Applying For Your Provisional Driving Licence
If you are applying for your provisional driving licence, we have a guide you should check out. The DVLA have also created this video:
About Provisional Driving Licences
A provisional driving licence is the first licence you will get. You can apply for it from the age of15 years and 9 monthsand start to learn to drive a moped at the age of 16. You will have to wait to learn how to drivecars and motorcycles until you are theage of 17.
If you are receiving or you have made an application to received the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (Sometimes called PIP), you can learn to drive a car from the age of 16.
Uses Of Provisional Driving Licence
You provisional driving licence is obviously one of the first thing you will need to obtain when you decide you want to learn how to drive. However, it can also be used as a form of identification to getting into nightclubs, served drinks in pubs and bars and buying certain products in supermarkets such as knives and alcohol.
What To Do With Your Provisional Driving Licence When You Pass Your Driving Test
If you have passed all parts of your driving test (the theory exam – see our driving theory test tips here – , the hazard perception test and the practical examination) congratulations! You now need to send your provisional driving licence back to the DVLA within the next two years. You will then receive a full UK licence for the type of vehicle you passed your test in/on.
As of Monday 8th June, you will no longer receive a paper counterpart with your driving licence. You can read more about the changes here.
What Can I Drive When I Have Passed My Test?
If you pass your motorcycle test, you won’t get a full licence to drive a car until you takethe car driving test. This also applies if you pass your driving test in an automatic car, as you will not be able to legally drive a manual control car. However, if you pass your test in a manual car, you will be able to drive an automatic vehicle.
If you hold a full UK car licence, you will be able to legally drive a moped and/or a motorcycle if you have completed a Compulsory Basic Training course (this is sometimes called a CBT course).
Are There Any Special Circ*mstances To Consider After Passing My Driving Test?
If you reside in Northern Ireland and have passed your test in the last year, you must display “R” plates (with the “R” standing for “Restricted”). You are also limited to a speed of 45 mph or 72 km/h. This is only until the period of restriction is over and does not apply to those who reside in England, Wales or Scotland.
However, it is important for drivers in England, Wales and Scotland to remember that if they collect 6 points on their licence in the first 2 years after passing their test, they will have their licence revoked and will need to complete all parts of the driving test again.
Even after getting a new licence, the points will remain until the date they should expire. An example of this would be collecting 6 points for being caught speeding in the first 2 years of passing your driving test, then, even after retaking the test and getting a new driving licence, the points will remain for at least 4 years from the date the offence was committed.
If you are a newly qualified driver in England, Wales or Scotland you also have the option of displaying a “P” plate (the “P” stands for “Probationer”) on your car, similar to the style of the “L” plate (the “L” standing for “Learner”). This is not a requirement, although it can be useful for indicating to other drivers that you may not have as much experience on the roads and can let them easily see that you could be more likely to make errors in judgement or mistakes.
