There are a few things that need to be considered and done before applying for a provisional to drive a large vehicle.

    Obviously you need a Full driving licence to begin with, B+E provisional entitlement will already be on a full car licence.

    Firstly you need to meet the age requirements set down by the DVLA, they are as follows.

            For B+E you may already have this category if you passed your car test before the 1st January 1997, otherwise it should be shown provisionally.

            For category C applications you usually need to be at least 21, the exceptions are members of the Young Drivers Scheme at 18 and members of the armed forces at 17.

           For category D provisional applications you usually need to be at least 18,  members of the armed forces can apply at 17.  When you are 18 you can drive a category D or D1 vehicle while you are learning or taking your PCV test, driving a category D or D1 vehicle with no passengers, on a registered route not exceeding 50km or driving a vehicle with less than 16 seats operated under a PSV licence.  At 21 years of age there are no restrictions.

    For category C1+E, C+E, D1+E and D+E you first need to gain entitlement for the group category below and you will automatically gain provisional entitlement for it.  So for a licence showing full category B, B1, C1, C the driver will automatically gain provisional entitlement for B+E, C1+E, and C+E on the day they receive their new licence or when they meet the new age requirements for that '+E' category.  You need to be 21 to gain a '+E' entitlement, unless you are a member of the armed forces or member of the Young Drivers Scheme.

    You need to get a doctor to fill out a medical form to send along with your application, the information sheet for the medical is HERE and the medical form is available by clicking HERE you can also get this form at your main Post Office or by calling us.  Phone around as some doctors will do this for as little as £40.

    Once you have your medical questionnaire filled out you will need to get a D2 Driving Licence Application form by calling us, visiting you main Post Office or online by clicking HERE.

    You will have to wait a few weeks for your licence to arrive

Did you know?

• The DVLA no longer send plastic wallets with licences, so if you have one keep it.
• It costs nothing extra to apply for both bus and lorry entitlement when applying for your vocational provisional.
• Car tests passed before the 1st January 1997 automatically gave the holder category B+E, C1 and C1+E, D1, D1+E.
• Passing a test in the C+E category will give you full entitlement for '+E' on all other held categories where applicable.