Master the four steps to obtaining a driving licence in the UK. Our detailed guide will help you understand the process and achieve your driving goals.
Step 1: Obtaining a Provisional Driver’s License
If you want to learn to drive, you must have a temporary licence because you cannot start learning to drive without one. Therefore, you must apply for a provisional driving licence in order to begin the process of obtaining a full UK driving licence.
When may I submit an application?
When you are fifteen years and nine months old, you can apply for your provisional driver’s license. But that doesn’t mean you can start driving a car right away. According to the law, you can’t drive a car with a provisional licence until you are 17 years old. You still need to be watched over.
How to use
There are two methods for applying for a provisional license: online or via mail. Nevertheless, these possibilities come with two distinct prices. The least expensive alternative is to apply online, which costs £34 and requires payment with a credit or debit card. The alternative is to apply by mail, which will cost you £43 and be paid by cheque or postal order.
Making an online application
The quickest and least expensive way to apply for your provisional licence is online, which is also the approach we advise. You must have a current UK passport that is no older than five years if you choose to apply online.
In order to submit an online application for your provisional licence, you must
An identifying document, like a passport
The address of your previous three years’ residence. You must mention your prior residences for the last three years if you have resided at your current location for less than three years.
You can locate your National Insurance Number on your National Insurance card, paystubs, or any communication from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
The card information for the £34 application fee is ready.
Applying by mail
The D1 provisional application form, which you can obtain online from the DVLA form ordering service or in person at specific Post Office branches, must be filled out if you are applying for your provisional driver’s license by mail. Fill out the form and send it, together with the necessary paperwork, to the address below:
- For all UK-sourced documents: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD
- For records from outside the United Kingdom: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AF
To submit a postal application for your provisional licence, you will require
- An identifying document, like a passport
- A colour passport photo; see the guidelines for pictures here.
- Applications submitted with cash will not be processed; instead, you must pay the £43 application fee by cheque or postal order made payable to the DVLA.
The average time for your DVLA license to arrive in the mail is two weeks. After obtaining your licence, you can start taking driving lessons from a respectable, licensed instructor or from a person who is at least 21 years old and has had a valid UK driving licence for at least three years.
Step 2: Schedule Your Hands-on Driving Instruction
After obtaining your temporary driving license, you will need to schedule your driving lessons. The procedure of scheduling your driving lessons is fairly simple. To make sure you discover the correct driving school, it’s crucial to know what kind of courses you’re looking for before you start looking at them.
Regardless of your preference for manual or automatic driving instruction, we at 4 Wheelz have something to offer everyone. The West Midlands is home to our amiable and competent male and female instructors.
You can read through our testimonials to see how excellent our service is. Learn more about our driving lesson costs. We provide reasonable pricing, with some of our packages starting as low as 5 sessions for £99.
Additionally, we provide thorough driving instruction. However, our training doesn’t stop with our classes; in order to help you become the best driver you can be, we provide a wealth of resources and tools in our learner driver pack.
Step 3: Schedule Your Theory Exam
You have to pass your theory test before you can take your practical driving test. Therefore, we advise you to begin preparing for your theory exam as soon as you’ve conquered your first driving lesson anxiety and mastered the fundamentals. You have a better chance of passing fast if you begin training early.
This test evaluates your understanding of the Highway Code and your ability to respond to potential dangers while driving. All novice drivers must take the two-part test, which consists of multiple-choice questions and a danger perception assessment.
Step 4: Schedule Your Driving Exam
You can now concentrate on the last phase, passing your practical driving test, which will allow you to convert your green temporary licence into a red full UK driving licence. When they believe you are ready to schedule your driving test, which you can do online or over the phone, your driving instructor will let you know.
The wait time for your practical driving exam often ranges from two weeks to twelve weeks. Because there are fewer cars during the week, we strongly advise scheduling the test on a weekday (£62) or a weekend (£75).
Your teacher will give you practice exams to assist you get ready and relax once your driving test is scheduled.
The following must be completed on the day of your driving test:
Your temporary driver’s license, which they will take if you pass the exam
- Your provisional licence and make arrangements for the delivery of your full driving licence.
- Most individuals use their driving instructor’s automobile, however if your own vehicle complies with the regulations, you may use it.
- Your certificate of theoretical test
I wish you luck as you work towards obtaining a full UK driver’s license.