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| Help With Getting Started |
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| Learning to drive can appear
quite complicated, with all the forms you need to fill out and
other things you have to remember. |
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| Don't worry, this page will
help you with what you need to know about getting hold
of your provisional licence, and when the time comes applying
for your theory and practical tests. |
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There are some useful links
to sites you can click through to, when applying for your licence
or your tests, for these go to our
Useful Links page. |
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| We hope you'll find the
information on "Help with Getting Started" useful! |
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Applying for a Provisional
Licence
First things first, before you can even get into a car and start
learning to drive on our roads, you will have to get hold of
a provisional driving licence. |
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| To apply for this, you must
complete the application form D1 that's available from either
the 'Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) form ordering
service', or from your local Post Office. Alternatively you
can now apply for a provisional licence online. |
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| See our Useful
Links page and click the "DVLA — Driver Information"
link and follow "How to Apply for a Driving Licence. |
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| It takes about 4 weeks for
your application to be processed and for your licence to be
sent to you — so if you want to start learning as soon
as you reach 17 years, make sure you apply early! |
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Don't Forget to check
your Eyesight
The law requires that a licence holder or applicant can meet
the eyesight requirements. |
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| Before you start to learn
to drive, make sure you are aware of the eyesight requirements,
see below. If you need glasses or corrective lenses to meet
the requirements, it’s a legal requirement that you wear them
every time you drive. |
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— Eyesight
requirements
To read in good light with the aid of glasses or contact lenses
if worn, a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle and containing
letters and figures 79 millimetres high and 50 milliliters wide
(i.e. after 1.9.2001 font) at a distance of 20 metres.
Or at a distance of 20.5 metres where the characters
are 79 millimetres high and 57 millimetres wide (i.e. before
1.9.2001 font). |
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| If unable to meet this standard,
the driver must not drive and the licence must be refused or
revoked. |
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— Letting
the DVLA know about eyesight conditions
When applying for your driving licence from the DVLA you should
let them know if you have:
• any visual condition which affects both eyes (not including short or long sight or colour blindness)
• any visual condition which affects your sight (not
including short or long sight or colour blindness) e.g. if you
have sight in one eye only. |
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| If you have had sight correction
surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional
licence. |
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Recommended Reading
The Highway Code is essential reading for everybody learning
to drive. It contains all of the rules and regulations that
relate to driving in the UK. |
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| As a driver, it's your duty
to know these rules - and remember if you don't abide by them,
you'll be breaking the law and could end up being prosecuted.
This could lead to you losing your licence, so it's well worth
reading and learning. |
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| We recommend that you also read "Essential Skills",
a DSA publication. This book is about the skills of driving
a car and will help new drivers with their practical lessons.
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Your Driving Theory Test
The theory test is made up of two parts; a multiple-choice section
and a Hazard Perception test. The multiple choice bit is delivered
using a touch screen computer and mouse, while the hazard perception
test records your responses through the use of a computer mouse
button. |
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| You'll need to pass both parts to successfully complete your
theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other, you'll
fail the whole test, and will have to take both parts again. |
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| You can book your Theory
test through the DSA website see our Useful
Links page or by telephone.. |
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Applying for Your Practical Test
OK, so you've had your lessons and you are now ready for your practical test -
what next? |
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| You need to apply to take
your test with your local DSA centre. You can do this online
from the DSA website see our Useful
Links page or by telephone.. |
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| But we strongly recommend
you don't apply for your test until your Instructor thinks you're
ready. |
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The Practical Driving Test
The 'Driving' part of your test will last about 40 minutes.
Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for evidence
you've reached an overall safe standard of driving, as you carry
out both general and specific manoeuvres. You can make up to
15 minor driving faults and still pass the test, but 16 or more
minor faults results in a fail. However, if you commit just
one serious or dangerous fault, you'll fail the test automatically. |
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| All examiners are trained
to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have
pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate the standard
required you will pass your driving test |
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— Weather
conditions and mechanical problems etc.
DSA do not conduct tests in bad light or in adverse weather
conditions for the safety of the candidate and the examiner.
You will need to arrange another appointment at no further cost,
but compensation is not payable. Candidates should call the
telephone number quoted on the appointment letter to check whether
their test will go ahead. |
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— What must you bring along
You must bring the following items with you to the test. If
you don't, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) may refuse to
carry out the test and you may lose your fee.
• An appropriately insured and licenced vehicle, displaying L-
Plates, that's suitable for the test - don't worry my Car
is perfect for the job.
• The appropriate theory test pass certificate.
• Your appointment letter confirming your test time and
date.
• Both parts of your photo card licence. If you don't
take both parts of your licence, your test will not take place
and you'll lose your fee.
• If you have an old-style paper licence, you must
take your
signed riving licence and separate approved photo identification
with you (i.e. passport). |
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| Applying for the full
driving licence. |
| Congratulations you passed!
You can now get out on the road. Don't forget that you now need
to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and
exchange your test pass certificate and provisional driving
licence for a new 'Full' driving licence as soon as possible. |
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| Professional training from a dedicated instructor. |
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