When you pass the examiner will give you a pass certificate, this must be sent off to the DVLA within two years of passing otherwise you will be faced with re-sitting both of your tests when it expires.
When the examiner tells you you have passed, what he is really saying is "well done you are a safe enough driver to continue learning on your own". You will find it a strange experience indeed when you set out driving without a chaperone.
In Northern Ireland you will have to display "R" plates for a year and will be restricted to a maximum of 45 mph for the same period, if you have been learning in your own or the family car it is important to inform your insurers of your changed circumstances as in many cases there will be an increased premium to pay and you may find yourself without cover if you do not inform the company.
You will not have any experience of motorway driving, most driving instructors will offer courses on this and other more advanced driving methods when you are qualified, these can be worth much more than the outlay.
