UK Driving Licence

The photocard driving license is the official document that allows any person to drive a vehicle in the UK.

UK driving licence can be issued by the Driving and Vehicles Licences Agency (DVLA) in England, Scotland, and Walsh, Driving and vehicle Agency (DVL) in Northern Ireland.

How to obtain a driving license in the UK?

In the UK, you can start to learn to drive a car from age 17, Or 16 for those who receive, or have applied for, personal independence payment (PIP) or disability living allowance (DLA).

How You Can Apply for the First Driving Licence in the UK?

After 15 years and 9 months of your age, you’re eligible to apply for a driving licence in Great Britain. On the other hand, in Northern Ireland, you must be 16 years and ten months old to get approved for a driving licence. It’s also a requirement that you must read a vehicle registration number from the length of 20-metres.

What Do You Need Before Applying for Provisional Licence?

Before applying for your first provisional driving licence in the UK, you must fulfil the mentioned requirements:

An identity document.
Address where you have lived over the last three years.
National insurance number, if you know.

Plus, you can also apply online from the DVLA website. It costs only £34 to apply online and can be payable by Master card, Visa card, Visa Electron, Delta debit or Credit card.

You can apply for the provisional licence at the post office. It will cost you £43 and deliver your D1 application form to DVLA Swan Sea address.

What Can You do After receiving Your Provisional Driving licence in the UK?

Your provisional licence is valid for ten years. So, there are different rules to start driving with a temporary licence in the UK, depending on your age and vehicle type. The conditions attached to the provisional licence are:

It would be best if you had a supervisor when you’re inexperienced in deriving a car. The person who’s supervising you must be an expert instructor or your family member. Moreover, the person could be your family member or a friend expert in driving vehicles on the road.
You must have insurance to drive.
You must display “L” plates.

You can drive on the motorway in Scotland, England, and Wales if followed by an experienced driving trainer. Further, you can move your vehicle fitted with dual controls on the highway.

What Are the Speed Limits for Learner Drivers?

The allowed speed limit is 45 miles per hour in Northern Ireland when you’re learning to drive rightly. However, the speed limits remain the same in England, Wales, and Scotland as when you have passed your test.

“VEHICLE CATEGORIES”

What Type of Vehicle do You Want to Drive?

A variety of vehicles are available, and it depends on your choice of which vehicle you want to drive. However, these are divided into different categories mentioned below.

Motor tricycle (categories A and A1)
Motorbike (Categories A, A1, and A2)
Car (Category B)
Quad bikes (Category B1)
Moped (Category P or AM)
And more

Who Can Teach You the Best Driving Lessons to Drive?

You can practise your driving lesson with friends or relatives, but they must be;

Over 21 years.
I have had a driving licence for at least three years.
Qualified to drive the vehicle you are learning in.

What is the Right Way to Learn to Drive in the UK?

The best way to learn to drive is with a professional driving instructor or approved driving instructor. The ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) is a qualified driving instructor tested and registered by the DVSA (Driving and Vehicle Standard Agency),

To find an approved driving instructor near me, you can visit the website or contact the DVSA team to resolve your queries:

Email: customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk

Contact Number: 03002001122

Timing: Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm

Moreover, the knowledge of highway codes is also necessary for a beginner to know. The highway code is road-related information, advice, and mandatory rules for everyone in the United Kingdom. Moreover, the highway code for England, Scotland, and Wales is unique from the Northern Ireland highway code. Purchase an online copy of the highway code, or you can also get a highway code copy from street bookshops.

“YOUR FIRST DRIVING LESSON”

When you attend your first driving lesson, there might be many questions in your mind. Let’s try to discuss them all one by one.

What Happen in Your First Lesson?

On your first driving lesson, the driving instructor will check your provisional licence. Further, your instructor will ask you to see a number plate from a 20-meter distance. After it, the driving instructor will drive you to a quiet road.

The first thing you learn is driving position and controls, such as adjusting your seat or steering wheel adjustment, including other controls. Besides, you will know mirrors’ adjustment, mirror use, blind spots, and MSM routine. In the last part of your first driving lesson, you will learn how to start the engine, move the car safely, and stop under control.

How Many Driving Lessons You Need Before Test?

