Ultimate Guide to Getting Your UK Provisional Driving Licence

uk provisional driving licence

uk provisional driving licence

We will need your UK driving licence and you may need an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can obtain an IDP from participating PayPoint stores across the UK. You will need a passport style photo, your original driving licence uk provisional driving licence

will also need your passport if you hold a paper driving licence) and appropriate fee for each IDP required. A full

www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

To find your nearest participating PayPoint location and for more information, visit www.paypoint.com/dvla

Moving to another country

If you move to another country, you should get information about driving there from the relevant authority in that country.

If you return here from a country that is not in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU or EEA) and you do not have a GB licence, you may:

• drive for up to 12 months on a valid licence that is not a GB licence
• apply for a replacement of your previous GB licence by paying the appropriate fee and giving up any non-GB licence you hold

Learner drivers and provisional licence holders

Provisional licence conditions and restrictions (cars)

Learner drivers must be supervised. To supervise a learner driver you must be at least 21 and have a current full Great Britain (GB), Northern Ireland, EU or EEA driving licence, which you must have held for at least three years.

Learner drivers must have ‘L’ plates on the vehicle they are driving and the plates must be clearly visible from the front and back of the vehicle. In Wales, learner drivers can use ‘D’ plates on their vehicles instead of ‘L’ plates (in other parts of Britain all learner drivers must have ‘L’ plates, even if they are also using ‘D’ plates).

If you hold unrestricted provisional entitlement to drive a lorry or bus, and you got that entitlement on or after

1 January 1997. You may drive on the motorway as long as you are supervised by an ADI, in a dual controlled vehicle and are displaying ‘L’ plates. If you do not meet these conditions you could be fined up to £1,000, be disqualified (banned) from driving or have three to six penalty points on your driver record.

Entitlement for 16-year-olds

If you are 16, provisional category B entitlement (car) will be shown on your licence but it will not be valid until your 17th birthday or at age 16 if you are getting the mobility component of PIP or ADP at the enhanced rate,

the mobility component of CDP at the higher rate or have applied for PIP having previously received the mobility component of DLA at the higher rate. If your

circumstances change while you are 16 and you lose your qualifying benefit or it is re-assessed and awarded at a lower rate, you are required to notify DVLA, as this may effect your entitlement to drive.

Applying for a full licence after passing your test

If your name and address is correct on your driving licence, you may be able to have a new licence issued automatically once you pass your driving test. Your driving examiner will tell you if you qualify for this, if not you must send the test pass certificate (DVSA10) to us in order to claim your new entitlements on your driving licence.

You must return your current driving licence. If you are unable to return your driving licence please fill in either a D1 or D2 (if you hold lorry or bus entitlement) application form, and tell us why in section 1.

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)

Provisional licence for motorcycles

All learner riders must complete a CBT course before riding a moped or motorcycle on the road.

You do not need to complete CBT if:

• you have already got full moped entitlement as a result of passing a moped test on or after 1 December 1990
• you have already got a full licence for one class of motorcycle entitlement and want to upgrade to

another. (For example, if you are entitled to ride light motorcycles, (category A1), you do not need to repeat CBT to get a provisional category A entitlement)

If you have any questions about CBT, phone the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on 0115 936 6547 and ask for the CBT section.

Full car driving licence holders riding mopeds

A person who has passed a driving test for a car, since 1 February 2001, must take a CBT riding course before they can ride a moped on the road.

People who passed a car test before 1 February 2001 do not need to take training before riding a moped on the road, but we encourage them to do so.

For a test, a moped must:

• be 50 cubic centimetres (cc) capacity or less and 4 kilowatts (kW) or less
• have a top design speed of no more than 28 miles per hour (mph)

Motorcycle specification for learner riders

Motorcycles with an engine size of up to 125cc and a power output of up to 11kW (14.6bhp) can be ridden

on the road by learner riders providing they have L plates (or D or L plates in Wales) on the bike.

Training to ride a motorcycle larger than 125cc (direct access)

Learners aged 19 or over can practice for the test on a motorcycle larger than 125cc, but they can only ride on the road when accompanied (on another motorcycle) by an approved motorcycle instructor.

Provisional licence holders riding motor tricycles

New rules on driving licences for motorcycle riders came into force on 19 January 2013. This applies to existing and new provisional licence holders. Provisional licences should show category A (motor bicycle) and category B (car).

On or after 19 January 2013 a provisional licence will only cover you to ride motor tricycles if you have a physical disability. Driving tests for three-wheeled vehicles will only be available for physically disabled drivers.

Able-bodied provisional licence holders who wish to ride motor tricycles would have to pass Compulsory Basic Training and theory and practical tests on a two wheeled motorcycle (A1) or (A).

Types of motorcycle for tests

Riders aged 17 or 18

Riders aged 17 or 18 can take a sub-category A1 light motorcycle test:

For test, a sub-category A1 solo motorcycle must:

• be between 120cc and 125cc capacity
• have an engine power no more than 11 kilowatts (kW)

– 14.6 brake horse power (bhp)

• be capable of at least 55mph

Riders aged between 19 and 23

Riders aged between 19 and 23 can choose to take either a sub-category A1 test, or a sub-category A2 test.

