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The number of 17 to 20 year olds applying for their first provisional driving licence in the UK has dropped significantly in recent years from 43 percent to just 36 percent. Many are blaming the high costs of driving, but the good news is that in 2014 the price of a provisional licence was reduced from £50 to £36, making it easier for new drivers to get behind the wheel.
Getting your first provisional driving licence is much simpler than you may think. You can even apply for a car, moped, or motorcycle licence online through the DVLA – the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency – and, if you’ve got a new biometric UK passport, you don’t even need to send any supporting documents by post – it’s so simple!
Meeting Requirements
To apply for your first provisional UK driving licence, you’ll need to meet a few criteria to ensure you’re eligible:
* Age
You can apply for a provisional licence when you are 15 years and 9 months of age, or older. As you can legally drive a moped from 16, and a car from 17, this ensures you have plenty of time to secure your provisional licence before your birthday.
* Eyesight
You should be able to clearly read a car number plate from a distance of 20 metres, wearing glasses or contact lenses if necessary. You will be asked to perform this task before taking your practical driving test. If you can’t fulfill this requirement, you won’t be able to continue with the test, so it’s worth being honest and upfront right from the start when it comes to vision.
* Identity
You will need to prove your identity to be approved for a provisional driving licence. You can do this online by providing the number of your UK biometric passport. If you do not have this, you may send other forms of identity such as a birth certificate, or student union card by post, but this may cause a processing delay so give your licence a bit of extra time to come through.
Your Photograph
If you’ve supplied your biometric passport number online, you won’t need to send a photograph – great news if you hate sitting in photo booths! If you’re using a different form of ID, it’s time to get your hair brushed and practice your serious face. A provisional driving licence photo is the same size as a standard passport photo. You should be looking at the camera with a neutral expression and nothing covering your face. You can wear glasses as long as they do not cause glare, and can wear a head covering if required for religious or medical reasons.
If you’re sending identification that doesn’t contain a recent photograph of yourself, you will need to have your new photo countersigned by a ‘person of good standing’. This includes those in recognised professions such as executives, nurses, police officers, or teachers. The person must have known you for a minimum of two years, and be able to recognise the photograph as you.
Once you’ve applied, it’s time to sit back and wait for that licence to drop through the lost box. And don’t forget your L plates (or D plates in Wales)! You can be fined for driving with a provisional licence without them – not a great start to your driving journey!
