Updated 22 October 2026.
A provisional driving licence is the first step to driving. You can apply from 15 years and 9 months, and start driving a car at 17. It costs £34 online or £43 by post, and an online application usually arrives within a week. This guide covers how to apply, what you need, the rules for learner drivers, and what comes next.
Provisional licence at a glance
- Apply from: 15 years and 9 months old.
- Drive a car from: 17, or 16 if you get the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or its equivalents.
- Cost: £34 online, or £43 by post on form D1.
- How long: usually within a week online; allow 3 to 4 weeks by post.
- Eyesight: you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres, with glasses or lenses if you need them.
Who can apply?
- You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old.
- You must meet the eyesight standard: reading a number plate from 20 metres.
- You must have been allowed to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days.
How to apply online
- Go to GOV.UK’s apply for your first provisional driving licence service.
- Fill in your details. You’ll be told whether you need to prove your identity: usually with a UK passport, which means no photo or documents need posting.
- Pay £34 by debit or credit card.
- Your licence should arrive within a week, or longer if the DVLA needs to check anything.
How to apply by post
Get a D1 form from most Post Offices, and send it with £43 by cheque or postal order, a passport-type photo and proof of identity. If you give a UK passport number, you don’t need anyone to countersign; otherwise send original documents, such as your birth certificate, and have your form and photo countersigned by someone who isn’t a relative. Allow 3 to 4 weeks.
Rules when you’re learning to drive
- L plates front and back, of the right size, whenever you drive. In Wales you can use D plates instead. Driving without them can mean up to 6 penalty points.
- A supervising driver who is over 21, has held a full licence for the same type of car (manual or automatic) for at least 3 years, and isn’t using a phone. GOV.UK’s rules for practising with family or friends set this out. Driving without proper supervision can mean a fine of up to £1,000 and up to 6 penalty points.
- Insurance that covers you as a learner, either your own learner policy or cover on the car owner’s. Driving uninsured can mean an unlimited fine, a ban and up to 8 points.
- No motorways with family or friends. You can only drive on one with an approved driving instructor, in a car with dual controls.
Theory and practical tests
The theory test costs £23, and the car practical test £62 on a weekday or £75 in the evening, at weekends or on bank holidays. The rules for booking changed in 2026: only you can book or manage your test, not an instructor or another service; you can change a booking only twice; and you can only move a test to your original centre or one of the three nearest. GOV.UK explains the 2026 booking rules. Our guide to driving test delays has tips for finding a test sooner, and our post on the new booking rules explains the changes.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, licences come from the DVA, not the DVLA, and the process and fees are different. Learners whose provisional licence starts on or after 1 October 2026 come under new graduated licensing rules, including a minimum six-month learning period and R plates for two years after passing.
Buying your first car
Check the insurance cost before you choose a car: it can cost more than the car itself for a new driver. Our guide to car insurance groups explains which cars are cheapest to insure, and our used car checklist what to look for. Run a free car check on any car you’re considering, and a full car history check before you pay. See Silver and Gold check prices.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a provisional licence?
You can apply from 15 years and 9 months, and drive a car from 17 (16 if you get the enhanced rate of PIP’s mobility component).
How much is a provisional licence?
£34 online or £43 by post.
How long does a provisional licence take to arrive?
Usually within a week if you apply online. Allow 3 to 4 weeks by post.
Can I drive on my own with a provisional licence?
No. You must be supervised by someone over 21 who has held a full licence for at least 3 years, and display L plates.
Can learners drive on the motorway?
Only with an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls.
- GOV.UK: apply for your first provisional driving licence
- GOV.UK: practising with family or friends
- GOV.UK: driving test costs
- GOV.UK: changes to driving test booking rules in 2026
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