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How Long Does a Provisional Driving License Arrive?

how long it take a provisional driving license

So, you’ve passed your theory test and applied for your provisional driving license. Now you’re wondering how long it takes to get a provisional driving license. When can you actually get behind the wheel with a learner’s permit?

The wait can seem like forever especially when you are so eager to hit the road and put your driving skills into practice. Also, It might take longer if the DVLA decides to conduct additional inspections.

In this article, we will discuss how long it takes for a provisional driving license to arrive for both online and postal applications and what factors might influence this time.

Table of contents

What is a provisional driving license?

Any UK citizen who is at least 15 years and 9 months old may apply for a provisional license.

While learning to drive, you must always be under supervision. An authorized driving teacher or another person at least 21 years of age and a full UK driving license who has held it for at least three years may perform this.

You can easily renew a provisional license. Just like you would renew a regular UK driving license, you can quickly renew your temporary license using an online form. You cannot just renew online if you can no longer drive for whatever reason.

Alternatively, you must renew your provisional license at a Post Office if you still need a UK passport or your name or title has changed. You must give back your expired license to renew your provisional one.

How long does a provisional driving license be delivered if you apply online?

The quickest approach to getting your provisional driving license is to apply online. You can do this by visiting the government website, which is accessible by clicking here.

Your provisional license will arrive one week after you submit an online application. Most of the time, this is true.

To ensure that all of your identifying documentation is accurate, the DVLA may occasionally need to conduct further verification procedures. It can take a little longer if this is the case.

They quickly deliver provisional driving licenses, yet they are still valid for a long.

Read: How Long Does it Take to Learn to Drive Automatic? The Ultimate Guide for 2024

How long does a provisional driving license take if you apply by post?

If you apply for a provisional license via mail, it will take longer to arrive. According to an article on the Driving Theory website, this will normally take three weeks.

Again, though, this process can take longer if specific data needs to be confirmed. After four weeks, if your license hasn’t appeared, you can contact the DVLA to find out where it is.

You would have also needed to supply official documentation, like a form of identification if you had applied by mail. The DVLA does not specify the return of these documents regarding a specific time frame.

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When should you order your provisional driving license?

But you must order your provisional driving permit as soon as you can. This is because your provisional license can double as identification and allow you to drive.

This is especially helpful because minors will show identification and proof of age when needed. As soon as you reach the age of 15 years and 9 months, you can apply for a provisional license.

Most college students only apply for a provisional driving license once they are 17 years old. However, the best course of action is to apply for your license as soon as possible.

This is because there can be unforeseen delays, especially if you want a different image from the one on your passport. This implies that it can take much longer to get your license.

On the government website, by clicking here, you can learn what else you require to apply for your provisional license and how long a provisional license lasts.

Can you drive if your provisional driving license hasn’t arrived yet?

Driving without a provisional license is against the law! Before beginning your driving lessons, you must have one. If you drive without a license, you risk receiving a hefty fine or perhaps getting your license suspended!

In addition, you must be 17 years old to drive. If you are under 17, you cannot drive even if you hold a provisional license.

Additionally, it would help if an adult with a valid driver’s license for at least three years and at least 21 years old accompanied you to operate a motor vehicle. This will typically be a driving teacher.

However, you can also ask others, such as your parents or a neighbor, to sit in the passenger seat while you drive. You wouldn’t be able to drive at all if you didn’t have a provisional license.

Read this article from the government website to understand the regulations you must adhere to when learning to drive.

Also, you can check this: Why Should I Choose Express Driving School?

What happens if your provisional driving license hasn’t arrived by your first driving lesson?

You would need to postpone your driving lesson, is the simple answer to this query. You are not permitted to operate a vehicle while holding a provisional license.

Also, it would help if you had insurance when operating your instructor’s vehicle, which requires your temporary license.

The process of learning to drive must also include insurance. Lack of a license prevents one from being insured, which is also against the law.

You must always carry insurance to cover damage to other people’s property. It is referred to as “third-party insurance.”

Visit this post from A-Plan Insurance to learn more about why provisional licenses are necessary and why you cannot drive without one.

Do you need car insurance with a provisional driving license?

You are legally required to obtain at least third-party auto insurance before you can get behind the wheel, even if you are starting to drive.

However, how you’re learning to drive will determine whether you need to buy your auto insurance.

You must get a learner driver or provisional driving license auto insurance if you intend to practice driving with friends or relatives. This is true whether you are learning in your car or another person’s.

