Before you can learn to drive a car, moped or motorcycle you must apply for a provisional driving licence. Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday.

You can apply for your licence up to 3 months before your 17th birthday, however, you will still have to wait until your birthday before you can take your theory test or drive a car on the road.

You can apply for your provisional driving licence by completing a D1 application form which are available from DVLA or post office branches.

You can also apply online by clicking the link on our homepage.

If you apply using a D1 form then you will need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity, a passport style photograph and the fee.

Acceptable original documents are a digital uk passport or a uk birth certificate.

The passport style photograph must be recent and a true likness of yourself.

If you are not sending an up to date passport then you need to get someone to certify your photograph. This person must have known you for at least 2 years, live in the uk, and not be a relative.

Suitable Proffessions that can sign your photograph include:

• A local Business person or shopkeeper
• A librarian
• A professionally Qualified person, for example, A lawyer, Teacher or Engineer
• A police Officer
• A bank or Building Society Officer
• A Civil Servant
• A minister of Religion
• A Magistrate
• A local Councillor, for example, A MP

Once you have met all the requirements you should send your completed application form to:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AD

The DVLA aims to deliver your licence within 3 weeks.