Applying for a provisional driving licence

You can apply for your provisional driving licence by completing the DL1 application form which is available from main Post Office branches 

• Guidance notes for your DL1 driving licence application 

You will need to enclose original documents confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and the fee of £62.50.

• Identity documents and photographs guidelines

Send your filled in application and payment to Driver Licensing at the address in the link below:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing

The provisional licence has a green plastic photocard and a green and pink paper counterpart.

• Information on driving licences - DfI website

How to pay

Do not send cash, bank notes or blank postal orders with your application; the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) can't be held responsible if they go missing.

• make cheques or postal orders payable to DVA
• do not post-date your cheque, DVA can't accept it
• sign and date your cheque and make it out for the right amount
• the amount written in words must match the amount written in figures
• write your full name, address, date of birth and/ or driver's number if known on the back
• if you underpay, your application will be returned to you for the right payment

Applying for provisional entitlement for larger vehicles, buses or minibuses

If you hold a valid full licence at this time and want to add provisional entitlement to drive large vehicles, minibuses or buses, you must fill in the DL2 application form and the DLM1 medical report form. DL2 application forms are available from main Post Office branches.

• Guidance notes for your DL2 driving licence application

The DLM1 (medical report form) must be filled in by a doctor and you should make sure that all the relevant questions are answered. The doctor will normally charge you for filling in the report and those registered for VAT will also need to charge the current rate on top of their fee.

• DLM1 form

After a change in driver licensing rules, anyone who is under insulin control for their diabetes or has diabetes treated by tablets in the Sulphonylurea or Glinide class, may apply for or renew vocational entitlements to drive categories C1, C1E, D1, D1E, C, CE, D or DE.

For drivers with diabetes on insulin or other medications, there are three stages you need to go through when applying for or renewing the vocational entitlements shown above. Details of these stages can be found at the link below:

• Drivers with diabetes on insulin or other medications

If you are applying for a passenger-carrying vehicle entitlement (PCV), that is minibuses or buses, a Basic Disclosure Certificate is also needed. 

You will also need to send:

• a passport style colour photograph
• your current driving licence
• the fee of £20 (payable upon application for your first provisional entitlement in category C and your first provisional entitlement in category D)

The address to send this information to is at the link below:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing

Basic Disclosure Certificates (PCV entitlement only)

All applications for Passenger-Carrying Vehicles (PCV) drivers' licences must be accompanied by a Basic Disclosure Certificate (BDC).

Where the applicant is aged over 65 years, or where the ordinary driving licence is issued for periods of three years or less, a BDC will only be needed on renewal of the ordinary driving licence and no more often than every three years.

BDC's, which you can get from Access NI, will show details of all convictions considered to be unspent or state that no such convictions were found.

You should note that while a conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being issued with a licence, some serious convictions may lead to a refusal.

Where a licence is refused, you may make an appeal.

To get a Basic Disclosure Certificate, you should contact AccessNI:

• AccessNI 

The DVA will only accept BDC's issued within a period of three months ending with the date of the application for the driving licence.

Applicants for PCV drivers' licences who need Standard or Enhanced Disclosure arrangements may give a BDC waiver letter from their employer showing that they are in registered employment and that they have not been convicted of any offence which could lead to the refusal of the grant of a PCV driver’s licence.  

Applications for PCV entitlement without a valid Disclosure Certificate will not be accepted.

You’ll need to:

• fill in the DL2 form
• ask a doctor to fill in the DLM1 form (if over 45) - the doctor will normally charge you for filling in the report
• get and include a Basic Disclosure Certificate with your application (PCV only)
• or send a copy of your digital certificate to Driver & Vehicle Agency via the share button on your nidirect account and include the following email address  - BusDriverConduct@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk - when you share your disclosure certificate with someone, it will only be visible to them for three days - you may share your certificate as many times as you like
• surrender your existing driving licence - failure to do so may delay the processing of your application

To login to your nidirect account, go to: 

• Account login

Send filled in forms to the DVA driver licensing at their address in Coleraine, see the page below for the postal address:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing 

Return of supporting documents

The driving licence fee includes the return of your identity documents (where applicable) by second class post. If you would like your supporting documents returned by secure delivery, include the right pre-paid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope with your application.

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) will not give compensation for any loss or delay resulting from the use of second class post.

The DVA cannot guarantee to return your documents by a set date, for example, a holiday.

When to expect your licence

The DVA aim to deliver your driving licence to you within three weeks of receiving your application. It may take longer if your health or personal details have to be checked.

You need to wait for your new licence to arrive before driving. Allow at least four weeks for your licence to arrive before contacting the DVA.

If you don't receive your licence

If your driving licence has not been delivered within four weeks, you should email the DVA at the email address in the link below:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing

If you don't let the DVA know within eight weeks that your licence has not arrived, you must apply for a replacement licence and pay £30.00. Follow the link below to find out how to apply:

• Replacing your driving licence

Provisional licence period

A provisional driving licence will expire (when the date at 4b on the plastic card part of your driving licence has passed) every 10 years.