To obtain a provisional driving licence in the UK, you
need to:
Order D1 form on the DVLA website
/ take it from the post office. Then send the completed form with photo, ID and payment to DVLA,
Swansea, SA99 1AF (cost £43) or
Fill out and submit the form online
- (cost £34). After sending the documents you can start studying for the theory test
After 3-4 weeks you will receive your provisional driving licence by post (as
well as a return of your ID document). You can start practical driving.
- Depending on the student's ability, the absolute minimum, which includes tests fees etc.,
is £150-500. The lower limit is the price of L (green provisional driving licence), study materials and exams.The upper one
includes about 10-15 hours of driving with an instructor. You can learn with a friend for
free. You do not need to do the course - there is no minimum driving hours in the UK,
and you do not need to do the theory course.So you can do everything (apart from driving) on your own
and only take the tests.
What do you need to do? - All 3 steps are described in more details on our website.
In short:
send the D1 form for a provisional driving license (green plastic)
study the theory and pass the theory test
learn the practice and pass the practical exam.
There is no time frame, except for that after passing the theory test, you have two years to
pass the practical driving test.
If you turn 17 in the next three months,
you can apply for a provisional DVLA driving license (you must be 17 to drive,
but if you want to ride a motorcycle or moped you only need to be sixteen).
You must be the UK resident with minimum age requirements and minimum eyesight requirements.
If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet your eyesight standards, they must be worn
every time,
while you are driving - remember that, otherwise you will commit a crime.
- There are no compulsory driving courses in the UK, as it was the case in Poland. Everyone
learns individually, theory at home from textbooks (our bilingual materials are available in
the blue and red tabs of the website) and in a driving school of their choice
or with a private instructor (you can find the driving school or driving instructor closest
to your place of residence via the DVSA link) HERE).
- Yes, you are entitled to drive on the roads as soon as you receive your provisional
driving license.
Of course, under certain conditions, which are established by that driving license.
Passing the theory test is not a prerequisite for practical driving.
However, to take the theory test for a driving license -
you must have an L (green plastic).
- Unfortunately, in Great Britain there is no such possibility since 2014 (in Northern
Ireland it is still available):
Information on this
here.
However, the questions on the theory test are not difficult, you can study in two languages
(check our bilingual study materials) to learn English better
and take the exam.
We also recommend that you take at least few lessons with an English-speaking instructor
to prepare well for your practice test, which will be in English (our Practice Test Guide
will also make the practical test easier).
- The e-books are sent up to 24 hours after the payment via e-mail. If it's the middle of the day,
they usually come within an hour. Ebooks are in interactive pdf format, only pdf reader is
required - eg. Adobe Acrobat Reader, so they work on any laptop, tablet or phone even with
android or iOS system (Windows as well). For online panel the web browser is needed as well
as internet connection.
- The online panel access is for 12 months from the date of buying (the ebook is being sent to your
email so the access will be permanent). Unfortunately after a year (if you still need to
study) you will have to purchase ebook + panel again, you can't buy the panel on its own.
DVSA changes some of the questions almost every year, in the online panel they are being
updated daily, so you can always be sure that in the whole period of your access, the
questions will be always up to date.
- If you want to take the theory or practice test for driving in Northern Ireland, you are
legally required to reside in Northern Ireland. If you have a provisional driving license
from the UK and want to take a motorcycle, car, bus or lorry theory test, you must complete
the Habitual Residence Declaration Form and send it to DVA with proof that you live in
Northern Ireland before booking the exam. More info on this HERE.
- There is currently no obligation to exchange the Polish driving license for the British
one due to Brexit. Driving on a Polish driving licence is legal in the UK, but for those who
would like to exchange their license for a British one (eg. to have cheaper insurance), you can download the example on how
to fill in the application, available after clicking on the picture of D1 form.
- According to the British government website Gov.uk, in Poland you can drive on a British
driving licence for up to 6 months without an IDP (International Driving Permit). More info
on this HERE
In case of problems with an English language CLICK on the picture below to see what
the individual terms mean in Polish
If you want to exchange your Polish driving licence for a British one, please select Exchange instead of Provisional in the field 3
And if you want to see Polish translation of filled D2 form (provisional driving licence form for LGV/PCV
in Polish)- CLICK HERE
In the United Kingdom there are some different rules on the roads than in Poland, we encourage all Polish drivers to
read short ⏩ Polish
Guide ⏪ about driving in the UK (for learner drivers we have studying materials in Polish on our
blue page - Step
2)
You can drive on UK roads on a provisional driving license, but certain conditions must be met. Click and
learn more:
✓ Provisional drivers must have someone to supervise them while driving.
✓ The person must be seated in the front passenger seat and be able to drive the vehicle.
They should also be over the age of 21 and have had a full driving license for the last
three years for the category,
which a temporary driver is learning to drive in the UK.
✓ The learner drivers can't drive on the motorway
(from 2018, driving on the motorway is possible under the supervision of a professional
instructor in the car,
which has built-in dual vehicle controls).
Once you have your British provisional driving licence
(or you are waiting for it after sending the application),
In the United Kingdom there are some different rules on the roads than in Poland, we encourage all Polish drivers to
read short ⏩ Polish
Guide ⏪ about driving in the UK (for learner drivers we have studying materials in Polish on our
blue page - Step
2)