The drawback of learner driver auto insurance is that it is sometimes pricey. Since a novice driver is less experienced and more likely to be in an accident, insurers raise costs to compensate for this risk.

If you are taking lessons in someone else’s vehicle, a friend or family member may agree to list you as a named driver on their insurance policy. However, they will need to be ready for a rise in premiums.

However, if you’re taking driving lessons from an authorized driving school or instructor, auto insurance will be set up for you. So, until you pass your test, you don’t need to bother having your cover.

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How do you apply for your provisional driving license?

Applying for a provisional driving license is effortless. This is particularly true if you are applying online.

Filling out the form on the government website is all that is required. If you click here, you can do it right away. You must ensure that you have specific documentation when you apply.

This covers a document serving as identity, like a passport. However, you must give the DVLA the addresses you have resided at over the previous three years.

Additionally, they can request from you details‌ like your national insurance number. It is advisable to fill out this form alongside an adult to ensure that you provide accurate information.

A postal application for a provisional license is also an option. Please pick up a driving license application at the post office, fill it out, and submit it.

Before the application can be posted, a means of payment must accompany it. This page of the Post Office website provides a breakdown of these steps.

How much does a provisional driving license cost?

Driving lessons are pricey. All of your driving lessons, your theory test, and your practical test are your responsibility. Sadly, getting a provisional license costs money as well.

The cost changes based on how you apply. Submitting an online application for a provisional license will cost you $34. You can pay this amount with a debit or credit card from Visa, MasterCard, Electron, or Delta.

It is slightly more expensive to apply for your provisional license via mail, though. A provisional driving license costs £43 if you apply by mail. (These costs are valid as of 2024.)

Also, see: What Are The Benefits of Having A Student Bank Account?

How can I reduce the cost of a provisional driving license in car insurance? They tax the vehicle.

Short-term learner driver plans are available from some insurers. You can purchase coverage for as little as two hours or as long as six months, depending on the insurer.

This form of policy has the major benefit of only paying for coverage while you’re learning to drive.

This implies that it might be less expensive than a standard 12-month policy. However, it’s advisable to get quotations for both to be sure.

Additional cost-cutting measures include:

  • Paying a larger voluntary excess is the sum you must contribute to the cost of any claims you file. In other words, whatever claims payout you receive will be reduced by the amount of the excess. Typically, bigger excesses result in reduced rates.
  • Adding a named driver to your policy can provide you with a lower price because it gives the insurance company more assurance that the driver is experienced. Always make sure that the main driver, not the named driver, is the one who does the majority of the driving.
  • With this sort of coverage, they will install a device in your car to track your driving patterns, including braking, steering, and speed. This is known as telematics or “black insurance.” Your insurance will cost less the safer you drive.
  • Reducing add-ons: When you get coverage, you will pay an additional fee to add further insurance alternatives. To reduce costs, it’s preferable to keep these to a minimum until you pass your test.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does insurance for a temporary driver’s license cost?

The SORN status will not be transmitted between owners when a car is bought or sold. The new owner must either tax the car or contact the DVLA to submit a fresh SORN request.
Road tax functions in the same way whether you’re buying or selling a car, and buyers must make sure they tax the vehicle to comply with the law and maintain the validity of their insurance.
When you sell a car with months of tax still owed, let the DVLA know so they can repay you for those months’ tax.

Can you receive a provisional license before taking the theoretical test?

A SORN applied to a vehicle is valid until they scrap it, exported, sold, or re-taxed; you do not need to renew it.
Make sure the car has a current MOT, is fully insured, and is taxed if you plan to use it again. After a SORN, you can tax a car whenever you like. They instantly eliminate the SORN as soon as you tax the vehicle.
To tax your vehicle with the DVLA over the phone or online, you must present your 11-digit V5C reference number.

How long do you have to take the practical test after taking the theory test?

If you follow the online instructions to make sure you submit the right information, creating a SORN is simple and cost-free.
If you need to get a new vehicle logbook because you don’t have yours, you could be required to pay. You can submit an online request for a new car log book by contacting the DVLA, which costs £25.

Conclusion 

The next stage is to turn your provisional driving license into a full license if you’ve passed your test and are prepared to retire your L plates*.

Typically, your examiner will arrange for you to send your provisional driving license to the DVLA, which will upgrade to a full driving license.

As long as your automobile is properly taxed and insured, you can continue to drive until you receive your updated photo card, which should arrive in three weeks.

References 

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