Provisional Licence Before you can start learning to drive, you must apply for a provisional licence. You can apply for your provisional licence either online or in person at your local post office. To apply online for your provisional driving licence go to GOV.UK. Alternatively, you can apply for your provisional licence by completing the D1 application form, available at your local Post Office. To apply for your provisional driving licence, you need to: •Turn 17 within 3 months (but you need to wait until your birthday before you can drive on the road) •Have a valid proof of identity •Live in the UK •Give all addresses where you’ve lived over the last three years •Be able to read a new-style number plate from 20 metres or an old-style number plate form 20.5 metres •Not be prevented from driving for any reason •Be able to pay £35 by debit or credit card The DVLA will try to send you your provisional within 3 weeks of receiving your application although it can take longer if your health or personal details have to be checked. In the meantime, brush up on your Highway Code. Remember – you will need your new licence to arrive prior to driving and will have to give your Instructor a DVSA code which proves your entitlement to drive.
Proving Your Entitlement To Drive Changes to driving licences came into effect on 8th June 2015 so that driving licences now consists of simply the photo card. Endorsements, penalty points and driving bans will no longer be recorded on driving licences, but will instead only be accessible online. For insurance purposes, before your first driving lesson your Instructor is required to check your full licence details to see the vehicles you’re allowed to drive, and to check for penalty points and disqualifications. The consequences for not checking the above are very serious.
You must follow these simple steps before the 1st lesson to generate a code which will allow your instructor to check your licence details:
1) You will need
Your driving licence
Your national insurance number
Your home postcode
2) Go to this website https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence 3) Step one: enter your driving licence number, national insurance number and postcode as shown on your driving licence. 4) Step two: click on “share licence information”. This creates a code. The code is case sensitive, can only be used once, and is only valid for 72 hours. 5) Step three: pass the code to your Instructor together with the last eight digits of your driving licence number.
In advance of your first driving lesson your Instructor will view your licence details on line. Be aware that your Instructor is encouraged to save a screenshot as evidence of the licence entitlement check.
Please note, you should also produce your photo card licence for ID inspection on your first lesson. It is your responsibility to provide your Instructor with proof that you have a valid licence to drive, before the commencement of your first lesson. If you fail to provide this proof, your Instructor is entitled to refuse to conduct the lesson but may still charge you.
Full Driving Licence Once you’ve passed your practical driving test, you can apply for a full driving licence and get out on the road! Get in touch with the DVLA to swap your test pass certificate and provisional driving licence for a full licence as soon as possible. Then talk to Allen about follow up lessons for further training to complete your skill set for todays motoring.