When you can apply
You can apply for a UK provisional driving licence from the age of 15 years 9 months. You do not have to wait until you turn 17 to apply, and applying early means your licence can be ready and waiting so you can start lessons as soon as you are old enough to drive.
To apply you also need to be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres away (with glasses or contact lenses if you need them), and you must have lived in Great Britain for a qualifying period.
When you can start driving
You can start learning to drive at 17. That is the age at which you can take your first lesson in a car on the road and book your practical driving test. Even if you applied for your provisional licence earlier, you cannot legally drive a car until your 17th birthday.
The one exception
There is one exception. You can drive a car from 16 if you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If that applies to you, tell the DVLA when you apply — the dates printed on your licence will confirm what you are allowed to drive and from when.
How to apply
The quickest way to apply is online through the official DVLA service on GOV.UK. You will need proof of identity (a valid UK passport is easiest, but other documents are accepted), the addresses where you have lived over the last three years, and your National Insurance number if you have one.
You can apply for your first provisional driving licence on GOV.UK.
It costs £34 to apply online and you can pay by debit or credit card. If you prefer to apply by post using a D1 form from the Post Office, it costs £43. If you apply online and no further checks are needed, your licence may arrive within about a week, though DVLA processing times can vary.
A provisional photocard is normally valid for 10 years before it needs renewing. Wait until your licence arrives before you drive — the dates printed on it confirm exactly what you can drive and from when.
What you need before your first lesson
Before your first driving lesson, make sure you have your provisional licence in hand, you are old enough to drive a car (17, or 16 with an eligible mobility allowance), and your eyesight meets the standard for reading a number plate at 20 metres. With those in place, you are ready to get started.
When you learn with MMS, you do not need your own car or your own insurance for lessons — you learn in an insured dual-control lesson car, with DVSA-approved instructors available. MMS Driving School teaches learners across Coventry and the surrounding towns, and we are happy to talk through what to expect before you book.
Ready to start? A first lesson is the natural next step once your licence is sorted, and you can read what to expect on the your first driving lesson guide.