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If you want to get a UK full driving licence the first step is to get a provisional licence. You can apply online if you have a UK passport, alternatively you need to get a form from your local post office. The provisional licence usually arrives within 10-14 working days.

There are two test required to get your licence. The first, a theory test is in two parts. First comes the multiple choice questions of which there are 50 in total out of the question bank of 950 questions. You need to get 43 of the questions right to achieve a pass. This is then immediately followed by the hazard awareness test. This involves a number of video clips each lasting around 25 seconds and which require a click of the mouse when the hazard appears on the screen. If you fail one part of the test but pass the other you still need to take both parts of the test again. You can book the test at the official DSA website.

When you’ve passed the theory test you can then take your practical driving test. This is taken at a practical test centre with a Driving Standards Agency examiner and last for almost 40 minutes. However, before you take the test you should get some lessons with a proper fully qualified instructor. Only someone fully trained will be able to teach you everything you need to know to pass the test. All good instructors will follow the official DSA syllabus. Less than 50 per cent of test candidates pass the test and the cost is over £60. So it’s definitely not worth taking the test until you are definitely ready for it.

After you’ve passed your driving test you are still on probation – if you get 6 points on your licence, you will go back to learner driver status and will need to retake your test. More serious offences may require you to take an extended test.