Learning To Drive What You Need To Know

Before you can start to learn to drive you will need to be at least 17 years of age and you must hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland (if you are receiving the higher rate a disability living allowance then your provisional licence will come into effect on your 16th birthday).

You can apply for your provisional driving licence any time after you are 15 years and 9 months old,  and must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away and have legally lived in the UK for at least 185 days in total in the past 12 months.

You can apply online using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) a secure and easy to use online service (Link to website below), the current fee for online applications is £34.00. 

Alternatively you can apply by completing the D1 application form that is available from your local Post Office branch.  You will also need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the current fee of £43.00.

Before the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a stationary vehicle.  The distance requirement for the eyesight test using old style number plates is 20.5 metres or 20 metres if the new-style number plate is used.  (New-style number plates are easily identifiable starting with two letters eg AB51 ZYX).  If you can't speak English or have difficulty reading, you may copy down what you see.