This website is for information only and you should seek advice from a solicitor or relevant authorities for exact legal standing.

Welcome to Driving law and education, we will be adding information regularly to do with uk driving law, hope you may find it useful.

The minumumn legal age requirement for taking your driving test is 17, you may apply for your licence three months before this date but still cant drive until your 17th birthday.  You can take your test at 17 but that doesn't mean you are ready to take a test, it can take a while to be fully ready and at test standard, before you can book and take the practical test (Driving Test), you have to pass a theory test.  My advice would be to find a driving school / instructor and take some lessons, one of the best ways to find a good Driving Instructor is to go with recommendations from friends or family.

If you are receiving disibility living allowance you may apply for your driving licence three months before your 16th birthday and be legal to drive on your 16th birthday.

Driving Licence

You must hold a current valid licence for the vehicle you intend to drive, if you are a learner then it will be a provisional licence and the colour will be green.  If you have passed your test and have a full licence the colour will be pink.

The legal requirement for your eyesight for the Uk driving test is;

20 metres reading the new style numberplate.

20.5 metres for the old style numberplate.

If you are taking a driving test you have three attempts at the eyesight test, fail all three and your test will class as a fail, the examiner will inform the DVLA, your licence will then be cancelled and you will need to apply for another one, of course you should get advice from an optician at this point if not earlier.

Your driving instructor should get you to do an eyesight test on your first lesson, he/she will advise you if they think you need to see an optician.

Driving Licence for Uk Driving

You must hold a current and valid licence for the type of vehicle you intend to drive.  If you have a provisional driving licence you will need to have an accompanying driver with you who holds a valid licence for the vehicle you are learning in, he/she must be 21 or over and held a full driving licence for 3 or more years for the type/category of vehicle you are driving.  (Don't forget you will need to display L plates or D plates in Wales).

Keeping your driving licence details upto date

It is an offence to have the wrong details on your licence, one of the most common is moving address or change of name due to getting married, you could receive upto a £1000 fine for having the wrong details on your licence.

Learner Drivers and the law

If you are learning to drive there are some legal requirements you must satisfy before you can drive on a public road.  

• You must hold a provisional licence for the type and category of vehicle that you are intending to drive and it must be valid.
• Your vehicle whilst you are driving must show L plates  (or D plates if in Wales) on the front and rear of the vehicle where they are clearly visible.
• You must have someone to accompany you whilst driving, they should have held a licence for over three years and be at least 21 years of age or a driving instructor which would mean that was the case anyway.
• Your Vehicle must be roadworthy.
• Your vehicle must have a valid MOT certificate if over three years old.
• You must have current and valid Insurance that covers you to drive the vehicle that you are intending to drive.