Provisional Driving Licence
Before
Lessons
Tests
Passed
Applying for your provisional driving licence
Getting your provisional licence is your first real step to driving freedom.
Sort it early and you’ll be ready to start lessons, book your theory — and finally ditch the mum-and-dad taxi service.
Trusted info from Gov.UK
Applying for your provisional licence sounds like a big deal — but don’t stress. We’ve made it simple, with clear advice and direct links to official Gov.UK pages. Our step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to get your licence sorted through the DVLA and get ready to hit the road.
Apply for a provisional licence online (UK)
How much is a provisional licence in the UK? Answer: £34
You can apply online for your first provisional driving licence for a car, motorbike or moped from DVLA. Applying for a provisional licence online is the simplest, quickest, cheapest way. To do so, you’ll need a valid biometric UK passport.
If you have a biometric passport, your provisional driving licence photo online is sorted, and you won’t need to provide a photo as the DVLA uses the same one from your passport. However, without a passport, you’ll need to apply by post.
You must
- Be at least 15 years and nine months old.
- Be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away.
- have been given permission to live in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for at least 185 days.
With a provisional licence you can:
- At 16 learn to ride a moped or quad bike.
- At 17 start learning to drive a car.
- f you’re claiming the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). You can take your driving test from the age of 16.
What information do I need to apply for my provisional license online:
- A biometric passport for an online application.
- Address for the last three years (including UK and foreign addresses).
- You may have to give additional information, such as your National Insurance number.
- The licence fee of £34 applies online. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Delta debit, or credit card.
If you apply online, your licence should arrive within one week. However, if the DVLA requires additional checks, it may take longer.
FYI, a provisional driving licence lasts for ten years.
Only use the official Gov.UK websites
Important: Only the DVLA and DVSA provide official services like applying for your provisional licence and booking your theory and practical tests. Some third-party sites charge way more and push extra services you don’t need. Stick to Gov.UK to stay safe.
Apply @ Gov.UK
Apply for a provisional licence by post (UK)
How much is a provisional licence UK? Answer: £43 for a postal application.
If you don’t have a passport, you’ll need to apply for your provisional driving licence by post. The process is similar to applying online, but a few key steps are different:
To apply by post you can pick up a D1 form at participating Post Office branches or the DVLA form ordering service to apply by post.
What information do I need to apply for a provisional licence by post:
- Completed D1 form.
- Cheque or postal order, payable to the DVLA for £43.
- Original form of acceptable ID documents
- Passport-size photo, signed on the reverse. Who can countersign your provisional licence?
How long does a provisional licence application by post take to arrive?
A postal application for a provisional licence can take up to three weeks to process. It is recommended that the application be sent by Special Delivery, especially if valuable documents are inside.
Apply for a provisional licence (Northern Ireland)
How much is a provisional licence in NI? Answer: £62.50, which is dearer than the remainder of the UK!
Are you a resident of Northern Ireland? If so, you must use a different website and apply to NIDirect for a provisional licence online.
You can also apply for your NI provisional driving licence by post. To do so, you’ll need to complete the DL1 application form obtained from the main NI Post Offices.
How much is a provisional licence NI
Unfortunately, an NI provisional licence costs £62.50, both online and by post, which is dearer than for the remainder of the UK.
Only use the official NIdirect.Gov.UK websites
Important: Only the DVLA and DVSA provide official services like applying for your provisional licence and booking your theory and practical tests. Some third-party sites charge way more and push extra services you don’t need. Stick to Gov.UK to stay safe.
Apply @ NIdirect.Gov.UK
Provisional licence: What age can you apply?
You can apply for a provisional licence three months before your 16th birthday.
At 16, you can start riding a moped or a quad bike.
You can only begin to drive a car at the age of 17.
If you receive the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of the Personal Insurance Payment (PIP), you can start driving a car at 16.
What can you do with a provisional licence in the UK at 16?
A provisional driving licence can be helpful even if you’re too young to drive. Your provisional is an excellent form of ID. Banks accept the provisional UK licence as proof of your identity and address. Also, the licence will provide proof of age when you buy a lottery ticket.
Can I apply for my child’s provisional driving licence?
We have never been exactly sure what that question means, but many parents ask. Of course, the application must be in your child’s name, but a parent often fills out the form and makes the payment.
Do I need to have my eyesight tested before I drive?
You will have your eyesight tested before you learn to drive. The sight test will be at the beginning of your first driving lesson. Your driving instructor will ask you to read a car number plate 20 metres away. If you fail, you won’t be allowed to drive.
We recommend seeing an optician beforehand and, if necessary, buying contact lenses or glasses to ensure you meet the correct standard.
FYI, when you take your driving test, the examiner will check your eyesight using the number plate test.
What ID do you need to apply for a provisional licence as a UK citizen?
How you prove your identity in the UK depends on which identity documents you have.
There are different rules in Northern Ireland.
How to prove identity with a UK passport
If you have a valid UK passport, you can copy the 9-digit passport number onto the application form.
Do not send your physical passport.
You cannot use the passport number of a passport that has expired.
What if you do not have a UK Passport?
You can post some other form of ID to prove your identity. Send one of the following documents when you apply:
A UK birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate – you’ll need to send further proof of identity with this.
Evidence you receive a state pension.
UK birth, adoption and naturalisation certificates
You can use a UK birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate. You must send it with one of the following:
National Insurance (NI) card or a letter from the DWP or HMRC showing your National Insurance number. Find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it.
Photocopy of a benefits book’s front page or an original benefits claim letter.
P45, P60, or pay slips.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate.
