Applying for your Provisional Licence

Once you have reached the age of sixteen you can apply for your provisional licence in order to learn how to drive. You must do this before you sit the theory and Hazard Perception tests and should be aware that you are not permitted to drive either before you apply for your provisional driving licence or whilst waiting for it to arrive. You must also not begin learning to drive in a vehicle until you have reached your seventeenth birthday.

How to Apply for Your Provisional Licence

You can pick up the relevant forms from your local post office or from your local DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) office. Or alternatively you can download the forms from the DVLA's website, the address of which is www.dvla.gov.uk.

These forms - known as D1 - require you to fill them out in their entirety and also include two passport sized photographs which will be used for identification purposes. One photograph is used for your photocard licence and the other one is kept on file by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). You must also include the fee for this licence which currently stands at £50.

You will be required to have someone of a professional nature such as a doctor sign the reverse of the photographs to confirm that they are actually photographs of you and that the application is not being made fraudulently. This is common practice just as it is when applying for a passport and there is nothing to cause alarm in the procedure. Your doctor will be happy to do this for you as he or she will be asked on a regular basis to help with such applications.

If you are concerned about sending documents relating to your identification through the postal system your local post office will offer a service whereby they can check and take copies of your documents but this service does carry an additional fee. If you interested in this service ask a post office employee for details.

Once the post office has provided this service for you they will send the completed application and all other relevant documentation to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).

How Long Does It Take for My Provisional Licence to Arrive?

Depending on the time of year and how busy the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) happen to be at the time of submitting your application, the whole process can take anything from four to six weeks. Of course there may be occasions when the process takes longer especially if there is an unexpected influx of applications or if you have incorrectly filled out the application forms. The norm however is around four to six weeks and this is usually a guideline. Applications are often completed much more quickly but it is wise to allow this period of time just in case.

Again it is important to note that whilst you are awaiting the arrival of your provisional driving licence you are not permitted to drive any vehicle - not even one owned by a driving instructor.

A driving instructor will ask you at the commencement of lessons to provide proof of your driving licence and without it they may refuse lessons.

Upon receipt of your provisional driving licence you can begin taking lessons and should always carry the licence with you if you are out in a vehicle with another person.