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How to get a driving licence in United Kingdom

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence, category B

Getting your licence in United Kingdom

Theory questions + hazard videos50 + 14 clips
Pass marks (both parts)43/50 · 44/75
Time for the multiple-choice part57 min
Theory test fee£23
Driving test fee (weekday / evening & weekend)£62 / £75
Driving test length~40 min

Your theory pass certificate stays valid for 2 years.

Before you start driving

2
Provisional licenceRequired before you drive on the road at all. Apply to DVLA from age 15 years 9 months; you can start driving at 17, with a qualified supervisor and L plates.
Medical checkNo doctor's exam for a car licence. You must tell DVLA about certain medical conditions when applying. Your eyesight is checked at the start of the practical test: you read a number plate from about 20 metres.

Required lessons

2
Driving lessonsNo minimum. You can take as many or as few lessons as you need before the test.
Private practiceAllowed with a supervisor who is 21 or older and has held a full licence for at least 3 years. You need L plates and insurance.

Good to know

8
Minimum ageApply for a provisional licence from 15 years 9 months. You can start driving at 17.
Licence validityThe photocard is valid for 10 years. Your right to drive lasts until age 70, then you renew every 3 years.
Exam languagesOnly English or Welsh. Interpreters and foreign-language voiceovers have not been allowed since 2014, except British Sign Language.
If you failTheory: wait at least 3 working days. Practical: wait at least 10 working days.
Automatic or manualPassing in an automatic limits your licence to automatic cars.
New driversGet 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing and your licence is revoked. You must then reapply for a provisional licence and pass both tests again.
Already have a licence from abroad?After moving here you can drive on it for 12 months. EU and EEA licences last longer, and some countries can simply exchange (see the Abroad tab). Otherwise, get a provisional licence and pass both tests before the 12 months run out. No lessons are required.
Also worth knowing
  • Hazard perception trips up more people than the questions do. Practise clicking as soon as a hazard starts to develop.
  • Book early: waiting lists are long. Since 2026 only you can book, change or cancel your test (not your instructor), each booking allows 2 changes, and you can only move to one of the 3 nearest test centres.
  • Under discussion, not in force: a minimum learning period of 3 or 6 months before the test.

Step by step

  1. Get a provisional licenceApply to DVLA before you start driving lessons.
  2. Theory test, part 150 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes. You need 43 right.
  3. Theory test, part 2Hazard perception: 14 video clips, 44 out of 75 points to pass. Both parts must be passed in one sitting.
  4. Practical driving testAbout 40 minutes: eyesight check, vehicle safety questions, general driving, a manoeuvre and a section of independent driving.

Tips From driving schools and examiners

  • Observation at junctions is the top reason for failing, according to DVSA: look properly and judge the speed of approaching traffic.
  • Check your mirrors before every change of direction or speed, including when leaving a roundabout or changing lanes.
  • Move off safely: check your blind spot every time you pull away, including after the emergency stop.
  • Position correctly when turning right, so you don't block traffic behind you.
  • Keep a record of your lessons with your instructor, and only book when you no longer make these mistakes.

Based on: Theory Test Pro: DVSA's top 10 reasons learners fail (2022–23 data) ↗

Official links

GOV.UK: Official practice theory test ↗The Highway Code ↗GOV.UK: Book your driving test ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

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No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

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An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

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