For test, a sub-category A2 solo motorcycle must:

• be at least 395cc capacity
• have an engine power between 25kW (33 bhp) and 35kW (46.6 bhp)
• have a power to weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW per kilogram

Riders aged between 21 and 23 can choose to take a category A unrestricted solo motorcycle test if they have held an A2 licence for a minimum of 2 years.

aged 24 and over

Riders aged 24 and over can choose to take:

• a sub-category A1 test
• a sub-category A2 test
• a category A test

For a test a category A motorcycle must have a power of at least 50kW and a minimum kerb weight of 180kg.

Also for a test, a category A unrestricted solo motorcycle must:

• be at least 595cc capacity
• have an engine power of at least 50kW (53.6 bhp)

Training to ride a large motorcycle (direct access)

Learners can only practice for the test on either an A2 (at 19 or over) or A (at 24* or over) category motorcycle on the road (*21 if held an A2 licence for two years or more) when accompanied (on another motorcycle) by an approved motorcycle instructor.

Note: tests for mopeds with three or four wheels, A1 and A tricycles and sidecar combinations will only be offered to the physically disabled.

Minibuses, lorries and buses

Driving a minibus

To drive a minibus with over eight passenger seats, you will normally need entitlement under category D1

or D. To get this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

If you need more information go to www.gov.uk/browse/driving or you can order leaflet – ‘Driving a minibus’ (INF28) from us by phoning

0300 790 6801.

Driving a medium sized lorry

To drive a medium sized lorry up to 7,500kg you will need entitlement under category C1. To get this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

Driving a lorry or bus

You must pass a driving test in a car before you take a test for either of these categories.

The lorry categories you can apply for are C1, C1E, C, CE. The bus categories you can apply for are D1. D1E, D, DE. You can also apply for all lorry and bus categories. To do this you must send us an ‘Application for a lorry, bus or minibus licence’ (D2) together with a ‘Medical Examination Report’ (D4) filled in by an optometrist or optician and a doctor. You must also take and pass a driving test in a lorry or bus.

Supervising learner lorry and bus drivers

If you want to supervise a learner lorry or bus driver you will need to meet either of the following conditions:

• you must have held a full licence for the category of vehicle you are supervising in for at least three years
• you must have held a full licence for the category of vehicle you are supervising in for at least one year and have held a full licence in the other category (lorry or bus as appropriate) for at least three years

For example, a person supervising a bus learner driver must either have held a full bus licence for at least three years, or a full lorry licence for three years and a full bus licence for at least one year.

As of 6 April 2010, the supervising driver in category C1 or D1 vehicles (including trailer combinations) must:

• hold a full (post 1 January 1997) licence for the same category of vehicle being driven by the learner
• have held that right for the relevant period of time – usually three years*

right for the length of time required

You can get more information on supervising a learner lorry or bus driver from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Visit www.gov.uk or phone 0115 936 6666.

Towing trailers

From the 1 December 2021 you no longer have to sit a test in a rigid vehicle before sitting a trailer test.

If you need more information on entitlement to tow trailers go to www.gov.uk/towing-rules or read leaflet ‘Driving licence requirements for towing trailers in Great Britain’ (INF30) which you can order from us by phoning 0300 790 6801.

Motorhomes

When driving a motorhome it is the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) that is relevant to the driving entitlement you need. MAM is the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry.

To drive a motorhome with a MAM of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, you need category C1 entitlement on your licence.

To drive a motorhome with a MAM of over 7.5 tonnes, you need category C entitlement on your licence.

Vehicles which do not need lorry or bus entitlement

For more information go to www.gov.uk/browse/driving or read leaflet ‘Large vehicles you can drive using your car

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uk provisional driving licence

Outline
Understanding the UK Provisional Driving Licence
Importance of a Provisional Licence
Eligibility Criteria for a uk provisional driving licence
Application Process for a Provisional Licence
Required Documents and Information
Proof of Identity
Proof of Residence
Payment Methods and Fees
Online vs. Paper Application
How to Apply Online
How to Apply via Post
Receiving Your Provisional Licence
Typical Processing Time
Common Delays and How to Avoid Them
Using Your Provisional Licence
Provisional Licence Restrictions
Driving with L Plates
Preparing for Your Theory Test
Study Materials and Resources
Booking Your Theory Test
What to Expect on Test Day
Preparing for Your Practical Driving Test
Finding a Driving Instructor
Booking Your Practical Test
What to Expect on Test Day
Tips for Passing Your Tests
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Test Day Tips
After Passing Your Tests
Receiving Your Full Driving Licence
Celebrating Your Success
Maintaining Safe Driving Practices
Ongoing Learning and Development
Staying Updated with Traffic Laws
Renewing Your Licence
When and How to Renew
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I Lose My Provisional Licence?
Can I Drive Outside the UK with a Provisional Licence?
How Long is a Provisional Licence Valid For?

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