Learning to drive, step one
Get your provisional licence
It is the green photocard that lets you take driving lessons and book your theory test. Apply online at GOV.UK for £34, the form takes about 15 minutes, and the card arrives in about a week.
Guide by DriveThruL, a DVSA approved driving school teaching in East London since 2008. Updated July 2026.
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The green photocard arrives by post about a week after you apply online.
How to apply for a provisional driving licence
You can apply for your first UK provisional driving licence online at GOV.UK. It costs £34, the application takes about 15 minutes, and the licence arrives within about a week. Here is how to apply in six steps:
- Gather your ID, your addresses for the last 3 years and your National Insurance number.
- Go to the official provisional licence page on GOV.UK.
- Complete the online application form (about 15 minutes).
- Enter your UK passport number, or post other accepted ID if you do not have one.
- Pay the £34 fee with a debit or credit card.
- Wait about a week for your licence to arrive by post.
Am I ready to apply?
0 of 5GOV.UK is the only official place to apply. It costs £34 by card and takes about 15 minutes.
Each step, explained
The application really is short. These are the details worth knowing before you start.
Gather your documents
You need an identity document (an in-date UK passport is easiest), the addresses where you have lived for the last 3 years, and your National Insurance number if you know it.
Go to GOV.UK
Start your application on the official GOV.UK provisional licence page. It is the only official place to apply online. Anywhere else charging a "checking" or "handling" fee is a middleman you do not need.
Complete the form
The online form takes about 15 minutes. Check each detail before you continue, because a mismatch with your ID is the most common reason applications get delayed.
Confirm your identity
Enter the 9 digit number from your UK passport and the DVLA reuses your passport photo, so you do not need a new one. No passport? You post other accepted ID instead, and the DVLA returns it.
Pay the £34 fee
Pay by debit or credit card. Applying online is £9 cheaper than the £43 postal application, and it is processed faster too.
Wait about a week
Your green photocard arrives by post, usually within a week. You can track progress on GOV.UK with the "view driving licence information" service once it is issued.
How much is a provisional licence?
A first provisional driving licence costs £34 online or £43 by post. The card is then valid for 10 years, and there is nothing more to pay unless you lose it.
| Application | Cost | Arrives in |
|---|---|---|
| Online at GOV.UK | £34 | About 1 week |
| By post (D1 form) | £43 | Up to 3 weeks |
| Replacement (lost or damaged) | £20 | About 1 week |
Pay only on GOV.UK. Third party sites charge extra for the same application.
Applying by post, the old system
Before online applications, everyone applied with a paper D1 form, and that route still works today. Pick up a D1 at any larger Post Office or order one from the DVLA form ordering service. You will need to include a colour passport style photo and original identity documents. A postal application costs £43 and takes up to 3 weeks.
One old system detail that still confuses people: the paper counterpart to the photocard was abolished in 2015. Today the licence is just the photocard, and things like penalty points are held digitally by the DVLA.
Send your completed D1 to:
- DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD
If all your documents are from the UK - DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AF
If any of your documents are from outside the UK
Tracking your application and what to do if it is late
The DVLA does not send progress updates while it processes a first application. Once your licence is issued you can see it with the view your driving licence service on GOV.UK, using your licence number, National Insurance number and postcode.
Allow a week for online applications and 3 weeks for postal ones before chasing. Applications take longer if the DVLA needs to check health details you declared, or if your photo or documents could not be verified.
Still nothing after that? Contact DVLA licensing enquiries on 0300 790 6801 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 2pm) with your application details to hand.
Watch: applying step by step
Prefer watching? This video walks through the whole application.
While you wait
Your licence takes about a week. Use it well.
Most learners apply, then wait, then start thinking about lessons. Do it the other way round and you are a week ahead before the card even arrives.
Days 1 and 2
Start theory practice
Your theory test has 50 questions and you need 43 right. Our revision questions are free, no sign up needed.
Practise theory questionsDays 3 and 4
Try hazard perception
The second half of the theory test is 14 video clips. Most learners have never seen one before test day.
Watch practice clipsDays 5 and 6
Line up your first lesson
Book now for the week your licence lands and you lose no time. Our instructors cover East and South East London.
Book your first lessonDay 7
Your licence arrives
Check every detail on the card is correct, keep it somewhere safe, and bring it to your first lesson.
Ready to driveLicence arrived. What are the rules?
You can
- Take driving lessons with an approved instructor.
- Practise with family or friends, if they are over 21 and have held a full licence for at least 3 years.
- Book your theory test using your new licence number.
You must
- Always have a qualified driver beside you when practising.
- Display L plates front and back whenever you drive.
- Stay off motorways, unless you are with an approved instructor in a dual control car.
Provisional licence questions
Can I apply before I am 17?
Yes. You can apply for your provisional licence from the age of 15 years and 9 months, which is 3 months before your 16th birthday. You can ride a moped at 16, but you cannot drive a car on public roads until you turn 17.
How much does a provisional licence cost?
A first provisional driving licence costs £34 if you apply online at GOV.UK, or £43 if you apply by post with a D1 form. A replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged licence costs £20.
How long does it take to arrive?
Online applications usually arrive within 1 week. Postal applications take up to 3 weeks. It can take longer if the DVLA needs to check your health or personal details, or during busy periods like summer.
What if I do not have a UK passport?
You can still apply. You will need to send other identity documents to the DVLA by post, such as a valid foreign passport, a biometric residence permit, or a UK birth certificate together with proof of your National Insurance number. Original documents are required and the DVLA returns them.
Can I book my theory test without a provisional licence?
No. You need your provisional licence number to book the theory test, so the provisional licence always comes first. Apply for the licence, then book the theory test while you start revising.
Can I drive a car at 16?
Only if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). In that case you can hold a provisional licence and drive a car from your 16th birthday. Everyone else must wait until 17.
What is the eyesight requirement?
You must be able to read a standard UK number plate from 20 metres away. Glasses or contact lenses are fine, but you must wear them every time you drive. Your instructor will check this at the start of your first lesson, and the examiner checks it again on test day.
How long does a provisional licence last?
The photocard is valid for 10 years. Once you pass your practical test you exchange it for a full licence, so most learners only use it for a year or two.
What if I lose my provisional licence?
Apply for a replacement on GOV.UK for £20. It normally arrives within a week. If your name or address has changed, update the details at the same time, which is free.
I live in Northern Ireland. Does this guide apply?
No. Northern Ireland has its own licensing agency, the DVA, and you apply through nidirect rather than GOV.UK. This guide covers England, Scotland and Wales.
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