Everybody learns to drive at a different pace. However, the DVSA states that learners pass the test after training of an average of 45 hours and 22 hours of practice.

What Will You Learn by Choosing Us?

We focus on teaching you the use of mirrors, signals learning, moving away, and stopping the vehicle. We cannot ignore some other factors: safe positioning, anticipation, planning, speed, meeting, and crossing traffic. Moreover, we’ll teach you overtaking, junctions, roundabouts, approaching a pedestrian crossing, dual carriageways manoeuvres, and emergency stops knowledge for independent driving.

DRIVING THEORY TEST

The theory test for vehicle drivers comprises two portions: multiple-choice based and hazard perception-based questions. Thus, you’ve to clear both portions to finally clear the driving theory test.

What’s the Procedure of the Driving Theory Test?

You will take your theory test at an official DVSA test centre. Multiple-choice questions will be based on the rules of the driving vehicle on the road. On the other hand, the hazard perception test comes with 14 hazard perception video clips, one minute each. You have to find 15 developing hazards during your theory test. Watch the official DVSA guide video

How Can You Pass Your Driving Theory Test?

You need to clear 43 out of the 50 questions to pass the multiple-choice question’s portion. Plus, you will get a maximum time of about 57 minutes to complete the test.

At least 44/75 marks are required to pass the hazard perception portion of your theory test. Moreover, one hazard clip comes with a minimum of two developing hazards.

How to Practice and Revise the Driving Theory Test?

Luckily, many resources are available, including software, books, or apps that help you practise and revise your theory test.

You can learn about the essential driving skills and multiple-choice questions revision assistance from online tools. Besides, get the right knowledge about highway codes and traffic signs from the right sources.

Now for hazard perception, you can get an online guide on your PC and Mac. Also, install the relevant app on your tablets or android devices to stay up-to-date with the rules.

If you think you are ready for the theory test, you should find a theory test centre near me and book your time and date for the practice theory test.

FAQs RELATED TO BOOKING THEORY TEST

How Costly is A Driving Theory Test in the UK?

If you book an online driving theory test, it will cost you £23.

What Do You Need to Book Theory Test Online?

Here are the requirements that you fulfil before applying for a theory test in the UK:

The UK provisional licence.
Email address.
Credit or debit card.

After booking your theory test, you can review your test details and even change the test appointment. Moreover, if you are not comfortable with it, you can also cancel your theory test by taking online support from DVSA. You can call them at 03002001122 from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm to resolve all your queries in a moment.

The method of the booking theory test is different in Northern Ireland. Here is the link to apply, book, change, or cancel the trial in that area

What Happened at the Theory Test Centre?

When you reach your theory test centre, the instructor will give you a computer and allow for 15 minutes to go through the PC. This practice time helps you get used to the computer system. Further, by the end of the practice time, you’ll have to answer 50 multiple questions in 57 minutes.

The Hazard Perception test will start right after you completed the multiple-choice test. You will find 14 hazard perception video clips each of one minute. At least 44/75 marks are required to pass the hazard perception portion of your theory test.

You will get the result soon after completing both portions of the test. So, if you cleared it, you would receive a certificate valid for two years to book and pass your practical driving test. But unfortunately, if you failed, you must reapply to retake your test.

BOOK YOUR DRIVING TEST

It’s compulsory to pass the theory test before booking for the driving test. However, you can book a trial for up to 18 weeks in the future. Online booking is available from 6 am to 11:40 pm.

FAQs RELATED TO BOOKING DRIVING TEST

What Do You Need to Book A Driving Test?

If you’re living in the UK, you must have:

UK provisional driving number.
Credit or debit card.
Driving instructor’s reference number.

What is the Cost of Driving Test in the UK?

It costs £62 for the weekday driving test while £75 for the weekend test.

What are the Compulsory Requirements of a Driving Test in the UK?

You must be a citizen of England, Scotland, or Wales from the last 12 months and for a minimum of 185 days before the day of your driving test.

As discussed above, if you’re living in Northern Ireland, there is a different way to book a driving test. Luckily, you can check your appointments or cancel the test request even after booking.

TAKING DRIVING TEST REQUIREMENT

What Do You Need to Take with You for Your Driving Test?

