First UK provisional driving licence: age, cost and timing

A provisional licence — the first document that lets you learn to drive — is issued by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). Without one you cannot learn on public roads or book your tests.

What age can you apply?

You can apply from the age of 15 years and 9 months. But you can only start driving a car at 17. Mopeds and some other categories have different rules, which are worth checking separately.

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What does it cost?

Applying online costs £34, paid by card. By post it is £43, by cheque or postal order, using a D1 form from a Post Office. Online is cheaper and faster.

What do you need?

You will need to prove your identity, usually with a passport or other photo ID. You also need permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days. There is a separate eyesight requirement: you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away.

How soon does it arrive?

After an online application the DVLA emails confirmation, and the licence usually arrives within a week. It can take longer if the agency needs extra checks, for example about a medical condition.

What next?

With a provisional licence you can start lessons with an instructor or a qualified supervising driver. The next steps are the theory test and the practical test. Only once you pass both is your provisional licence replaced with a full one. The current fees and conditions are always on the service page on gov.uk.

Eyesight and health rules

Reading a number plate from 20 metres is not a formality: it is the basic eyesight standard for driving, and you must meet it at all times, not just when you apply. If you wear glasses or lenses, you may be tested in them. Certain medical conditions — for example affecting your sight, awareness or coordination — must be reported to the DVLA, and failing to do so can bring a fine.

A provisional licence lets you learn but comes with limits: you must be supervised by someone over 21 who has held a full licence in that category for at least three years, the car must show "L" plates ("D" is allowed in Wales), and you cannot use motorways on a provisional licence except with an approved instructor. The full list of what you can drive and when is on gov.uk.