You can apply for your first provisional driving licence from DVLA once you're 15 years and 9 months old, can read a number plate from 20 metres away and have had permission to stay in Great Britain for at least 185 days. It costs 34 pounds online or 43 pounds by post, as of Nov 2026, and usually arrives within a week.
A provisional licence is the key that starts everything else. You can't take lessons, practise on the road or book a theory test without one, and it's the same first licence whether you're after a car, a motorbike or a moped. The good news is that it's one of the quickest jobs on GOV.UK, as long as you've got the basics ready.
The three conditions DVLA checks
GOV.UK's Apply for your first provisional driving licence page sets out three conditions. You must:
- be at least 15 years and 9 months old
- be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
- have been given permission to stay in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for at least 185 days
Most people can start learning to drive when they're 17, so applying at 15 years and 9 months means the licence is ready before you're old enough to use it on the road. When you can drive, and which vehicles, depends on your age, and GOV.UK has a separate check for that, so look it up before you book lessons. One oddity: if you applied for a provisional licence before 1 March 1973, you'll need to use this same service to get a new licence.
Applying online, step by step
- Open the Apply for your first provisional driving licence service on GOV.UK and sign in. If you don't have sign in details yet, you'll be able to create them.
- Prove your identity if you're asked to. GOV.UK says this keeps your details safe and usually involves photo ID, such as a passport.
- Pay the 34 pounds by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.
- Look out for DVLA's confirmation email once you've applied.
- Expect your licence within one week. It may take longer if DVLA needs to make additional checks.
The service is also available in Welsh. If you've already got a provisional licence, you don't apply again here: GOV.UK has separate services to renew it, replace it if it's lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, reapply after a disqualification, or change the address on it.
Applying by post with form D1
If you'd rather not apply online, pick up form D1, Application for a driving licence, from most Post Offices. Send it to the address on the form with a cheque or postal order for 43 pounds, made payable to DVLA, and make sure you pay the correct postage. Damaged or altered cheques won't be accepted. That's 9 pounds more than the online fee, for the same licence.
Why your provisional photo matters later
GOV.UK's Driving licence fees page shows something worth knowing before you upload a photo. Your first full licence after you pass your driving test is free, but if you want a different photo from the one on your provisional, it costs 17 pounds. Photocard licences are valid for 10 years unless otherwise stated, so pick a photo you're happy to carry for a while. Here's how the main fees line up.
| What you're doing | Fee, as of Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| First provisional licence for a car, motorcycle or moped | 34 pounds online, 43 pounds by post |
| First full licence after passing your driving test | No charge, or 17 pounds by post to use a different photo |
| Changing the address on your photocard | Free online and by post |
| Changing the photo on your photocard | 14 pounds online, 17 pounds by post |
| Replacing a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence | 20 pounds |
| Renewing an expired licence | 14 pounds online, 17 pounds by post, or 21 pounds 50 at a Post Office |
| Booking your theory test | 23 pounds |
| Booking your driving test | 62 to 75 pounds |
For postal applications, cheques and postal orders go to DVLA, and the address depends on what you're applying for. Northern Ireland has different driving licence fees, so these apply to a GB licence only.
Where the provisional fits in learning to drive
GOV.UK's Learn to drive a car step by step guide puts the provisional licence at step 2. Here's the order it gives:
- Check you're allowed to drive, including the eyesight rules.
- Get your provisional licence.
- Take driving lessons and practise. You need a provisional licence to do either.
- Book your theory test, which also needs a provisional licence.
- Book your driving test once you've passed the theory test.
- Start driving on your own as soon as you pass, as long as your insurance allows you to drive without supervision.
Once you're on the road, insurance is the big running cost. This guide to the average cost of car insurance shows how to bring it down, and these apps for drivers are worth a look before your first solo trip.
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My advice for first-time applicants
Apply online rather than by post. GOV.UK's Apply for your first provisional driving licence service is 9 pounds cheaper online and the licence should arrive within a week. Apply a few weeks before your 17th birthday so you can book lessons straight away, use a photo you'd be happy to keep on your full licence, and check the Driving licence fees page before paying for anything else.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to apply for a provisional driving licence?
At least 15 years and 9 months old. Most people can start learning to drive at 17.
How much does a provisional driving licence cost?
34 pounds online or 43 pounds by post with form D1, as of Nov 2026.
How long does a provisional licence take to arrive?
It should arrive within one week if you apply online. It may take longer if DVLA needs to make additional checks.
What do I need to apply for a provisional licence?
Sign in details for the GOV.UK service, a debit or credit card, and possibly photo ID such as a passport if you're asked to prove your identity.
Is the full licence free after passing my test?
Yes, your first full licence after passing is free, though using a different photo from your provisional costs 17 pounds.
Can I apply for a provisional licence by post?
Yes. Use form D1 from most Post Offices and send it with a cheque or postal order for 43 pounds.
