Neil’s driving school

Learning to drive

Before you can start to drive, you must hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

The minimum age for driving in the UK is 17 but you can apply for your licence up to 3 months before your 17th birthday.

If you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate, your provisional licence will come into effect when you are 16 and you can apply for it up to 3 months before your 16th birthday.

You can apply for your licence by picking up a D1 form from your local post office. A D1 form can be ordered online from dvla.gov.uk via their form ordering service. You can also apply online at direct.gov.uk and if you have a valid UK passport, the photos can be electronically captured from the Identity and Passport service. If you don’t have a valid passport, you will need to send a photo in and a completion form is available at the end of the online application.

If you want to practice with a friend or relative, you must ensure that they are at least 21 and must have held (and still hold) a licence for 3 years. You must also ensure that the vehicle has a valid MOT, tax & insurance. ‘L’ plates must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle.