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.
Unlike when you obtain your full driving licence, your provisional driving licence will be generic and cover learning in both Manual or Automatic vehicles.
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. For more details click here.
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.
When you obtain your full driving licence, it will be marked with codes to indicate whether you are able to drive both manual & automatic vehicles, or just automatic. This will be dependent on whether you took a manual or automatic test.
If you learnt in an automatic and took the automatic test, then your driving licence will be marked with the 78 code which indicates that you are ‘restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission’. You can find out more about Automatic driving lessons here.
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