The Provisional Licence is designed to provide you with a legal allowance to drive under supervision in a car in the UK. You cannot drive on your own in a car until you have passed all the official driving tests.
Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your seventeenth (17th) birthday, however you can apply for the licence up to three months before your seventeenth (17th) birthday. So, if you apply for your provisional licence before you are 17 you will still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test. You can take your theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid.
You can apply for your provisional driving licence in person or by post. You will need to complete the D1 application form that is available from the DVLA form ordering service or at Post Office branches. You will also need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the fee of £50.00. Send your completed application and payment to DVLA.
Alternatively you can apply online at the DVLA site. You can apply for your first provisional driving licence for a car, moped or motorcycle using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) secure and easy to use online service.
According to the DVLA you can apply for your first British provisional driving licence online if you:
- are a resident of Great Britain
- can meet the minimum age requirement
- can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
- are currently not prevented from driving for any reason
- can pay £50.00 by Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Electron, Delta or Solo debit or credit card
- have a valid UK passport or another form of identity
- can provide addresses of where you have lived over the last three years
Once the application has been received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), they should issue you your provisional licence within about 3 to 4 weeks. You will need to wait for your new licence to arrive before driving. Please allow at least three weeks for your licence to arrive before contacting DVLA.
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