UK provisional driving licence.
Passed certificate of the theory test.
You’re personal vehicle if it meets the rules or your driving instructor’s car.
Face mask to cover your face or with a fair reason of not wearing it.

When Should You Don’t Go to Take Your Driving Test?

You must leave the driving test in the following situations:

If you’re feeling to have COVID-19 symptoms
If a tracking service or a test showed you that you have been in contact with COVID-19 patient
You’re under isolation as you recently moved to the UK.

DRIVING TEST VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

Which Car is Suitable for Driving Test?

You can use your personal car or your instructor’s vehicle that meets the rules of driving a test vehicle.

Long story short, your vehicle must be:

Insured as well as tax.
Roadworthy and with a recent MOT.
Comes with legal tread depth on each tyre without any damage.
Must have four wheels and a maximum authorised VMAs (MAM) of up to 3500 kg.
For the examiner, with an extra rear-view mirror and have L-plate on the front and rear (`L` or `D` plates in Wales).
Lastly, it should have a proper passenger head restraint and a seatbelt for the examiner.

Can I Hire or Rent A Car for Driving Test?

Yeah, you can use a hired car for your practical driving test if it meets the requirements. Moreover, you can also take care and van rental services from Arnold Clark or call at the telephonic numbers: 01412371965 – 0141 2374374

Which Cars are Not Eligible to be Used for Practical Driving Test?

Because of some reasons, you cannot use unfit cars to pass your practical test of vehicle driving.

For instance, the practical driving test taker cannot allow cars with known safety faults. You can also get further in-depth information about the vehicles which are not permitted for the practical driving test by clicking here.

What happens on Your Driving Vehicle Test?

The test taker will ask you to sign if your car is not the best fit for the test and it’s roadworthy with the current MOT before the test starts. Meanwhile, the inspector will review your provisional driving licence and check your photo and your signature. After it, you are asked to read the vehicle’s registration number from a 20-metre distance. If a car’s number plate is old, the distance would be 20.5 meters.

If your eyesight is weak, you must require glasses or contact lenses before driving. Moreover, you should also consult with an optician to reduce the chances of further eyesight problems. If you fail the eyesight check, remember, you fail in your driving test.

Show Me, Tell Me Questions

What are Show Me Tell Me Questions?

Your test taker will raise two questions during the practical driving test, one “tell me” question when the trials start and one “show me” while you’re driving. For instance,

Q. Show me how could you check that the vehicle’s direction indicators are at work?

You will use the hazard alarm button and make sure all signs are operating.

Q. Tell me how would you know if there was an error with your anti-lock decelerating system?

The alert light should light up if your anti-lock braking system is out of order.

Watch the official DVSA video

STARTING YOUR DRIVING TEST

Your driving test examiner will explain to you that your test will last for about 40 minutes. From it, 20 minutes are reserved for independent driving. Sometimes, however, you may start your autonomous driving from the driving test centre.

You should follow the driving instructions that your driving test taker is sharing with you. The examiner will tell you to carry out one manoeuvre involving reversing during the test, for instance, Reverse Bay Parking or Parallel Parking at the road site. The examiner can also order you to carry out an emergency stop exercise. Pullover at the road’s side and pull away a few times are also essential factors where your examiner can focus.

INDEPENDENT DRIVIN

In this phase, you will drive for almost 20 minutes independently. Your examiner will ask you to follow the traffic signs or share a series of directions to complete the route.

If you take a wrong turn during independent driving, it won’t affect your driving test. Your driving test examiner helps you to get back on the road and continue driving. Further, he will tell you when your independent driving end.

Furthermore, throughout your driving test, should follow the instructions that your instructor shared with you. The test examiner will observe an overall safe standard of driving in your driving sense. You can make minor mistakes up to fifteen times and can pass the test but a single dangerous mistake will lead you to the failure of the test.

END OF YOUR DRIVING TEST

Your driving test examiner will direct you towards your driving centre at the end of the trail. Hence, you can call your driving instructor so they can hear the result and the feedback from your driving test taker. If you passed the test, you will receive a pass certificate; plus, your full driving licence will be issued automatically and send to your address. If you failed, unluckily, test your examiner will email you the test results.