What age are you allowed to drive a normal Car (category B)?
– To drive a normal Car (category B)
- Under 16’s are not old enough to drive but you can apply for a provisional licence at 15 years and 9 months old. You can learn to drive a car and take a test at 17. If you already have a provisional licence to ride a moped, you do not need to reapply.
- 17 years old you learn to drive a car.
If you have a disability or long-term health condition
- the ‘mobility component’ of Child Disability Payment (CDP) at the higher rate – you must be receiving CDP before you turn 16 to be eligible
- the ‘mobility component’ at the higher rate of DLA for children and are waiting to be transferred to get CDP
- the ‘mobility part’ of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at the enhanced rate
- the ‘mobility part’ of PIP at the higher rate and are waiting to be transferred to get ADP
Legal obligations of drivers and riders
You must do several things before you drive a car or ride a motorcycle. These include getting a driving licence, registering, insuring and taxing your vehicle, and getting an MOT.
These are legal requirements and apply to everyone.
You may hold personal views about the law, but these do not change your legal responsibilities.
If you do not meet your obligations, you may be taken to court or have to pay a fine.
Before you drive or ride
You must:
- Meet the minimum eyesight rules
- Have the correct driving licence
- Be the minimum driving or riding age
Learner drivers
You must:
- be supervised by a qualified driver.
- display L plates
Vehicle requirements
The vehicle must:
- be registered with DVLA
- have up to date vehicle tax (check if your vehicle is taxed online)
- have a current MOT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)
- be roadworthy
Changes to personal or vehicle details
You must tell DVLA if you:
- change your name or gender
- change your address
- make any alterations to your vehicle
- sell your vehicle
- have or develop a medical condition
Showing your driving documents
If a police officer asks you to, you must be able to show:
- your driving licence
- a valid insurance certificate
- a valid MOT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)
If you do not have the documents with you at the time, you may be asked to take them to a police station within 7 days.
Driving eyesight rules
You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’.
You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects both of your eyes, or the remaining eye if you only have one eye.
This does not include being short or long sighted or colour blind. You also do not need to say if you’ve had surgery to correct short sightedness and can meet the eyesight standards.
Check if you need to tell DVLA about your eyesight problem by searching the A to Z of medical conditions that could affect your driving.
If you need an eye test
If you report a medical condition that affects your vision, DVLA may refer you for an eyesight test with their contracted optician. You do not have to pay for the test.
DVLA then considers all medical evidence provided as part of a driving licence application, including the result of the eyesight test.
If you choose to get your eyesight test from somewhere else
You can submit the results of an eyesight test done by another optician as long as it includes an ‘Esterman visual test’. DVLA do not guarantee they will accept an eyesight test done by other opticians.
You’ll need to pay for the test yourself.
You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving.
Standards of vision for driving
You must be able to read a number plate from 20 meters away (about the length of 5 parked cars). You can wear your glasses or contact lenses if you use them for driving.
You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
You must also have an adequate field of vision – your optician can tell you about this and do a test.
The practical driving test eyesight test
At the start of your practical driving test you have to correctly read a number plate on a parked vehicle.
If you cannot, you’ll fail your driving test and the test will not continue. DVLA will be told and your licence will be revoked.
When you reapply for your driving licence, DVLA will ask you to have an eyesight test with DVSA. This will be at a driving test centre. If you’re successful, you’ll still have to pass the DVSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.
Get your first provisional driving licence for a car, motorbike, moped or other vehicle from DVLA online. To apply you must:
- be at least 15 years and 9 months old
- be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
- have been given permission to live in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for at least 185 days
It costs £34 when you apply online.
If you applied for a provisional licence before 1 March 1973 you’ll need to use this service to get a new licence.
Sign in to apply
You’ll need to sign in to use this service. If you do not already have sign in details, you’ll be able to create them.
You’ll be told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity. This is to keep your details safe and usually involves using photo ID like a passport.
After you apply
DVLA will send you a confirmation email once you’ve applied.
Your licence should arrive within one week if you apply online. It may take longer if DVLA need to make additional checks.
How much it costs
It costs £34 to apply online. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.
When you can drive with a provisional licence
There are different rules depending on your age and the type of vehicle. Check what vehicles you can drive and when before you start to learn.
If you already have a provisional licence
If you already have a provisional licence you can:
- renew your provisional licence
- replace your provisional licence if it’s lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
- reapply for your provisional licence if you’ve been disqualified
- change the address on your provisional licence
Apply by post
Complete form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’, available from most Post Offices.
Send your application to the address on the form, along with a cheque or postal order for £43.
The Highway Code
– The Highway Code is essential reading for all road users, including pedestrians, mobility scooter users, cyclists, horse riders, drivers and motorcyclists.
Driving lessons and learning to drive
Overview
You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you’re 15 years and 9 months old.
You can usually start driving a car when you’re 17.
The rules are different if you have a disability or long-term health condition.
Rules for learning to drive
You must have a provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland when you’re learning to drive or ride.
You must be supervised when you’re learning to drive a car. This can be by a driving instructor or someone else who meets the rules, for example family or friends.
The car you learn in must display ‘L’ plates.
You can drive at any time, day and night.
You can only drive on motorways if all of the following apply:
- you’re driving in England, Scotland or Wales
- you’re with an approved driving instructor
- the car is fitted with dual controls
Speed limits
In England, Scotland and Wales the speed limits when driving with ‘L’ plates are the same as when you’ve passed your test.
Show me Tell me
The ‘show me, tell me‘ vehicle safety questions that driving examiners can ask in car driving tests.