Requirements for your driving lessons

Provisional Licence

The first step to getting on the road is to get a Provisional Driving Licence. An application form (Form D1) can be obtained from your local Post Office but you can also apply online from the 'Direct Gov' site

Applying for your licence online requires that :

You are a resident of Great Britain
You meet the minimum age requirement
Your eyesight is of the required standard
You are not currently prevented from driving for any reason
You can pay by Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Electron, Delta or Solo debit or credit card
You have a valid UK passport or another formal form of identity
You can provide addresses of where you have lived over the last three years

UKDSA Learning to drive and ridegreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

The Theory Test

The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. Once you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.

You can get further details from the Theory test section on the Direct Gov site

You can also book the theory test online from the booking section on the same site

Book your practical test

Ok, so you now have your theory test out of the way so when your driving has reached a suitable level, you can look to get your practical test booked. How far in advance you'll need to book varies depending on the number of other learners applying at the same time. You should not just go ahead and book the test before checking that a car will be available first!

New Independent Driving section

October 2010 sees a new 'independent driving' section being introduced as part of the practical test. During this part of the test, you will be required to follow signs to a particular location to see how well you deal without direction from your examiner.

There is now more detailed information on Independent Driving here.

Go to the official site for general practical test information or book your practical test online.

View the Official DSA Video