Getting started

Before you can drive any car you must have your provisional licence. You can apply for one at your nearest Post Office by completing form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’, but it's probably easiest to apply online here. It costs either £34 if completed online or £43 if you apply by post. You will need your UK Passport and details of where you have lived for the last 3 years. 

If you’re not a UK citizen, you’ll need the identity document you use to sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You must also have been given permission to live in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for at least 185 days

You cannot drive on a provisional licence until you are 17 years old. However, if you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP, you can apply for a provisional driving license and potentially drive at 16.

Your first lesson

While we are very happy to take on drivers who have started their learning experience elsewhere, be it with with friends and family or another instructor, if it is going to be your first time driving please do not be worried or nervous. You will be in a safe, comfortable and happy environment - our instructor will pick you up from your home or work and will drive you to a quiet, safe area where your driving experience can begin. 

Theory Test

You can apply for your Theory Test at any time once you have your Provisional Licence. Please be careful of which sites you use as there are many fake sites. If you use this link it will take you to the Gov.uk site where you can book a test. The cost is £23 for a car theory test. You will need your provisional driving licence, your email address and a credit or debit card to be able to book. Spa Driving recommends that you book your theory test as soon as you feel ready and confident - and please remember, you will have access to the excellent Theory Test Pro app included in your session fees.. Please just ask your instructor for a link. It's what our instructors used to help them pass their Approved Driving Instructor theory test!

Driving Test

You will need to have passed your theory test before your driving test (unless you are upgrading from an automatic to a manual licence and you've already passed it).  You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day you take your test.

You will need your provisional driving licence, your email address and a credit or debit card to be able to book. The test costs between £62 and £75, depending upon which test you are taking.

To book a test online please click here. Alternatively, you can call the DVSA driving test booking support line on 0300 200 1122. They are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Please note that if you want to cancel or postpone your test, you must give at least 3 days notice.

Most people take their tests in one of our instructor cars, but you can use your own car. It must be roadworthy and fully insured, be fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner as well as displaying front and rear Learner plates. Some cars are excluded (such as convertibles) so please check here or with the relevant test centre if you're not sure.

When you go to your test you must take your provisional driving license photocard (or your old style driving licence and Photo ID), your theory test certificate and your appointment letter.

There are 5 parts to the driving test:

• an eyesight check
• ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
• general driving ability
• reversing your vehicle
• independent driving

The test is the same for both manual and automatic cars. There are further details on the test here.