Legal requirements
In order to be able to drive a car and hold a driving licence, you must meet certain conditions, including in terms of your health.
As far as your eyesight is concerned, you must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses if necessary) from a distance of 20 metres the registration plate of a car manufactured after 1 September 2001 and have a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale.
If you face another health problem, you can check whether you need to inform the DVLA about it. The link can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving/find-condition-a-to-z
It is essential to remember that you could be fined up to £1,000 if you fail to inform the DVLA about a health condition that affects your driving.
You can learn to drive and pass the test at the age of 17.
Before you receive your driving license, a provisional one grants permission to drive on any UK roads besides motorways Unless with a ADI. For safety purposes though, it is required that you are supervised by an approved instructor or another driver with at least three years of full-driving experience who is 21 and over. Notably, when attending the theory and practical exams as well as initial lessons, the provisional driving licence must be presented. You can apply for a provisional driving licence at the age of 15 years and 9 months.
In exceptional circumstances, you can drive at the age of 16 if you are in receipt of, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Provisional Driving Licence
In order to drive on the road you must hold a valid, Provisional Driving Licence and be at least 17 years of age. , If you are in reciept of Higher Rate Disability Living Allowance, you can apply for your provisional licence when you are 16 years of age.
You can apply for the licence up to three months before your 17th birthday but, you will still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test.
Driving licences are issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
You can apply online atwww.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence . Alternatively you can apply by post by completing a D1 application form from a Post Office.
The current fee for a provisional driving licence is £34 if you apply online or £43 if you apply by post. ( Fees are subject to change).
You will be required to provide original documentation that confirms your identity, and a passport style colour photograph.
Further details of Identity documents required can be found online at www.gov.uk/id-for-driving-licence
Send your completed D1 application form and payment to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD.
If you don’t want to send your Identity documents through the post, The Post Office offer a premium checking service for a small fee. The staff will check your application and Identity documents, forward the application form to the DVLA and return the identity documents to you.
Before you start to drive you need to make sure your eyesight meets certain requirements.
The regulations set out by the DSA state that, in order to drive you must be able to read a number plate, in good daylight from 20.5 metres (67 feet) for old-style number plates or 20 metres (65 feet) for new-style number plates.
The easiest way to check this for yourself is to try to read a number plate at the specified distance. If you are unable to do this then you should visit an optician before you start to drive. If you need to wear glasses or corrective lenses to read the number plate then this is not a problem, but, you must wear them whenever you drive.
You can obtain further information regarding your eyesight online at www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules
OPTION 1. 1st Lesson using Laptop or smartphone with internet access
OPTION 2. Checking your own details Following the same steps as in OPTION 1, steps 1 to 4, then click on " Share Licence Information" This will create a code, you will then be given a choice to either " view, print or save your licence information" Click print, then bring the information on your 1st Lesson. Your instructor may retain the printout as evidence that the check has been made. OPTION 3. Generating Check Code Following the same steps as in OPTION 1, steps 1 to 4, click on " Share Licence Information". This will then create a code which you can pass onto your Instructor. The code is case sensitive, can only be used once and is valid upto 21 days. Your Driving Instructor can then log onto www.gov.uk/check-driving-licence and enter the last 8 digits of your driving licence number and the code you generated and supplied. He will then be able to see your information about your driving licence to either print or save. OPTION 4. Telephoning DVLA If any of the 3 options above are not possible you will need to telephone the DVLA on 0300 790 6801 You must leave permission for your driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation. Once you have done this your driving instructor can telephone the DVLA on 0906 139 3837, this is expensive as calls can cost 50p per minute or more. Your driving instructor will need your full name as it apppears on your licence, address with postcode and your date of birth. Permission will remain with the DVLA for 7 days. The total cost of the telephone call to use this sevice provided by the DVLA may be passed on to you.
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