Before you can drive on a public road or take your theory test, you'll need a valid provisional driving licence.
You can apply through the the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). If you prefer a paper application form, Form D1 is available from most Post Offices.
You can apply for your provisional licence up to three months before your 16th birthday.
However, it will not be valid until you turn 17. Until then you won't be able to take lessons on a public road or book your theory test.
You can apply for your first British provisional driving licence online if you meet the following requirements:
- Are a resident of Great Britain
- Meet the minimum age requirement
- Can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
- Are not currently prevented from driving for any reason
- Are able to pay by Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Electron, Delta or Solo debit or credit card
- Have a valid UK passport or another form of identity
- Can provide addresses for where you have lived over the last three years
As a photo is required for your licence, the DVLA can use your passport photo if you have one. If you don't have one, or you want to use a different one, this will need to be sent to the DVLA separately.
You may already be taking lessons or even be ready to take your practical test but you can not apply for your practical test until you have passed the theory test.
The theory test is made up of two parts; a multiple choice questionnaire and a hazard perception video test.
You will need to pass both parts to get your certificate.
Only once you have passed this can you apply to take your practical driving test.
Only once you have passed this can you apply to take your practical driving test.
Theory Test Multiple Choice Questions
Note that the actual theory test questions are no longer published which means that those found in revision materials of any kind will give you an idea of the questions and answers to expect but will NOT be exactly the same as those you will face during the test itself.
This part of the test lasts 50 minutes and you will need to answer 57 questions. For each question, several possible answers will appear on a screen and you have to select the correct one. Three of the questions are about a short video. It will show a normal driving situation, such as driving through a town centre or driving on a country road
The video is silent and you can watch it as many times as you like during the test.
Before you start the hazard perception part of the test, you'll be shown a short video clip about how it works before being shown a series of video clips on a computer screen. The clips feature everyday road scenes and contain at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.
A developing hazard is something that may result in you having to take some action, such as changing speed or direction and what you need to do is identify these as early as possible to get as high a score as possible (max 5 per clip).
Once your driving has reached a suitable standard, the next step is to book your practical driving test. Waiting times for tests can vary from month to month depending on demand, so it's important not to rush into booking until you've checked that a suitable car and instructor support will be available.
What to expect on the practical driving test
The practical driving test is designed to assess whether you can drive safely, confidently and independently in real-world conditions. The test lasts around 40 minutes and includes:
- General driving on a variety of roads
- An independent driving section, following either sat nav directions or road signs
- One reversing manoeuvre
- Show me / tell me vehicle safety questions
- A controlled emergency stop on some tests
From late 2025, the DVSA has made small adjustments to the test structure. These changes can reduce the number of routine stops required and allow greater flexibility during the independent driving section, helping the test better reflect everyday driving without changing the standard required to pass.
Independent driving
During the independent driving section, you'll be asked to drive for around 20 minutes without turn-by-turn instruction. Most candidates will follow sat nav directions, although around one in five tests may involve following road signs instead. The focus is on safe decision-making rather than navigation accuracy — if you take a wrong turn safely, you won't be penalised.
Booking your test
You should always check with your instructor before booking your practical test, to ensure you are ready and that a suitable test-day arrangement is in place.