Getting your driving licence

Your route to obtaining your full driving licence for cars (Cat B)

Obtain your provisional driving licence

Your first step is to get your provisional licence. You can do this online or by completing a form that you can obtain from a main post office. Be aware that you can only do it online if you can provide

You’ll need to provide:

  • an identity document unless you have a valid UK biometric passport
  • all addresses you’ve lived at  over the last 3 years
  • your National Insurance number if you know it

The cost as at January 2023 is £34 to apply online. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card. On completion you’ll get a confirmation email from DVLA after you’ve applied and your licence should arrive within one week if you apply online although t may take longer if DVLA need to make additional checks.

Start your driving lessons

At I-Drive Chesterfield we recommend you start your driving lessons before you start learning for the theory test (see below). Our driving lessons are always friendly and client centred and we have an excellent driving test pass rate.

Learn for and take the theory test

You can start your lessons before your theory test but you can’t apply for a practical test until you’ve passed your driving theory test. The theory test has two parts – theory questions and hazard perception. At I-Drive Chesterfield we can help you with both and can suggest recommended resources for the driving theory test.

Pass your driving test

Everyone is a unique individual and so there is no set number of lessons that it will take for you to pass your test. It is important to ensure that you are 100% ready for your test before you take it. Everyone wants to pass their driving test first time. However a person who has taken an insufficient number of driving lessons is unlikely to pass first time.

Drive safely for life

When you have passed your practical test you are a full licence holder. You don’t need to wait for your full licence to come through from DVLA before you start driving. Your pass certificate entitles you to drive. Remember though that passing the test does not necessarily mean you have nothing more to learn. Driving is a lifetime skill where you can improve your skills and knowledge continually.

High pass rate