Getting started
You need to be 17 to start learning to drive and have a valid provisional licence before you take your first driving lessons. Complete a D1 form from the post office and send it to the DVLA (DVLNI in Northern Ireland) with your passport or birth certificate, and a passport-sized photo. You can also apply online.
Apply for a provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday, and you could book your first driving lesson for the big day!
Got a foreign licence?
Disabled or need special tuition?
Apply for a provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday, and you could book your first driving lesson for the big day!
Got a foreign licence?
Disabled or need special tuition?
Theory and Practical Tests
Theory and hazard perception tests come first You need to pass your theory and hazard perception test at the same time before you can apply for your practical test.
Getting a test date You will need a valid provisional driving licence to take your theory test. Once you've got that, you can book your theory and hazard perception tests online (link opens a new window), or by phone on 0300 200 1122 or download a theory test application (link opens a new window).
How the theory test works The theory test is a 50-question multiple-choice test. To pass you must answer 43 or more questions correctly within 57 minutes. Questions are chosen at random from a bank of over 1,000 questions, and you answer by touching the screen. During the test you have the option to skip questions and return to them later.
The hazard perception part
Before you start the hazard perception part, you'll be shown a short video clip about how it works.
You'll then be shown a series of video clips on a computer screen. The clips:
How the hazard perception scoring works The earlier you notice a developing hazard and make a response, the higher you will score. The most you can score for each developing hazard is five points.
To get a high score you need to:
If you click continuously or in a pattern during a clip a message will appear at the end. It will tell you that you have scored zero for that particular clip.
An example of when to respond to a hazard Think of a parked car on the side of the road. When you first see it, it isn't doing anything - it's just a parked car. If you respond at this point, you wouldn't score any marks, but you wouldn't lose any marks.
The difference between a potential and developing hazard When you get closer to the car, you notice that its right-hand indicator starts to flash. This would make you think that the driver of the car is going to move away. The hazard is now developing and a response at this point would score marks.
The indicator coming on is a sign that the car has changed from a potential hazard into a developing hazard.
When you get closer to the car, you'll probably see it start to move away from the side of the road. You should make anothe response at this point.
Hazard perception test types Category Video clips Developing hazards Pass mark Car and motorcycle 14 clips with 15 devepoing hazards.
The pass mark is 44 out of 75
Getting a test date You will need a valid provisional driving licence to take your theory test. Once you've got that, you can book your theory and hazard perception tests online (link opens a new window), or by phone on 0300 200 1122 or download a theory test application (link opens a new window).
How the theory test works The theory test is a 50-question multiple-choice test. To pass you must answer 43 or more questions correctly within 57 minutes. Questions are chosen at random from a bank of over 1,000 questions, and you answer by touching the screen. During the test you have the option to skip questions and return to them later.
The hazard perception part
Before you start the hazard perception part, you'll be shown a short video clip about how it works.
You'll then be shown a series of video clips on a computer screen. The clips:
- feature every day road scenes
- contain at least one developing hazard - but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards
How the hazard perception scoring works The earlier you notice a developing hazard and make a response, the higher you will score. The most you can score for each developing hazard is five points.
To get a high score you need to:
- respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development
- press the mouse button as soon as you see a hazard developing
If you click continuously or in a pattern during a clip a message will appear at the end. It will tell you that you have scored zero for that particular clip.
An example of when to respond to a hazard Think of a parked car on the side of the road. When you first see it, it isn't doing anything - it's just a parked car. If you respond at this point, you wouldn't score any marks, but you wouldn't lose any marks.
The difference between a potential and developing hazard When you get closer to the car, you notice that its right-hand indicator starts to flash. This would make you think that the driver of the car is going to move away. The hazard is now developing and a response at this point would score marks.
The indicator coming on is a sign that the car has changed from a potential hazard into a developing hazard.
When you get closer to the car, you'll probably see it start to move away from the side of the road. You should make anothe response at this point.
Hazard perception test types Category Video clips Developing hazards Pass mark Car and motorcycle 14 clips with 15 devepoing hazards.
The pass mark is 44 out of 75
Practical Test
The driving test is designed for you to show your practical skills and understanding of the Highway Code and the theory of driving safely. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving. Different parts of your driving test...
What you need to take to your driving test
Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you'll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions.
The eyesight check
The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle at the distance of 20.5 metres to test your eyesight. If you fail the check, your driving test won't continue. You can find out how the eyesight check works by clicking on this link.
Vehicle safety questions: 'show me, tell me'
You'll be asked two vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the 'show me, tell me' questions.
The examiner will ask you one 'show me' question, where you'll have to show them how you'd carry out a vehicle safety check. You'll also be asked one 'tell me' question, where you'll have to explain to the examiner how you'd carry out the check.
If you give the wrong answer for one or both questions, you'll be marked with one driving fault. Click HERE to download 'show me, tell me' questions.
The driving ability part of your driving test
In your practical test, you have 40 minutes to demonstrate everything you have learned in your driving lessons. You need to show you can drive competently and safely in all kinds of driving situations. You'll be asked to do one of the four reversing manoeuvres you've practised with your instructor, and possibly make an emergency stop. To pass, you will have to complete the test with no serious faults, and you may have 15 or fewer minor errors. Independent driving section of the driving test is part of the practical test and takes around ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.
Show me Tell me Questions - click HERE
To book your theory part of the driving test please click HERE
To book your practical part of the driving test please click HERE
What you need to take to your driving test
- your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you are not exempt
- both parts of your photo card licence
Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you'll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions.
The eyesight check
The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle at the distance of 20.5 metres to test your eyesight. If you fail the check, your driving test won't continue. You can find out how the eyesight check works by clicking on this link.
Vehicle safety questions: 'show me, tell me'
You'll be asked two vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the 'show me, tell me' questions.
The examiner will ask you one 'show me' question, where you'll have to show them how you'd carry out a vehicle safety check. You'll also be asked one 'tell me' question, where you'll have to explain to the examiner how you'd carry out the check.
If you give the wrong answer for one or both questions, you'll be marked with one driving fault. Click HERE to download 'show me, tell me' questions.
The driving ability part of your driving test
In your practical test, you have 40 minutes to demonstrate everything you have learned in your driving lessons. You need to show you can drive competently and safely in all kinds of driving situations. You'll be asked to do one of the four reversing manoeuvres you've practised with your instructor, and possibly make an emergency stop. To pass, you will have to complete the test with no serious faults, and you may have 15 or fewer minor errors. Independent driving section of the driving test is part of the practical test and takes around ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.
Show me Tell me Questions - click HERE
To book your theory part of the driving test please click HERE
To book your practical part of the driving test please click HERE
