Get your provisional licence
Apply online for £34 from 15 years 9 months. It usually arrives within a week. How to apply.
Pass your theory test
Book at gov.uk for £23 using your driver number. There are two parts, taken in one sitting:
- 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes — you need 43 to pass
- 14 hazard perception clips — you need 44 out of 75 to pass
Your pass lasts two years. Practise with free mock tests on Driving Theory Test Guide.
Take driving lessons
Learn with an approved driving instructor and, if you can, add private practice with a family member or friend. Choose manual or automatic — an automatic test gives you an automatic-only licence.
Compare instructors in your postcode, or if you're in South or West Wales, look at intensive driving courses to pass faster.
Pass your practical test
Book at gov.uk once you've passed your theory test. The test lasts about 40 minutes and includes an eyesight check, "show me, tell me" safety questions, general driving, a manoeuvre and around 20 minutes of independent driving. You pass with 15 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.
Get your full licence
Your examiner can usually send your full licence automatically. For the first two years you are a new driver with stricter rules. After you pass.
Top tip
Book your theory test as soon as your licence arrives — local test centres can be busy, and you need a pass before you can book your practical.
Questions
How long does it take to learn to drive?
It varies a lot. DVSA has found that people who pass typically have around 45 hours of lessons plus about 22 hours of private practice. Intensive courses compress this into days or weeks for people who learn quickly.
Do I have to pass the theory test before booking lessons?
No — you can start lessons as soon as your provisional licence arrives. You must pass the theory test before you can book the practical test.
How long is a theory test pass valid?
Two years. You must pass your practical test within that time or take the theory test again.