Provisional driving licences
How do I get one?
If you follow the link below you will be able to start the application process, www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence
It will cost £34 to make an application online.
You can apply for a provisional driving licence at 15 years and 9 months old, however you cannot learn to drive a car and take a test until you are 17.
If you receive “personal independent payments” then under some circumstances you can apply for your licence and start to learn to drive a car before 17, please refer to the appropriate government guidelines.
Car Insurance
Do I need it, to practice as a provisional licence holder?
The short answer is yes, you will need your own car insurance if you are practising in a car you own. If you are practising in a car owned by someone else, you need to make sure their insurance policy covers you as a learner driver.
You must also ensure that the vehicle you are using has valid road tax and if applicable a valid MOT certificate.
'L' plates, 'P' plates and D plates
What is the difference?
You must Display an L plate on the front and back of your vehicle so they can be seen easily. This is to inform other road user that an inexperienced driver that holds a provisional driving licence is in control of the vehicle.
In Wales, you may use a D plate or L plate, this is because of the bilingual legislation in force within the country.
It is a legal requirement to display the correct L plates on the front and back of the vehicle, and they must conform to government size and colour legislation or you could risk getting 6 points on your licence.
Practising with family or friends
Am I allowed and what are the rules?
Yes, if you have an appropriate accompanying driver.
Your accompanying driver must:
- Be over 21
- Have a valid and full UK driving licence for a minimum of 3 years. (Licences from the E.U and EEA are accepted in some circumstances, however when the U.K leaves the E.U it may change the requirements so please refer to government information)
- Be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you are practicing in, for example to supervise you in a manual car they will need to have a full manual licence.
Always remember your accompanying driver is there to help and to give advice, so It is illegal for your friend or family member to use a mobile phone, fall asleep or generally not pay attention while you are driving.
You are only allowed to practice on a Motorway if you are with a fully qualified ADI.
You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to 6 penalty points on your provisional licence if you drice without the right supervision.
Can I carry passengers when I drive with a provisional licence?
Yes, if the appropriate accompanying driver is present and meets all the legal criteria, anyone driving with a valid provisional licence in the U.K. can carry as many passengers as the vehicle is legally designed to hold.
It is always worth remembering that learning to drive can be stressful at times and requires long periods of concentration, having lots of people in the car can be a distraction.
Show me and tell me questions
What are they and how do they work?
During your driving test your examiner will ask you 2 vehicle safety questions,
You will be asked one:
“tell me” question which will be asked while the vehicle is stationary.
You will need to explain how you would carry out a vehicle safety task.
“show me” question which you will be asked when the vehicle is moving.
You will need to demonstrate how to use various vehicle controls.
If you fail to answer both the show me and “tell me” questions correctly it will result in a driver fault (also known as a minor fault).
If you lose control of the vehicle when answering the “show me” questions it can result in a serious or dangerous fault (also known as a major fault) being issued and as a result you will fail the driving test.
Please feel free to follow the link below to access all the “show me”
and “tell me” questions.