Apply for a Provisional Driving Licence
Everything you need to get your provisional licence: who can apply, what it costs, what you need and how long it takes. Then you’re ready for your first lesson.
- Apply from 15 years 9 months
- £34 online or £43 by post
- Arrives in about a week online
- DVSA-approved instructors
- Manual and automatic
- 98% pass rate
- Pick-up from home or work
Who can apply
You need a provisional driving licence before you can take driving lessons on the road. You can apply from the age of 15 years and 9 months, and you can start driving a car on your 17th birthday (or at 16 if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment).
What it costs
- Online at GOV.UK: £34, paid by debit or credit card
- By post: £43, using a D1 form from the Post Office, paid by cheque or postal order
What you need
- Your addresses for the last 3 years
- If you apply online: your UK passport details (DVLA uses your passport photo and signature)
- If you apply by post: a passport-style photo and an original identity document, such as your passport
- Your National Insurance number, if you know it
- Answers about your eyesight and any medical conditions. You must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres
How long it takes
Applications made online usually arrive in about a week. Postal applications can take up to three weeks.
Only apply on the official website
Apply on GOV.UK. Some other websites look official but charge extra for the same application.
Then book your first lesson
As soon as your licence arrives you can start learning. Astra’s DVSA-approved instructors teach manual and automatic lessons across Greater Manchester from £35/hr, 7 days a week, with pick-up from home or work. Not sure what to book first? Call us on 07758 837589 and we’ll help you plan your lessons.
Ready to book your first lesson?