How to apply for a provisional driving licence
Apply for your first provisional driving licence on GOV.UK so you can book lessons and your theory test. It costs £34 online and usually arrives within a week.
- Time
- 15 minutes to apply; about 1 week to arrive
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Identity document, e.g. a valid UK passport
- Addresses where you've lived over the last 3 years
- National Insurance number (if you know it)
- Debit or credit card
Safety first
- You must tell DVLA about certain medical conditions that could affect your driving – the application asks about this.
- Never drive on a provisional licence without L plates, insurance and a qualified supervisor (unless on a motorcycle having passed CBT).
Step by step
-
Step 1: Check you're eligible
You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old, be able to read a number plate from 20 metres (with glasses or lenses if you need them), and have been given permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days. (In Northern Ireland, apply through NI Direct instead.)
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Apply on GOV.UK
Use the official service at GOV.UK > Apply for your first provisional driving licence. You'll create sign-in details and may need to prove your identity with photo ID such as a passport. If you have a UK passport, DVLA can often use the photo and signature from it.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Pay the fee
It costs £34 online by debit or credit card. Avoid websites that charge extra to 'check' or 'process' your application.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Or apply by post
Get a D1 form from most Post Offices (or order it), fill it in and send it with your original identity document, a passport-style photo and a £43 cheque or postal order. Post takes longer.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Wait for your licence
You'll get a confirmation email. Online applications should arrive within one week, unless DVLA needs extra checks.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Start learning
Once it arrives, you can book your theory test, and when you're old enough start lessons with an approved driving instructor or a qualified supervisor. The car must show L plates, you must be insured, and you must be supervised at all times by an instructor or someone who meets the supervisor rules.
Tips
- You can apply at 15 years 9 months so the licence is ready for when you can start driving a car.
- Sign your licence as soon as it arrives and keep it somewhere safe – you need it for your theory and practical tests.
Questions people ask
When can I start driving a car?
Usually from 17. Different rules can apply if you have a disability or health condition – GOV.UK explains them.
Can I drive on a motorway as a learner?
In England, Scotland and Wales, only with an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
Was this guide helpful?
Report a problem with this guide
Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-apply-for-a-provisional-driving-licence/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.