé case
Driving licence passed	6	6
After one year	+2 → 8	+3 → 9
After two years	+2 → 10	+3 → 12
After three years	+2 → 12

Some training to road traffic safety might help to recover points.

Germany

Germany does not issue a Learner's Permit and does not allow driving lessons other than with a fully licensed driving instructor. The minimum age for a Class B driving license for private cars is 18 years. However, obtaining a provisional driving license is possible for anyone aged 17 after receiving full training in a driving school and passing both the regular theory and on-the-road test. Until the young drivers reach the age of 18, they must be accompanied in the car by an experienced license holder. This regulation is called BF17, see Graduated driver licensing.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, any person aged 18 or above can apply for a Learner's Driving License for private cars, light goods vehicle and motorcycles. For other types of vehicle, the age required is 21 and the applicant must have a valid private car or light goods vehicle full driving license for 1 year, or have such full driving license issued after the completion of the respective probationary driving period. Unlike other jurisdictions, a learner must be supervised by an approved driving instructor instead of an ordinary fully licensed driver, or attending an approved driving school to learn to drive. L-plate is also required when the learner is practicing.

India

In India, the minimum age to obtain a provisional driving licence is 18. When driving with a provisional licence, the learner must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver. The supervisor must have a clear view of the road and be in a position to control the vehicle if necessary.
The provisional licence is issued only after passing a theory test. A full driving licence can be obtained after successfully completing the practical driving test. While it is possible to take both tests in quick succession, most learners take time between the theory and practical exams to undergo driving lessons—either with their supervisor or through a professional driving school.
Vehicles driven by learners must display L-plates on both the front and rear. These plates alert other road users that the driver is still in training and may make mistakes. The L-plate consists of a white square with a large red "L" in the center.

Ireland

In Ireland, a learner may take the theory test at the age of 16, which assesses their knowledge of traffic situations and road signs. Upon passing this test, the learner receives a learner's permit, which allows them to drive on public roads when accompanied by a fully licensed driver who has held their licence for more than two years.
The main restrictions are that the learner cannot drive on motorways and must display 'L' plates clearly at all times. Additionally, they must hold the learner's permit for at least six months before they are eligible to take the practical driving test to obtain a full licence. This requirement is known as the "six-month rule."

Italy

In Italy, anyone aged 14 or older can apply for a driving license. For a Category B license, which is available from age 18, the applicant must first pass a theory test covering topics such as traffic scenarios, road signs, insurance, and penalties. They have two attempts to pass this test.
Upon passing, the applicant receives a learner's permit, which allows them to drive on public roads if accompanied by a licensed driver who has held their license for at least ten years. There are no restrictions on the vehicle's horsepower at this stage, although limits apply during the first three years after obtaining a full license, unless the newly licensed driver obtains a Category BE license.
Learners are allowed to drive on motorways and must display 'P' stickers on both the front and rear of the vehicle. They then have twelve months to take the practical driving test. If they fail to pass the road test within this period—also with two attempts spaced one month apart—they must obtain a new foglio rosa and pay the associated fees.