How to get a driving licence in the UK
Getting a full UK driving licence takes 6 steps. You start with a provisional licence, learn and practise, pass 2 tests, and then you can drive on your own.
Step 1: Check you can learn to drive
To apply for a licence to learn to drive a car (a Category B licence), you must:
- be at least 15 years and 9 months old (most people can start driving a car at 17)
- be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away (your examiner checks this at the start of your driving test)
- have had permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days
Step 2: Get a provisional licence
A provisional licence lets you drive a car while you learn. You do not need to pass any test to get one.
Apply for your first provisional licence on GOV.UK. It costs £34 online or £43 by post, and it usually arrives within a week if you apply online. The photocard lasts 10 years; if you have not passed your test by then, you renew it.
Step 3: Take lessons and practise
You can take lessons with a driving instructor and practise with family or friends. Whenever you drive as a learner:
- show L plates on the front and back of the car (or D plates in Wales)
- have a supervisor with you who is over 21 and has held a full licence for that type of car for at least 3 years
- have insurance that covers you as a learner driver
You can drive on a motorway only with an approved driving instructor, in a car with dual controls. You cannot practise on a motorway with family or friends.
Step 4: Pass the theory test
Learn the rules of the road, such as road signs and the Highway Code. You need your provisional licence to book the test, which costs £23.
The driving theory test has 2 parts:
- multiple-choice questions
- hazard perception clips
Step 5: Pass the driving test
You must pass your theory test before you can book your driving test on GOV.UK. It costs £62 on a weekday, or £75 in the evening, at the weekend or on a bank holiday.
Step 6: Drive on your own
Once you pass, you can drive alone, on any road, with no L plates. You need insurance that covers you as a full licence holder.
Pass Plus is an optional course of at least 6 hours with an approved driving instructor. It can help you drive more safely, it is most useful in the year after you pass, and some insurers give a discount for it.
