Getting your first provisional driving licence is the essential first step toward learning to drive legally in the UK. Below is a complete breakdown of when you can apply, eligibility rules, how to apply, costs, and what you can do once you have it.
✅ When & Who Can Apply
- You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you are 15 years and 9 months old.
- However, you can only drive a car on public roads once you turn 17 – unless you qualify for a special exception (e.g. for mobility disability) that allows you to drive from age 16.
- In Wales, if you’re learning, D-plates (for dysgwr) are an alternative to L-plates.
🧾 Eligibility & Requirements
To successfully apply for your provisional licence, you must:
- Be a resident in Great Britain and in the UK at the time of application.
- Be able to read a standard number plate from 20 metres (with glasses/contact lenses if needed).
- Provide proof of identity, such as a UK passport, or use a share code / other acceptable identity documents.
- Have lived in the UK for at least 185 days in total up to the application date.
💷 Application Cost & Methods
- Applying online via GOV.UK costs £34.
- Postal applications may cost £43.
You can apply:
- Online (fastest method)
- By post, using form D1 (from Post Offices) or equivalent local licence form.
Once applied, if no extra checks are needed, your provisional licence should arrive in about one week when you apply online.
🛠 What the Provisional Licence Lets You Do (and What It Doesn’t)
With a provisional licence, you may:
- Take driving lessons for cars (or other vehicle categories you’ve been granted).
- Practice driving on public roads with supervision (supervisor must meet legal requirements)
- Use L-plates or D-plates in Wales on the vehicle while learning.
- Drive day or night (except motorways, unless under instructor supervision and a dual-controlled car)
You may not:
- Drive on motorways unless accompanied by a DVSA-approved instructor in a dual control car.
- Drive unsupervised on public roads.
🧠 Instructor Tips & Advice
- Don’t wait until exactly age 17 – apply at 15 years 9 months so the licence is ready when your 17th birthday arrives.
- Practice reading number plates from 20 metres before applying (wear your glasses if required).
- Use a good digital photo and double-check identity document rules so your application is not delayed.
- Once you get your provisional licence, start learning, studying the Highway Code, and familiarising yourself with vehicle controls well before your first lessons.
📋 Provisional Licence Checklist
- Reach the age of 15 years 9 months
- Confirm UK residency and living history
- Check you can read a number plate at 20 metres (with lenses if needed)
- Choose application method (online / by post)
- Gather proof of identity and address
- Complete the application and pay the fee
- Wait for your provisional licence to arrive
- Once you’ve received it, begin lessons or supervised practice (subject to local rules)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: If I qualify under the mobility exception, can I drive at 16?
A: Yes – if you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP (or similar), you may be able to drive a car from 16.
Q: Do I need my provisional licence before booking a theory test?
A: Yes – you must hold a provisional licence to book the theory test.
Q: What happens if I lose my provisional licence before lessons start?
A: You’ll need to apply for a replacement licence – the DVLA has procedures for replacements.
Q: How long is a provisional licence valid for?
A: Provisional and full photocard licences are typically valid for 10 years (or until expiry if you turn 70, etc.).
📚 Attribution & Sources
This content is based on official guidance from GOV.UK / DVLA and reputable motoring sources:
- GOV.UK — Apply for your first provisional driving licence
- GOV.UK — Driving lessons and learning to drive
