Learner Hub
Licences & documents
Provisional licences, insurance, L plates and the paperwork you need before you can drive.
The paperwork side of driving is dull and unforgiving. A missing provisional, an out-of-date address, or the wrong insurance can end a test before it starts and cost you the fee, so it is worth getting right once.
This topic covers provisional licences, insurance for learners and new drivers, L plates and supervising drivers, medical declarations, and the documents you need at each stage.
All licences & documents guides
6 min read
Applying for a provisional driving licence
A practical guide to getting your UK provisional licence ready before you start driving lessons or book your theory test.
7 min read
Black box insurance for new drivers
A clear explanation of how black box insurance works for new drivers, what it monitors, and how to decide if it is right for your first car.
7 min read
Buying your first car: a checklist
A step-by-step checklist to help new drivers avoid costly mistakes when buying their first car, from budget to paperwork.
6 min read
Changing the address on your licence
A practical guide to updating your driving licence address with DVLA, including when it is a legal requirement and how it affects test bookings.
7 min read
Driving abroad on a UK licence
What UK licence holders need to check and arrange before driving abroad, covering documents, insurance and rules that change from one country to the next.
6 min read
Driving in the UK on a foreign licence
A practical guide to how long you can drive in Great Britain on a foreign licence and when you need a UK provisional, test or exchange.
7 min read
Driving licence categories explained
An instructor's guide to understanding UK driving licence categories, what passing category B actually entitles you to drive, and how other categories work.
7 min read
Insurance groups and cheap first cars
A plain-English guide to insurance groups, what pushes new-driver premiums up, and how to choose a first car that will not wreck your budget.
6 min read
L plates and who can supervise you
A practical UK guide to displaying L plates correctly and choosing a legal, useful supervising driver for private practice.
6 min read
Learner driver insurance explained
A clear guide to what learner driver insurance covers, when you need it, and how to avoid invalid cover during private practice or a test.
6 min read
Lost or stolen licence: what to do
A clear instructor guide to replacing a lost or stolen UK driving licence, including cost, timing and what to do before a theory or practical test.
7 min read
Medical conditions you must declare to DVLA
An instructor's plain-English guide to medical conditions you must declare to DVLA, why it matters and how it can affect learning to drive.
7 min read
Penalty points in your first two years
An instructor's guide to the New Drivers Act, why 6 penalty points in your first two years is different, and how to keep a clean licence after passing.
7 min read
Taxing and insuring your first car
What you actually need to do, in order, to get your first car legally taxed and insured, plus common mistakes new drivers make.
6 min read
What to bring to your driving test
A practical DVSA-based checklist for what to take to your driving test and what the examiner will actually check.
Where to start
If you read four things in this topic, read these in this order.
Step 1
Provisional licence
The first document in the whole process.
Step 2
Learner driver insurance
The one people get wrong and pay for.
Step 3
L plates and supervising drivers
Rules for practising outside lessons.
Step 4
Driving age in the UK
When you can apply and when you can drive.
Licences & documents: what you need to know
Before you can drive at all
You need a provisional driving licence, which you can apply for from age 15 years and 9 months and use to drive a car from your 17th birthday, or earlier if you receive the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP. You must also be able to read a number plate from 20 metres, with glasses or lenses if you need them.
Once you hold it, any car you drive must be insured for you as a learner, taxed, and displaying L plates (or D plates in Wales) front and rear.
Supervising drivers and private practice
A supervising driver must be at least 21, hold a full licence for the category of vehicle for at least three years, and be qualified to drive that type of car — a manual licence holder cannot supervise you in a manual if they only hold an automatic entitlement.
Private practice is one of the best value things you can do, provided the insurance is right. Learner insurance policies that cover the learner on a family car for a set period are common and are usually structured so the car owner's no-claims bonus is protected.
- —Supervisor: 21+, full licence three years, correct category.
- —L plates front and rear, clearly visible.
- —Insurance must specifically cover a learner driver.
- —No motorways with a family member — instructors only.
Declaring medical conditions
Certain conditions must be declared to DVLA, including some affecting vision, epilepsy, diabetes treated with insulin, and a range of neurological and heart conditions. Declaring does not usually mean losing your licence; failing to declare can be an offence and can invalidate insurance.
GOV.UK publishes the full A to Z list, and it is the only source worth relying on.
Common questions
When can I apply for a provisional licence?
From 15 years and 9 months. You can drive a car from your 17th birthday, or from 16 if you receive the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.
Do I need my own insurance to learn in my parents' car?
The car must be insured for you as a learner, which usually means either being added to the existing policy or taking a short-term learner policy in your own name. Being a named driver on someone else's policy is not automatic cover for a learner.
Who can supervise my private practice?
Someone aged 21 or over who has held a full licence for the relevant category for at least three years and holds the right entitlement for the car you are driving.
What do I need to take to my practical test?
Your provisional photocard licence, your theory test pass details if asked, and a car that is roadworthy, taxed, insured for the test and fitted with L plates and an extra interior mirror.
What happens if my address is out of date?
Update it with DVLA before your test. An address mismatch can cause problems with your test booking and, more importantly, can affect your insurance validity.
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