Learning to drive and obtaining a driving license in the UK
The minimum ages for driving on British roads are 16 years for invalid carriages and mopeds, 17 years for agricultural or forestry tractors, small vehicles and motorcycles, and 21 years for medium/large sized vehicles, minibuses and buses.

Provisional license

Before you start to drive you must apply for a provisional driving license from the DVLA by filling out the application form ‘D1’ which is available through your local Post Office or by ordering the D1 from the ‘Do It Online’ section within the Directgov motoring section.

When you submit the forms, you will need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity and a passport style colour photograph. The following documentation is considered acceptable for confirmation of identity:

•   full valid current passport
•   UK birth/adoption certificate
•   UK certificate of registry of birth (provided your name is present on the certificate)
•   Identity card issued by a member state of the European Community/European
    Economic Area (EC/EEC)
•   travel documents issued by the Home Office
•   UK certificate of naturalisation
    NB, only one of these documents is required to be sent.

Your photograph must be:
•   Colour passport style and size (size of image 45mm x 35mm)
•   taken recently and be a true likeness, showing the full face, with no hat, helmet or      
    sunglasses, although you may wear everyday glasses
•   taken against a plain, and evenly lit background

If you do not send a current UK, EC, EEA passport or a Home Office issued travel document with your application you will need to have the reverse of your photograph certified. The following people can certify your photograph for you:

•   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 councilor, an MP, AM, MEP or MSP

This person must live in the UK and have known you personally for at least two years and must not be a relative.
If you have only become resident or returned to the UK within the last two years and have no one to sign your photograph you can take it with all the documents to your nearest DVLA local office. The staff there will sign your photograph and fill in section seven of the application form. Your application and original identity documents will then be sent to DVLA Swansea for further authentication.
For further information go to www.direct.gov.uk/motoring.

Top tips to finding the right driving school for you once you have your provisional license.

1) The cheapest lessons are not always the best option. Shop around, compare prices and see what you can get for your money. Do they offer motorway driving/ theory test practice??

2) Some driving schools may offer lessons that are less than an hour or make pick up and drop off as part of your lesson. Check out how long a lesson will be.

3) You should make sure that your instructor can prove that they are a fully qualified Driving Standards Agency instructor. A green badge should be in the window screen to prove this. If they have a pink license then this means that they are only a trainee and have not yet passed their test to teach.

4) Check that the car is in good condition and has dual-controls.

5) Your driving schools should be able to help you with your theory test. Check this and seek advice on the best CD-ROM/book to buy

6) Your instructor should keep records on your progress linked to the official Driving Standards Agency syllabus.

7) Ideally you should apply for your theory test as soon as you start your lessons.

8) Your instructor will inform you when you should apply for your practical and give you advice on this.

9) You should be taking at least an hour preferably two lessons with a qualified instructor a week.