There's more to learning to drive than simply jumping behind the wheel and heading off onto the roads. In this section of the website, we'll take you through some of the pre-driving requirements and tasks you'll need to be aware of.
 
Before you start to drive, you must :

• Hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland

• Make sure that any vehicle you drive is roadworthy, taxed and insured

Currently in the UK you have to be 17 years of age to obtain a provisional licence to drive a car or ride a motorcycle (unless in receipt of a full disability allowance, when you can obtain a provisional licence at the age of 16 years).
 
Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday, however you can apply for the licence up to three months before your 17th birthday.
 
You can take your theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid. Once you have passed your theory test you can then take your practical test.
 
All learner drivers are required to display `L' plates (`L' or `D' plates in Wales) in a conspicuous position on the front and back of the vehicle they are driving.

It will help you to study the Highway Code and the Driving Standards Agency books or DVD's you can find these on the Driving Standards Agency website.

Once you have passed your driving tests (both theory and practical) you should exchange your test pass certificate for a full licence as soon as possible. If you do not claim your test pass within 2 years of the date of your test, the entitlement conveyed by the test pass will be lost and you will have to pass a further driving test (theory and practical) for that category of vehicle if you wish to have it included on your driving licence.

This affects you if you first passed your driving test on or after 1 June, 1997.
If you reach six or more penalty points within two years of passing your driving test (ie during the probationary period), the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will automatically revoke your driving licence when notified by a court or fixed penalty office.
 
To regain your full licence you must then :

• Obtain a provisional licence

• Drive as a learner

• Pass the theory and practical test again

Penalty points counting towards the total of six include any you incurred before passing the test, as long as the offence took place not more than three years before the latest penalty point offence. Points imposed after the probationary period will also count if the offence was committed during that period.
 
Passing the retest does not remove penalty points from your licence, and if the total reaches 12, you are liable to be disqualified by a court.