The 300bhp Driving Licence

• No evidence supporting the claims
• UK Government is not giving high performance licences consideration
• A simple power restriction would be unworkable
• Only restrictions on young drivers are getting serious consideration

The Facts

Settle down, grab a brew, because we need to talk about some absolute grade-A nonsense that’s been doing the rounds.

Several people forwarded an Instagram post to me this week about The "300bhp driving licence". To be fair to the lad, it’s also grade-A click bait so well done him for playing the game.

Luke Malpas is claiming that the UK government is "considering" a special licence just for cars over 300 horsepower and that you've got to be over 21 to get one (nice touch).

Before you start your petition, let’s do some fact checking. I had a look for this supposed "discussion." I checked the DVLA, I checked gov.uk, I even checked GB News in case it involved immigrants. Guess what? Nothing. Let’s face it unless Keir comes up with a policy to tax horsepower it’s not of interest to His Majesty’s Government.

There isn't a "discussion" chap, it's just someone's overactive imagination running away with them and then posting it online for clicks and outrage. And fair play, it works, doesn't it? Everyone loves a good government conspiracy theory, especially when it involves them taking away your 'FREEDOM!'

Yes, we know Australia has some box ticking online exam which is ultimately pretty pointless. The reality is that it’s really difficult to implement such an idea as a high performance licence. Yes, you could get a licence for high powered vehicles - and that’s not such a daft idea when you see the billies busting their balls to finance hypercars without the first idea how to drive them.

The Practicalities Don't Work

However - aside from the fact that the media would have you believe half the drivers on the road don’t have regular licences - having a UHPV licence is fine, but how do cars get categorised? You buy a humble 2.0-litre family saloon, map it to 350bhp overnight, suddenly your licence is invalid? Or you buy a vintage muscle car that made 300bhp in 1968, but now with age and a bit of rust, it’s probably closer to 200. Do you get a lesser licence then? Or you drive a 3 tonne truck with 300bhp or a Caterham with 150… It's got more holes than a scrotey T shirt.

Never Stop Learning

We are in favour of suggesting to drivers that learning isn’t over when they get their licence. It’s an ongoing frustration to us that a lot of performance car owners somehow think learning isn’t for them: ‘great idea, other people should do that’. Doing a track day in 2017 doesn’t make you a driving master I’m afraid.

Driving isn’t “completed mate”, ever!

This way for the open minded => High Performance Driver Coaching

PetrolTed

June 2025