Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date your provisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday. … So, if you apply for your provisional licence before you are 17, you will still have to wait until your 17th birthday before you can book your theory test.

You can take your theory test once your provisional licence becomes valid. Normally, for car drivers, the earliest date yourprovisional licence can become valid is your 17th birthday. However you can apply for the licence up to two months before your 17th birthday.

Overview

You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you’re 15 years and 9 months old.

You can start driving a car when you’re 17.

You can drive a car when you are 16 if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).