Applying for your provisional driving licence


If you have never had a driving licence before, you will need to apply for a provisional licence. You can do this once you turn 17 years old. You can apply up to three months before you turn 17 or if you want to drive a moped, you can apply for a provisional licence at 16 years old.

To be eligible to apply, you will need to:

  • be a resident of Great Britain
  • be at least 17 years old
  • meet the minimum eyesight requirement
  • not be prevented from driving for any reason
  • pay £50 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card
  • have a valid UK passport or other form of identity
  • have your National Insurance number if known
  • provide addresses where you’ve lived for the last three years

 

Driving licence fees

It costs £50 to apply for your provisional licence.  There is a cost of £20 if you lose or need to replace your licence.

Once you have passed your test, your provisional licence will be replaced with a full licence at free of charge.

More information on costs of driving licences.

Ways to apply

You will need to complete a D1 application form (which you can get from a Post Office or through DVLA's online form ordering service).

What you will need:

  • original documentation confirming your identity
  • a colour passport-style photograph
  • the fee of £50 by cheque or postal order payable to DVLA (do not send cash)

 

Send your completed application and payment to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD.

You can also apply directly online using your Government Gateway ID. If you don’t have one or need to re-register, you’ll get an ID as part of your application.

Learning to drive

GOV.uk provides you with a search facility to find driving instructors around your postcode.

Cost of lessons may vary, it is worth considering booking in blocks as this could save you money.  The length of time you are required to drive may also vary from 45 minutes to an hour and thirty minutes.  You will need to research and ask for a quotation from different driving schools. For more information please see the Driving Lessons page.

Don't forget to ask your friend's for recommendations and experiences of any driving schools you come across during your research.

To get your driving licence you will need to pass both the theory and practical tests.  To be able to take your practical test, you must pass your theory test first.

Theory test

The theory test comprises of two parts and both must be passed before you can pass the theory test:

  • multiple choice test
  • hazard perception test

 

The multiple choice test

At the beginning of the session, you will be given a practice session with multiple choice questions to familiarise yourself with the test.  Each question has a series of possible answers where you may be required to select one or more of the correct answers.  You can move inbetween questions and come back to the ones you can't answer at the end.

  • there are 50 questions and the pass mark is 43
  • you are given 57 minutes to complete the test
  • you can chose to have a break of three minutes before starting the hazard perception test

 

The hazard perception test

The hazard perception test consists of a series of clips where you are to identify where the hazards are.  On the day of the test you will be shown a short video clip showing you how it works.  The clips contain road scenes with at least one developing hazard - this may be a car about to change speed or direction, someone about to open a car door or a pedestrian about to cross the road and many others.

  • there are a series of 14 clips
  • the pass mark is 44 out of 75
  • the earlier to identify this, the higher your score
  • the most you can score for each developing hazard is 5 points
  • you will score zero for that clip if you click continuously

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Fees

The cost to take a theory test is £31.  If you need to retest you must wait three whole days before being able to retest.

More information on fees can be found on this page.

You can book your test online and also search for a theory test centre at GOV.uk.

Ensure that you have:

  • a credit/debit card at hand
  • provisional driving licence number
  • email address to receive your confirmation

 

Preparing and practicing for your theory test

There are a wealth of resources that you can buy to help you to prepare for your test.  Don't forget to ask your instructor if he has prepared any materials to help you.

Multiple choice

The below books are what you will need to prepare and can be found in most book shops:

  • The Highway Code
  • 'Know your traffic signs'
  • the relevant book from the 'essential skills' range

 

You can download the 'Know your traffic signs' from GOV.uk here.

GOV.uk have also produced a practice test for the multiple choice test where you can test your knowledge.

Hazard perception

You can purchase ‘The official guide to hazard perception’ training DVD. It’s available from most high street book shops and to order online.

At the test centre

You will need to bring with you both your provisional licence and its paper counterpart.  Your test will be cancelled and your fees lost if you fail to bring these documents.

Once you pass your theory, your certificate will last for two years.  If you haven't passed your practical test by then you will need to redo the theory test.  More information can be found on Theory Test Overview and from theSite.org's theory test information pages.

The practical test

Before the driving part of the test begins, you will be asked two vehicle safety questions.

  1. eyesight check - you'll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres for a vehicle with new style number plate and 20.5 metres for a vehicle with an old style number plate.
  2. 'Show me, tell me' - you will be asked two questions where the examiner will ask you to show them how you would carry out a vehicle check (e.g. check the oil etc) and tell them how you would carry out a vehicle check

 

You will need to pass the eyesight test for the driving ability part to begin.

Driving ability

The test lasts for about 40 minutes and your examiner will give you directions of where to go.  This tests how safely you can drive and should include:

  • normal stops
  • an angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle)
  • a hill start
  • you may also be asked to do an emergency stop

 

Reversing

You will also be asked to do one of the following:

  • reversing around a corner
  • turning in the road
  • reverse parking - either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road

 

Fees

Fees for taking your driving test will vary according to when you take it.  Prices are:

  • weekdays £62
  • weekends £75

 

Booking a practical test and finding a test centre

You can book your practical test online and also search for a practical test centre at GOV.uk.

  • a credit/debit card at hand
  • provisional driving licence number
  • your theory test certificate number (you may find this information on this website if you have lost it.) 

 

Passing your test

To pass your test, you will need to have:

  • 15 or fewer driving faults
  • no serious or dangerous faults

 

If you pass, you may drive straight away and the examiner will ask if you want your full driving licence to be sent to you straight away.  If you don't pass, you will have to wait ten days before you can retake the test.  You should ask your examiner to go through the faults with your instructor so that your instructor can work closely with you on improving these faults.

More information can be found on Practical Test Overview and from theSite.org's practical test information pages.

Once you pass

Once you pass, don’t forget you are on probation for the first two years. If you are given six or more penalty points during this period you will lose your licence and go back to a being a learner, so drive safely.  More information for New Drivers here.

Pass Plus

Pass Plus is a practical course designed to help drivers to improve their skills and drive more safely.  It lasts 6 hours and you arrange this with a Pass Plus registered instructor.

Once you have completed this with your instructor, you will be given a Pass Plus certificate. You’ll need this when applying for a car insurance discount.

Click here to see the Pass Plus overview.

Learning to ride a motorcycle

After completing Compulsory Basic Training you can access a free rider skills day by contacting Road Safety. Course information can be found on the Bikesafe (London) website.