The Student Room Group

Provisional Driving Licence

Hey, I want to apply for my provisional licence asap! My birthday is on 2nd May, and is it true that you can send off for it 3months before you turn 17, so I can send it off 2nd Feb?

.. Also, do you need your passport? I need to take mine to Paris in March so I obviously won't be able to send mine off, but then that means waiting longer for my provisional!!

Thank you in advance for your replies xx:smile:
sarah-h1990
Hey, I want to apply for my provisional licence asap! My birthday is on 2nd May, and is it true that you can send off for it 3months before you turn 17, so I can send it off 2nd Feb?

.. Also, do you need your passport? I need to take mine to Paris in March so I obviously won't be able to send mine off, but then that means waiting longer for my provisional!!

Thank you in advance for your replies xx:smile:


Hmmm to be honest it only takes just over a week :rolleyes:

But you can definately apply without sending off your passport because I did when I got mine... you just need to find a referee to sign your photos like with a passport, like a teacher or something.
Reply 2
Oh.. apparantly at the minute they're taking absolutely ages, like 12 weeks! So.. I thought that there wasn't really any harm in me sending mine off 3 months before... if that is possible?

Okidoki I will be keeping my passport then!! x
Reply 3
I can't remember exactly how far in advance you are allowed to apply for you licence, but it is quite a resonably time if I remember right. You can get the forms from the post office, so ask there, they might know. It will be dated to start when you turn 17.

Looking here it looks like they say that it takes about 3 weeks for it to come. You can also apply on line if you want looking at that.
I'm sure that for a few pounds you can take the form and your passport to your local post office and they'll sign to say the ID/passport is all good and that you've filled in the form correctly. They send it for you...

Means you wouldn't have to send your passport?
Reply 5
the new driving license forms have a box where you can put your passport number in and you don't bother having it countersigned as they can check it electronically....
Yep as far as I know, you can apply 3 months before your birthday. You definitely don't have to send your passport off, you can take it to the post office along with the form and for £3/4 extra they will stamp the form to verify they have seen the passport and then they send off the form.
Reply 7
I'm in a good position to offer advice. I turn 17 on 10th May, and I've literally just got my provisional this morning. I sent off for it about 2 weeks ago roughly, probably less than that.

All you need to do is put your passport number on the form; you can send the passport if you wish, but I only put the passport number as my form of ID. They then look it up on their database and get your proof from there. Note: on the form it says "if you have a digital passport" for the option of putting your number. Don't be confused by this like I was; just put your passport number in and it'll be all right.

Even my signature went outside the little white box, and it turned out ok.
Reply 8
I sent photos aswel
i got my licence before my birthday but it wasnt valid intill aug 14th(day of my birthday) i dont know when i sent it off:s-smilie: