You need to be 17 and have a valid provisional licence. Complete a D1 form from the Post Office and send it to the DVLA with your passport or birth certificate and a passport-sized photo as ID.

Apply for it up to three months before your 17th birthday and you could book your first lesson for the big day!

How many lessons will you need?

Driving Standards Agency research shows that the current average is 45 hours of tuition, with an additional 22 hours private practise to pass. Your instructor will give you an idea of how long you are likely to need after your first lesson. You can help keep this low by taking more than one lesson a week..