Wolverhampton – A photo of a Nissan private hire vehicle displaying a bold red ‘L’ plate on the rear has gone viral across Uber, Bolt, and private hire driver social media groups, prompting a wave of jokes and tongue-in-cheek speculation among drivers.
The vehicle, which appears to be licensed with Wolverhampton Council (as confirmed by the visible rear plate), has become the latest internet meme circulating on WhatsApp groups, with captions ranging from “Wolverhampton issuing licences before the driving test now?” to “Even the car knows it’s time to learn again!”
The image has raised eyebrows and laughs in equal measure, especially given the ongoing discussions around Wolverhampton’s reputation for issuing large numbers of private hire licences to drivers operating far beyond the city’s borders.
“It’s classic,” commented one driver in a London-based Uber WhatsApp group. “We’ve all had close calls on the road, but imagine pulling up behind a PHV with an L plate. You’d be wondering if you’re in a hidden camera show.”
Another post joked, “Wolverhampton now offering on-the-job training!”
While the actual reason for the L plate remains unclear—possibly indicating a family member learning to drive, or a simple mistake—the internet hasn’t hesitated to have fun with the image.
This isn’t the first time Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles have been at the centre of viral content. With their widespread presence across the UK and sometimes controversial reputation in local licensing debates, they often find themselves in the spotlight.
The council has not commented on the image, but among drivers, it has become the week’s unexpected comic relief.
Couple of funny quotes regarding the picture of the learner Wolverhampton driver:
“When Wolverhampton issues the badge before the bloke even finds the clutch.”
“That’s not an L plate, that’s a warning to passengers.”
“Wolverhampton: where you get the licence first, driving lessons second.”
“Even the sat nav said ‘Good luck, mate’ when he pulled off.”
“Uber’s new slogan: Learn as you earn.”
“Passenger: ‘You new?’ Driver: ‘Nah, just new to driving.'”
“He’s not lost – he’s just on his test route again.”
“The only Uber where you have to check his blind spots.”
“That L plate isn’t for ‘learner’, it’s for ‘licensed but learning.’”
“Wolverhampton badge? Check. Insurance? Check. Ability to drive? Pending…”
