The 4 Steps To A UK Driving Licence

Step 1 – Applying For a Provisional Driving Licence

A provisional licence is crucial if you want to learn how to drive, without one you are unable to begin learning to drive. So to start your process to getting a full UK driving licence you need to apply for a provisional driving licence.

When can I apply?

You can apply for your provisional driving licence when you’re 15 years nine months old. However that doesn’t mean you can drive a car from then, by law you must be 17 years old before you can drive a car with a provisional licence. Even then you must be under supervision.

How to apply

When it comes to applying for a provisional licence there are two options, apply by post or online. However there are two different costs for these options. Applying online is by far the cheapest option available, costing you £34 payable via credit or debit card. Alternatively if you would rather apply by post it will cost you £43, payable via cheque or postal order.

Applying online

Applying online is the cheapest and fastest way to apply for your provisional licence, and the method we would recommend. If you opt to apply online you will need a valid UK passport which is no more than five years old.

To apply for your provisional licence online you will need

A form of identity, for example a passport
Address of where you have lived for the past three years. If you have lived at your current address for less than three years then you will need to provide your previous addresses to cover this three year period
Your National Insurance Number, you can find this on your National Insurance card, payslips or correspondence from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Card details at the ready for the £34 application fee

Applying by post

If you’re applying for your provisional driving licence by post you will need to complete the D1 provisional application form – which you can pick up from selected Post Office branches or online from the DVLA form ordering service. Complete the form and send to the below address, along with the required documentation:

For all documents from the UK: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD
For documents outside of the UK: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AF

To apply for your provisional licence by post you will need

A form of identity, for example a passport
A colour passport photograph, check out the rules for photos here
A cheque or postal order for the £43 application fee made payable to DVLA – you must pay by cheque or postal order when applying via post, applications made with cash will not be processed

It generally takes around two weeks for your DVLA licence to arrive in the post. Once you’ve received your licence you’re free to begin driving lessons with a reputable, registered driving instructor or with someone aged 21 years or over who has held their full UK driving licence for at least three years.

Step 2 – Book Your Practical Driving Lessons

With your provisional driving licence in hand you’ll need to book your driving lessons next. Booking your driving lessons is a very easy and straightforward process. Before you begin to look at potential driving schools it’s important to know what kind of lessons you’re after to ensure you find the right match.

Here at 4 Wheelz we cater for everybody, whether you’re looking for manual or automatic driving lessons. Our friendly and professional male and female instructors are based throughout the West Midlands.

The quality of the service we provide is second to none, you can check out our testimonials. We’re competitively priced, with some of our packages starting from as low as 5 driving lessons for £99, find out more about our driving lesson prices.

We also offer intensive driving courses as well. But our instructing doesn’t end with our lessons, we offer a whole range of materials and tools in our learner driver pack to help ensure you become the best driver you can be.

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Step 3 – Book Your Theory Test

Before you can take your practical driving test you must first pass your theory test. So once you’ve overcome your first driving lesson nerves and nailed the driving basics, we would recommend you start thinking about your theory test. The earlier you start practicing the better your chances of passing quickly.

This is a test which assesses your knowledge of the Highway Code and your reaction to hazards which you might encounter whilst driving. The test is split into two part, multiple choice questions and a hazard perception test, and is mandatory for all learner drivers. Find out everything you need to know in our complete guide to the theory test.

Practicing for your theory

There are so many resources available to you now to help prepare for your theory test. We recommend practicing using ‘The Complete Theory Test’ DVD. It includes everything you need to pass both the multiple choice questions and the hazard perception parts of the theory test. You can sit an unlimited number of mock theory tests against the clock, whilst the hazard perception practice test allows you to practice with hundreds of interactive video clips.

We recommend booking your theory test in as early as possible, as there is usually a waiting list of at least two weeks. This also gives you a real deadline date to work towards. Keep practicing and when you’re at a point where you are regularly passing both parts of the theory test you are ready to sit the real deal.

Step 4 – Book Your Driving Test

With your theory test out of the way you are free to focus on the final step – passing your practical driving test, when you will be able to swap your green provisional licence to a red full UK driving licence. Your driving instructor will tell you when they think you are ready to book your driving test, which you can do either by telephone or online.

There is usually a waiting time between two weeks and 12 weeks for your practical driving test. The test costs £62 if you book it on a weekday, which we would highly recommend as there are fewer cars during the week, and £75 on a weekend.

Once your driving test is booked your instructor will take you through mock tests to help prepare and calm your nerves.

On the day of your driving test you must take the following:

Your provisional driving licence, if you pass your test they will take your provisional licence and arrange for a full driving licence to be sent to you
A car – most people use their driving instructor’s, but you can use your own car if it meets the rules
Your theory test certificate

Good luck on your way to getting your full UK driving licence.

Find Your Local Theory Or Driving Test Centre Plus driving test waiting times. Find Your Local Theory / Driving Test Centre Online.

Learning to drive could be the beginnings of a career as a driving instructor, find out more about the potential and our driving instructor training.

I would recommend 4wheelz because they’re a very reliable driving school. I would like to say a big thank you to tahira as I passed first time.
Kylie Mowbray

Smethwick

Very good service. Always on time and instructor was very calming and helpful with excellent advice and techniques for manoeuvres. The DVD and handouts were useful too. My instructor also listened to me and made sure we covered things I needed more confidence in like hill starts or particularly tricky junctions. Good prices and offers make 4 Wheelz even better. Thanks again to Russell.
Javid Sangra

Sutton Coldfield

I found my instructor with 4Wheelz very reliable, understanding and always on time. He gave me encouragement and reassurance that I could pass my test throughout. Very pleased and would recommend 4Wheelz to anyone whose taking up driving.
Lisa Hamblett

Walsall