Provisional Driving Licence
Before you can learn to drive you must have a provisional driving licence.
You can apply for your provisional driving licence up to 2 months before your 17th birthday but you must not drive on the road until your licence has arrived and not until the day of your 17th birthday.
To get your provisional licence you must complete a driving licence application and photo card application form D1 which you can get from your local post office. The application fee for your licence is currently £50.
If you do not wish to send your identity documents through the post, a premium service for checking photocard applications is available at selected post office branches. Your application can be checked for accuracy and completeness and your identity documents returned to you immediately. The premium service fee is £4 and is in addition to the standard driving licence fee for applications sent direct to DVLA.
More information about licensing requirements can be found in the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) leaflet D100 "What you need to know about driving licences" which is available at Post Offices.
Other information can be found at the DVLA website.
Booking your Driving Test
You can book your driving test yourself, you can do so online or by telephone.
Appointments can be can be changed and cancelled online or via phone. You'll get a refund if you give at least 3 clear working days notice.
Booking online
To book a test online you will need:
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a valid UK provisional driving licence
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a driving theory test certificate number
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a valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)
Book your practical test online
Booking by phone
To book a practical test over the phone you will need:
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a valid UK provisional driving licence
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a driving theory test certificate number
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a valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)
You can book a practical test over the phone by calling 0300 200 1122 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.