Get a Provisional Licence: How to Apply (£34) and What It Lets You Do

The provisional licence is the legal key to everything else: without it you can't take driving lessons on public roads, book a theory test, or sit a practical test. Applying takes about ten minutes online and costs £34. This guide covers who can apply, exactly what you need, how long it takes, and — just as important — what the licence does and doesn't allow you to do.

Who can apply Age: you can apply from 15 years and 9 months old, but you can't drive a car on public roads until you're 17 (16 for a moped). Residency: you must be a resident of Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate process through the DVA. Eyesight: you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres (with glasses or contact lenses if you need them) — this is also the first thing an examiner checks on your practical test. Identity: you'll need to prove who you are as part of the application (see below). You can also apply if you already hold a full licence for another category — for example, adding provisional car entitlement to a motorcycle licence.

What you need to apply For the online application, have ready:

A valid UK passport (or another acceptable form of ID — the service will tell you what's accepted if you don't have one) Your National Insurance number (if you know it) The addresses you've lived at for the last 3 years The application itself asks for your personal details, takes a digital photo (usually pulled from your passport, or you can provide one), and takes payment.

How to apply: online vs post Online (£34) — the standard route for almost everyone. Apply through the official GOV.UK service ("apply for your first provisional driving licence"). It takes around ten minutes, and according to GOV.UK the licence usually arrives within a week. Our step-by-step walkthrough for first provisional applications covers the screens you'll see.

By post (£43) — get form D1 from a Post Office, complete it, include original identity documents and a cheque or postal order, and send it to DVLA. It costs £9 more and takes longer (typically a few weeks). There's rarely a reason to choose this unless you can't use the online service.

Always apply through GOV.UK directly. Unofficial sites charge a "checking fee" on top of the DVLA fee for doing nothing the official service doesn't do.

What a provisional licence lets you do With a provisional licence you can:

Take driving lessons with a DVSA-approved instructor (ADI) on public roads Practise privately in a car, as long as you're supervised by someone aged 21 or over who has held a full licence for at least 3 years — and the car displays L plates (D plates in Wales) front and rear Book and take the theory test and, once that's passed, the practical test What it doesn't let you do Drive alone. A provisional holder must always be supervised — by an instructor or a qualified supervisor. Driving unsupervised is an offence. Drive on motorways. Provisional holders may not drive on motorways at all, even with an instructor (unlike full-licence holders learning with an ADI in a dual-controlled car, who can). Tow a trailer beyond the licence's entitlements. Drive abroad on a provisional — it's valid in Great Britain only. You also need insurance: the car you learn in must be properly insured for a provisional driver, whether that's the instructor's car or a family car with learner driver insurance. Our guide to learner driver insurance and supervised practice explains how private practice insurance works.

How long does a provisional licence last? A provisional driving licence is valid for 10 years from the date of issue — the photocard expiry date is printed on the front. For almost everyone that's more than enough: the licence exists to get you to a full licence, not to live on.

Two situations catch people out:

You pass your theory but delay the practical for years. Your theory pass lasts two years, but your provisional lasts ten — if the theory expires, retake it (£23) rather than letting the licence lapse into irrelevance. You apply at 15 years 9 months and don't start lessons until 18. Still fine — the same licence covers you. Just check the photo still looks like you; if the card expires or the photo is rejected by an examiner, you'll need to renew it (renewal is £14 online). If your provisional expires before you've passed, renew it promptly — driving on an expired licence, even supervised, isn't legal.

Applying without a UK passport No passport? The online service can still work for many people — it will tell you which alternative identity documents are accepted (such as a UK birth or adoption certificate with supporting documents). If the online route can't verify you, the postal D1 route (£43) accepts a wider range of original documents. Don't pay a third-party "application checking" service to solve this — DVLA's own guidance on GOV.UK lists exactly what's accepted, and the Post Office can help you send original documents recorded delivery.

While you wait for it to arrive You can't take lessons on public roads until the licence is in your hands — but you can use the week productively:

Start theory study. The licence number arrives with the card, but nothing stops you revising the Highway Code and road signs now. Learn and Drive's free theory practice (6,500+ questions, DVSA-format mocks) is open to everyone. Book your instructor. Good instructors have waiting lists; securing your slot for the week the licence lands means no dead time. Sort private practice. If a family member will supervise you, now's the time to check they're eligible (21+, 3+ years' licence) and arrange insurance. Our guide to how to get your licence maps the full journey from this point to the full licence — and if the worst happens and the card goes missing, here's what to do about a lost provisional licence.

Frequently asked questions How much does a provisional licence cost? £34 when you apply online through GOV.UK, or £43 by post using form D1. The online route is cheaper and faster.

How long does a provisional licence take to arrive? Usually within a week if you apply online, according to GOV.UK. Postal applications take longer — typically a few weeks.

What age can I apply for a provisional licence? From 15 years and 9 months. But you can't drive a car on public roads until you're 17 (16 for a moped), even with the licence in hand.

Can I drive with a provisional licence on my own? No. You must always be supervised — either by an approved driving instructor or by someone aged 21 or over who has held a full licence for at least 3 years. The car must display L plates.

Can I take my theory test while waiting for my provisional licence? No — you need the provisional licence number to book the theory test, and the number comes with the licence. Start revising while you wait, then book as soon as it arrives.

Does a provisional licence work abroad? No. A UK provisional licence is only valid in Great Britain. You can't use it to drive in other countries.