Setups
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Provisional licence, theory then practical test, a lessons budget and private-practice cover — paced from the day you start learning.
Everything this setup adds to your household. Dates are worked out from your answers when you set it up.
Created as a project, with everything below inside it.
Apply for learner's name (or "the learner")'s provisional driving licence
Task · Due On your when are you starting to learn?
You can apply from age **15 years 9 months** and usually start driving a car at **17** (certain exceptions, e.g. the higher-rate mobility component of PIP, allow learning at 16). This is the first step — you cannot book any test without it.
Sign in to add this setup to your household — every task, project and cost dated to your own timeline in one tap.
Sign in to set upProvisional licence fee
Cost · £34.00 · One-off · Payment On your when are you starting to learn?
Check the current provisional licence fee on gov.uk (around £34 online, more by post). Fees change yearly — adjust the amount to the live figure. Great Britain rate; Northern Ireland differs.
Set up private practice (supervisor, insurance & L plates)
Task · Due 1 month after your when are you starting to learn?
To practise privately: the person supervising must be **over 21** and have held a **full licence for that type of car (manual/automatic) for at least 3 years**; the learner needs proper **learner insurance** (added as a named driver or standalone learner cover); and the car must display **L plates** (L or D plates in Wales).
Driving lessons
Cost · £160.00 · Recurring · Payment 1 week after your when are you starting to learn?
A recurring outgoing while you're learning — set this to your monthly lessons spend. Many learners take a mix of professional lessons and private practice.
Book and pass the theory test
Task · Due 3 months after your when are you starting to learn?
You need your provisional licence first, and you **must pass the theory test before you can book the practical**. Eligibility: you must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least **185 days in the previous 12 months** (Northern Ireland has its own arrangements).
Theory test fee
Cost · £23.00 · One-off · Payment 3 months after your when are you starting to learn?
Check the current theory test fee on gov.uk (around £23). Fees change yearly — adjust to the live figure.
Book and pass the practical driving test
Task · Due 6 months after your when are you starting to learn?
Only bookable **after** you've passed the theory test. Your **theory pass lasts 2 years** — book and pass the practical within that window or you'll have to retake the theory test.
Practical test fee
Cost · £62.00 · One-off · Payment 6 months after your when are you starting to learn?
Check the current practical test fee on gov.uk — the weekday rate is cheaper than evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Fees change yearly, so adjust to the live figure.
After passing: L plates, further training & your own insurance
Task · Due 8 months after your when are you starting to learn?
Once you pass you can remove your L plates, optionally take further training such as Pass Plus, and sort out your own car insurance. Green P plates are optional. Do this when you're ready.
Northern Ireland: apply via nidirect, not gov.uk
Guidance
If you're in **Northern Ireland**, the gov.uk links here don't apply — NI has its own provisional licence application, fees and test process through nidirect.gov.uk. Start at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/applying-provisional-driving-licence. This note creates nothing.
Welcome to your Learning to Drive setup
Guidance
We've laid out the journey in the order it has to happen: **provisional licence, then theory test, then practical test**, plus a lessons budget and private-practice cover. The two rules not to miss: you **must pass theory before booking the practical**, and your **theory pass only lasts 2 years**. Fees change yearly, so we link the current gov.uk figure rather than quoting a price. This note creates nothing.