Getting started

The first stage on the road to becoming a holder of a full UK driving licence is to acquire a provisional licence for the vehicle you want to drive. In this case it is for a car which the DVLA call a category "B".

You must be at least 17 years of age to acquire a provisional licence for a car, unless you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate in which case you can obtain your provisional when you are 16.

You can apply for a provisional licence online. You can do so if:

• are a resident of Great Britain
• can meet the minimum age requirement
• can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
• are currently not prevented from driving for any reason
• can pay £50.00 by Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Electron, Delta or Solo debit or credit card
• have a valid UK passport or another form of identity
• can provide addresses of where you have lived over the last three years

To do so follow this link as long as you have the following to hand;

• a valid debit or credit card
• your UK passport if you have one
• details of previous addresses.

You can also apply for a provisional licence via Post or by post. You need to acquire application form D1 (previously called a D750) from your local post office or from our Download Section. Once you have completed the form you will also need to include:

• the appropriate fee of £50
• documentation to confirm your identity
• • Your nine digit passport number if you are in possession of a digital passport
• • full valid current passport
  • identity card issued by a member state of the European Community/European Economic Area (EC/EEA) with the exception of Sweden
  • UK identity card for foreign nationals / residence permit or travel documents issued by the Home Office
  • UK certificate of naturalisation

• and a passport type colour photograph of yourself. The photograph must meet certain criteria and may have to be signed on the reverse by a suitable person. Click this link for further details 

When you have all the necessary items forward them to the DVLA to the appropriate address shown on the application form.

You must allow up to 3 weeks for the DVLA to process your application and, if this is your first application for a licence, you are not allowed to drive until you receive your provisional licence and it comes into effect.