What happens once you receive your provisional licence?

A provisional driving licence allows you to start learning to drive a car on public roads. You can’t drive a car, even with your parents, without one. You can’t even book your theory test! Luckily, applying for a provisional driving licence is really easy.

When can you apply for your provisional licence?

You can apply for your provisional licence from 3 months before your 16th birthday if you want to drive a car, motorcycle, or moped. But you won't be able to drive a car on public roads until you are seventeen unless you’re receiving the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, which allows you to drive at 16. You also need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away.

How to apply for a provisional driving licence

The quickest way is to apply for your provisional online with the DVLA. Simply visit gov.uk to get started. If you’d rather fill in a good old-fashioned form, you can request a D1 form from the DVLA form ordering service or you can visit selected post offices and get one from there.

What documents are needed for a provisional licence?

When you come to apply for a provisional licence, you’ll need to have some documents to hand:

• A valid UK biometric passport (or, if you don’t have one, an identity document)
• The addresses where you’ve lived for the last 3 years
• Your National Insurance number if you have it
• An identity document (unless you have a valid UK biometric passport)
• A colour passport-style photograph