A College or University Union Card, Education Certificate or PASS proof of age card (issued after June 2014)
your divorce or end of civil partnership document (decree nisi, decree absolute, conditional order or final order)
What ID do you need to apply for a provisional licence as a foreign citizen?
How you prove your identity in the UK depends on which identity documents you have.
There are different rules in Northern Ireland.
Prove your identity using a Share Code
You can get a share code to prove your identity with a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
You’ll have a UKVI account if you’ve ever:
If you used either the EU Exit: ID Check Document app or the UK Immigration ID Check app when applying:
applied to the EU Settlement Scheme.
used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove your identity when applying for a visa.
created one when applying for a visa (you’ll have received a UKVI account confirmation email).
created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).
You can get a Share Code from the View & Prove Your Immigration Service.
If you have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, you can get a share code to prove your identity.
You’ll have a UKVI account if you’ve ever:
- applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
- used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove your identity when applying for a visa
- created one when applying for a visa (you’ll have received a UKVI account confirmation email)
- created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status)
What if you do not have a Share Code?
You can post some other form of ID to prove your identity. Send one of the following documents when you apply:
A current and valid foreign passport not from an EU or EEA country – with a visa sticker or stamp showing you have permission to live in the UK.
A valid Irish passport – it does not need to have a visa sticker or stamp.
A travel document.
Foreign nationals: Can I apply for a Provisional Licence before 185 days?
Yes, as a foreign national, you can apply for a provisional driving licence without waiting 185 days. You’re allowed to start learning to drive as soon as your licence arrives. However, you must still have lived in Great Britain for at least 185 days before you can take your theory or practical driving test.
However, you’ll need to provide proof when you apply you have been given permission to live in Great Britain (England, Scotland & Wales) for at least 185 days.
You apply in the same way as everyone else (see above)
The New 185 Days Rule is as follows:
You can apply right away for a provisional driving licence.
You can start driving lessons once you receive your provisional licence.
You cannot take your theory or driving test or obtain a full licence before 185 days have passed.
Northern Ireland
Track your provisional driving licence application online UK
You can track your provisional licence application and make the tricky part of waiting a bit easier. Applying for your licence online should take a week to get to you (three weeks if you used the post).
Thankfully, you can track the progress of your licence. All you’ll need is your application reference number, and you’ll be able to find out how long it will be until you can get behind the wheel.
Why wait? Start revising for your theory test!
You don’t need a provisional licence to start revising for your theory test. Do yourself a favour and get a head start on your revision. We recommend the official DVSA theory test revision guides.
Starting early doesn’t just help you pass your theory test faster — the knowledge you pick up now also makes you a better driver when you hit the road for real. Plus, remember: you can’t even book your driving test until you’ve passed your theory.
With driving test waiting times often approaching 20 weeks or more, passing your theory early means you can book your practical test sooner — and shorten the queue.
Looking to speed things up even more? Some learners use a cancellation checker to find earlier driving test dates when they’re ready.
Do I need insurance once I have my provisional licence?
It depends. When you’ve got your provisional licence, you’ll need insurance if you intend to have practice sessions with family or friends between driving lessons. You must also have insurance and, of course, L-plates on the vehicle.
There are two main ways to get covered:
- If the car owner adds you to their insurance, check that their policy covers learner drivers.
- You take out your own learner driver insurance, which is a great option because it protects the owner’s no-claims bonus if you have an accident.
If you only have driving lessons with a driving instructor, you don’t need to worry — their insurance already covers you during lessons.
Quick tip:
Some insurers offer short-term learner driver insurance — perfect if you only need cover for a few weeks of private practice before your test.
Also, your supervising driver must be over 21 and have held a full UK licence for at least three years, and some insurers might want them to be over 25.
Worth knowing
Driving without insurance can land you a £1,000 fine and 8 penalty points, not the best way to start your driving journey.
Need insurance to practice?
If you plan to get some some practice from family or friendswhen you have your provisional licence, you’ll need to be insured. Find out how learner driver insurance works and what your options are.
Find out about learner insuranceHow much is a provisional driving licence to replace?
Suppose your provisional licence is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed. In that case, you’ll need a replacement driving licence. You should report a lost or stolen driving licence to the police.
How much for a provisional licence replacement UK – the cost is £20.
How much is a provisional driving licence to renew?
The provisional licence is valid for 10 years. Most learner drivers pass their test within that time, so renewing a provisional licence is rare. However, you’ll receive a reminder letter from the DVLA to update your photo before it expires.
How much for a provisional driving licence renewal UK – the cost is Online £14 and By post £17.
Can you get car finance with a provisional licence?
Many people may say it’s a bit early to consider buying a car before you pass the driving test, and quite frankly, we agree.
However, most learner drivers are young and, as we know, you’re keen to get on with things as soon as possible when you’re young.
More learner drivers than expected are looking to finance a car while holding a provisional licence.
Not surprisingly, financing a vehicle whilst learning can be considerably dearer and more challenging to accept than having a full driving licence. But it is possible!
Thinking about car finance with a provisional licence?
It can be tricky (and often pricey) to get car finance before you’ve passed, but it’s possible. Find out how it works — and what you need to know before you apply.
Find out about provisional car finance
Don’t get penalty points on your licence before receiving it!
Don’t risk it. If you drive before your provisional licence arrives, you could get a £1,000 fine and 3 to 6 penalty points — before you even pass your test.
If a driver has six or more penalty points on their provisional licence, they carry over to their full driving licence when they pass their test and remain on their driving record for four years after the offence.
Also, in the first 24 months of having a full licence, their licence will be revoked if that driver gets just one more penalty point. If this happens, you’ll need to start the application process again, including applying for a provisional licence and taking a theory and practical test.