Every cost involved in getting your UK driving licence — from provisional application to passing your practical test.
Estimate your total cost based on number of lessons, rate, and test type.
| Service | Method | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional car licence | Online (DVLA) | £34 |
| Provisional car licence | Post (D1 form) | £43 |
| Car theory test | Online booking | £23 |
| Car practical driving test | Weekday | £62 |
| Car practical driving test | Evening / Weekend | £75 |
| CBT (motorcycle, moped) | Training provider | £150–£200 |
| Motorcycle Module 1 (off-road) | Test centre | £11 |
| Motorcycle Module 2 (on-road) | Test centre | £75 |
| Lorry/bus theory test | Online booking | £26 |
| Lorry/bus practical test | Weekday | £115 |
| Change of address on licence | Online | Free |
| Replace lost/stolen licence | Online | £20 |
The DVSA and driving industry surveys consistently show learners need around 45–47 hours of professional instruction before passing their test. Here is a realistic breakdown:
| Item | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional licence (online) | £34 | £34 |
| Driving lessons (45–47 hrs) | £1,575 (45 × £35) | £2,115 (47 × £45) |
| Theory test (1 attempt) | £23 | £23 |
| Practical test (1 attempt) | £62 | £75 |
| Theory revision materials | £0 (free apps) | £15 |
| Total estimate | ~£1,694 | ~£2,262 |
Pass rates vary considerably by test centre, region, and time of year. Some urban test centres have pass rates below 40%, while some rural centres exceed 60%. Women historically have a slightly lower first-attempt pass rate but are involved in fewer serious accidents once qualified.
One of the biggest frustrations for learners in the UK is waiting for a practical test slot. DVSA test centres are heavily booked, particularly in major cities.
An intensive course (also called a crash course) compresses lessons into 1–2 weeks. Typical costs range from £1,000 to £2,000 for 30–40 hours of instruction plus test fees. Advantages:
Disadvantages: High upfront cost, intense schedule, and pass rates may be lower than gradual learning.
If you hold a driving licence from an EU or EEA country, you can exchange it for a full UK licence without taking a test, provided you do so within 5 years of becoming a UK resident. After 5 years, you must apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests from scratch.
Holders of licences from designated countries (including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa among others) can also exchange without a test. Licences from non-designated countries (including most of Asia, Africa and South America) require you to take the full UK theory and practical tests.
Your standard car (category B) licence covers driving electric vehicles. No separate licence or test is required. Key differences to be aware of as a new EV driver:
This calculator handles date and time computations using the standard Gregorian calendar. Date calculations must account for varying month lengths (28-31 days), leap years (every 4 years, except centuries not divisible by 400), and UK-specific considerations like bank holidays and working day calculations.
In the UK, date formats follow the day/month/year convention (DD/MM/YYYY), which differs from the American month/day/year format. This tool uses the UK format throughout to avoid confusion.
The UK has 8 permanent bank holidays in England and Wales (9 in Scotland, 10 in Northern Ireland). A standard UK working year is typically 252 days (365 minus 104 weekend days minus 8 bank holidays, plus 1 day adjustment). The minimum statutory annual leave entitlement is 28 days (5.6 weeks) for full-time employees, which can include bank holidays at the employer's discretion.
Calculating working days between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2026: there are 90 calendar days, minus 26 weekend days and 2 bank holidays (New Year's Day and Good Friday), giving 62 working days. This is useful for project planning, notice periods, and leave calculations.
Source: Based on UK calendar and bank holiday data. Last updated March 2026.
Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.