How To Apply For Your Provisional Driving Licence

If you have never held a driving licence before you will need to apply for a provisional licence. You must complete application form D1 (previously D750) available through the DVLA form ordering service or from Post Office® branches, and enclose the appropriate fee.  You must also enclose original documentation confirming your identity (for a complete list of acceptable identity documents please click here) and a passport-type size colour photograph taken against a plain light background (for photograph criteria click here).  Send your completed application and fee to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD or you may be able to use the Post Office® Checking Service.

Your provisional driving licence photocard will be green and this will be accompanied by your paper counterpart. The paper counterpart is equally as important as the photo card, DO NOT lose this, as without it you will be unable to take your driving test.

Adding A Test Pass

Photo card Licence Holders

Once you have passed your driving test (theory and practical) you should exchange your test pass certificate for a new licence as soon as possible.  If you do not claim your test pass within 2 years of the date of your test, the entitlement conveyed by the test pass will be lost and you will have to pass a further driving test (theory and practical) for that category of vehicle if you wish to have it included on your driving licence.

If you hold a provisional driving licence you must complete the declaration on your test pass certificate and send it together with your photocard licence and paper counterpart to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BJ.

If the paper counterpart of the provisional licence bears a black triangle near the address box, then the examiner will offer to send the licence off on your behalf which is more secure.

If you hold a full driving licence and have passed an additional test you must complete the declaration on your test pass certificate and send it together with your photocard licence and paper counterpart to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BJ.

When you receive your full driving licence, the photocard will be pink. On the reverse of the card will be displayed the categories for which you have a full licence for. The paper counterpart will show the categories for which you have provisional entitlement.