How to apply for your first provisional driving licence in the United Kingdom?

Before you can ride a motorcycle or drive a car, one requirement is to meet the minimum set age and then apply for a provisional driving licence. If you have a provisional licence, you are authorized to drive a car, motorbike, or moped on the UK public roads. Once you have passed the driving test, you can apply for a full driving licence.

Table of Contents

1. How to apply?
2. Requirements for a provisional driving licence
3. The documents needed to complete provisional driving licence application

How to apply for a provisional driving licence?

You can use the two recognized methods to apply for the provisional licence online or by post, also known as the in-person method. The online method is done through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea.

The DVLA online form is where you will order services to get the D1 application form; this form is also available in the various post office branches. You can apply online using the Government Gateway ID. You only need to send your complete application and your payment to the DVLA.

Requirements for a provisional driving licence

You need to meet the following requirements to apply for your provisional driving licence:

• Must be 15 years and 9 months old.
• Must be able to read the number plates of parked cars 20 meters away as part of the driving eyesight requirement.
• Provide the accurate address of your place of residence for the last 3 years.
• Pay a total of £34 fee by debit card, credit card, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, or Electron.

The documents needed to complete a provisional driving licence application

If you have a valid UK biometric passport, is a major step since the only thing required from you is your identity from the 9-digit passport number. If you do not have a UK biometric passport, you must send the following original documents to the DVLA within a month to prevent possible delays to your application:

• Valid and current passport.
• Travel document.
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
• European Economic Area (EEA) or European Union (EU) national identity card.
• For a postal application, you will need to provide the following documents:

1. A coloured passport-style photograph.
2. Original documents confirming your identity.

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Read more

• Everything You Need to Know About the UK Driving Licence
• Renew Your UK Driving Licence With Easy Steps (Cheaply)
• How to replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed driving licence in the UK?
• Getting a UK Full Driving Licence: Steps, Cost and Validity
• When do you need to exchange your UK paper driving licence for a photocard licence?
• A quick guide on driving licence categories and fees in the UK
• How to Change your Name, Address or Photo on Your UK Photocard Driving Licence?
• How long can you drive in the UK with foreign driving licence and how to exchange it?
• How to renew your UK driving licence if you’re 70 or over?
• How to renew a driving licence for the elderly?
• International driving permit