28.10.07

What do I need to start learning to drive?

You need to be at a legal age to drive and have a Provisional Licence. The minimum age that you can legally drive a car on public roads is 17. If you’re disabled and receive mobility allowance, the minimum age is 16. Before you can learn to drive though, you’ll need to apply for a Provisional Licence. While the minimum driving age in most European countries is 18, there are no definite plans to increase the legal age in the UK.

Getting your provisional licence
To get this you must complete a D1 – the Driving Licence application form. It’s available from most post offices. The earliest date your Provisional Licence can be valid from is your seventeenth birthday, but you can apply for the licence up to three months before then. If you receive your Provisional Licence before you’re 17, you’ll still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test. You must not drive until you’ve received this first Provisional Licence and have reached your seventeenth birthday.
The current cost of a first provisional licence is £38.00 (for a car, motorcycle, medium/large vehicle, minibus/bus). It is also worthwhile having an eyesight test to check that you meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving.
Please remember that all learner drivers are required to display 'L' plates ('L' or 'D' plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on the front and back of the vehicle they are driving. And until the day you pass the practical part of the Driving Test you’re not allowed to drive on your own.

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