You can apply for your provisional driving licence up to two months in advance of your 17 th birthday, but you can’t start driving until your birthday. It normally takes about three weeks to receive licence once you have submitted the application.
The application process is fairly straightforward. You will need to fill in the DL1 application form in black ink and block capitals. This form can be picked up from main Post Office branches or posted out from Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA); you can call them on 0300 200 7861. The application form comes with handy guidance notes, so be sure to grab a copy to assist you in your application.
You will need to include original documentation confirming your identity, a passport-style colour photograph, and the current fee of £62.50.
Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA)
Driver Licensing,
Coleraine County Hall,
Castlerock Road,
Waterside,
Coleraine.
BT51 3TB
Applying for a Northern Ireland Driving Licence online.
If you prefer to complete your provisional driving licence application online, this can be done via NI Direct. An online application is much quicker than postal, so if you are in a hurry this may be the best option for you. In order to do so, you need to have a verified NI Direct account.
Be careful to avoid several official sounding third party sites that will submit your application online.