- Minimum age to apply: 15 years and 9 months.
- You must read a number plate from 20 metres and have permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days.
- Fee: £34 online, or £43 by post using form D1.
- Online, the licence should usually arrive within one week; DVLA may need longer if extra checks are required.
The three conditions
| Condition | GOV.UK wording |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 15 years and 9 months old |
| Eyesight | Able to read a number plate from 20 metres away |
| Residence | Given permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days |
Meeting the age condition lets you apply; it does not mean you can drive at 15 and 9 months. GOV.UK says age restrictions apply by vehicle type, so check what you can drive and when before you start learning. We did not read the age table, so we give no ages for vehicles here.
Applying
- Apply online through the DVLA service linked from GOV.UK, paying £34 by card.
- When you sign in, you will be told whether identity proof is needed. This usually means a photo ID such as a passport.
- Or complete form D1, send it to the address on the form, and pay £43 by cheque or postal order.
- Wait for the licence; online it should usually arrive within a week.
- Then book lessons and the theory test. See theory test cost and the provisional licence fee.
Why this is a poor product for fraud
A provisional licence is cheap, quick and given to anyone who qualifies. It proves only that you may learn, not that you passed anything. A seller who offers one 'instantly', or who promises to skip the age or residence rule, is selling something DVLA does not do. Which? found social media sellers promising licences with no tests and a 'back-door' route, and DVLA called those adverts recognised scams.
The risk to the buyer is as much in the data as the money. A date of birth and a passport photo sent to a stranger are the two items most useful for impersonating you. The pattern appears on the WhatsApp licence scam.
Residence rules later on
The theory test has its own residence condition: GOV.UK says you must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day you take your theory or driving test. That is separate from the 185 days of permission to live in Great Britain needed at application.
- You applied through GOV.UK or form D1, not through a messaging app.
- You paid £34 or £43, not a 'fast-track' fee.
- You were asked for ID only inside the official sign-in.
- Nobody offered to ignore your age, eyesight or residence.
The general route is on getting a driving licence in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What age can you get a provisional licence?
From 15 years and 9 months old, according to GOV.UK. That is the age to apply, not the age you can drive; age limits depend on the vehicle type.
Do I need an eyesight test?
GOV.UK requires you to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away. The service does not describe a separate test certificate for the first provisional application.
Can a non-UK resident get a provisional licence?
GOV.UK requires permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days. A seller who offers to waive that, or any other condition, is not acting for DVLA.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
£34 online or £43 by post on form D1 (checked 5 October 2026). Online, the licence should usually arrive within a week, although extra checks can take longer.
Do I need ID?
GOV.UK says that on sign-in you will learn whether proof of identity is needed, usually a photo ID such as a passport. Give it only inside the official service, never to a message sender.