Apply for your UK Provisional Driving Licence

by Living in the UK | Oct 14, 2022 | Tips and Guides

As a migrant living in the UK, you may not realise you need a UK provisional driving licence. But even if you use public transport and have no intention of owning a car, a provisional licence can come in handy. So, getting one should be on your checklist of things to do when you arrive in the UK.

Your provisional driving licence lasts for ten years, and you can change it to a full driving licence when you pass your theory and practical driving test.

Would you rather watch the process?

Why you may need a provisional licence

A provisional driving licence contains all your important identity information, meaning it also serves as an additional photographic ID. This means you won’t need to carry your international passport everywhere. This will reduce the risk of losing your passport, which is much more important and can be hard to replace in a foreign country.

The conditions of your provisional driving licence

You can apply for a provisional licence if you’ve lived in the country for six months. However, other people got it after being in the country for less than six months.

To drive with a provisional driving licence in the UK, someone with a full driving licence and three years of driving experience should be sitting beside you.

While learning, the “L” sign should be visible on both the front and the rear of the vehicle you’re using to learn.

So, how do you apply for a provisional driving licence?

Step #1: Google away

Type in “apply for a provisional licence” on Google and click on the search icon. You should find the gov.UK site in the suggestions. Click on the suggested link, which will direct you to a page on how to get your first provisional driving licence. Alternatively, click here to go directly to this page.

Step #2: Browse through the required documents

As you scroll down the gov.UK page, you’ll see a “before you start” guide. On the bullet points telling you what you’ll need, click on “identity document” to check the ID required to apply for a provisional driving licence. This will direct you to another webpage showing all the ID types accepted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Accepted identity documents for your driving licence application:

• A share code
• A current and valid foreign passport, with a visa sticker showing you have permission to live in the UK
• A current and valid Irish passport
• A UK biometric residence permit
• A travel document
• A UK birth, adoption, or naturalisation certificate
• Evidence that you receive a state pension

If you’ve just arrived, you’ll likely use your share code, biometrics card, or an international passport with a visa.

Step #3: Get started

Once you have all the information you need, you can go back to the “apply for a provisional licence” page and select the “start now” option. Scroll to the bottom of the page that appears after “start now” and click on “continue.” Then, you’ll get questions asking if you’ve been issued a licence before.

You’ll get another question asking if you have a UK passport.

Select the answers that apply to you and click on “continue” after answering each question. Because you don’t have a UK passport, you’ll be shown a link to apply using the old online system.

Once you click on the link, you’ll be directed to the old DVLA application page. On the right-hand side, you’ll see additional information that you can click on to get more information about the screen you’re looking at. The application process has five stages – authentication, application, summary, payments, and confirmation.

You can click on “next” in the red box to start applying. You’ll be directed to a page with information about the security of your data.

Again, click “next” at the bottom of the page and you’ll be able to enter your details.

1. Fill in your personal information

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Ensure that you provide the correct information when you apply. If it’s wrong, then it will take longer to make changes.  When you’ve filled in the correct information on each page, select “next” to continue.

• Your address

The address required immediately after your personal details is your current UK address.

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You need to provide an address covering three years of living in the UK. There’s also an option to provide your address in any other part of the world if you haven’t lived in the UK for three years. You’ll need to select “address 2” to fill in your non-UK address.

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Because you’re not entering a UK address, you need to click on “Other ways to enter your address” and select the “a non-GB address” option.

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Then, click on “next” to select the country of your second address and the duration of your stay there.

• Security details

Now that your addresses and personal details are up to date, you can fill in the security details.

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• Provide your National Insurance (NI) number

After filling in your security details, select “next” to provide your NI number.

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In most cases, your NI number will be on the back of your biometrics card. If not, you’ll need to apply for one. You can watch my guide on applying for an NI number here.

Skip the “UK passport number” page by simply selecting the “next” option. You’ll then be directed to another webpage checking your eligibility for a provisional licence.

• The eligibility and eyesight checks

The eligibility pages have only four questions. Select the answers that apply to you and click on “next” after answering the questions.

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Then, answer the questions about your eyesight. The box on the right-hand side of your screen will show you the UK eyesight standards for driving. Read the information provided to see if you meet these standards.

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Answer the eyesight questions accordingly and move to the “fitness to drive” section of your application.

• Fitness to drive

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If you have a medical condition that may affect your fitness to drive, check the box that applies to you. If you don’t have any, you can select “next” and confirm that you don’t have any of the medical conditions listed on the previous page.

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• Organ donation

Your provisional licence also contains information about whether or not you’re an organ donor. If you want to donate, you can read more about it here.

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If you want to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, you can click on the first option. Otherwise, click on the second option to say you want to complete your application and find out more about donation later. You’ll then get a prompt to enter your email address.

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• Application Summary

You’ll get a page with a summary of all the information you’ve provided. Use this to confirm that all the information you’ve provided is correct.

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At the bottom of the summary is the price for your application. Once you’ve confirmed that all your information is correct, click on “next” to proceed with payment.

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• Payment

Enter your card details and click on “pay now” at the bottom of the page. Once payment is complete, you’ll be directed to the confirmation page. Then, you’ll get an email in your inbox. After that, the DVLA will send you a paper form with the required documents.

The paper form will require your signature and a verified passport photograph. Instructions about what you need to send and where to send it will be on the form. You can read more about that under the “Get your form and photo signed” section here. Once you send all the necessary documents, the DVLA will start processing your driving licence.

First Time Buyer in the UK

by Living in the UK | Oct 12, 2022 | Tips and Guides

Being a first time buyer or a homeowner is one of the most significant investments anyone can make, and so, if you’re contemplating buying a home, you’re on the right track. Yet, it can be really challenging when it’s your first time; especially when it comes to gathering your pounds one day after another until it gets to a lump sum.

But, have you considered using a first-time buyer mortgage? It’s a kind of home loan for first-time buyers, and the best part is that it comes with perks to encourage you on your big move.

Now, here’s another hurdle – saving up your deposit. But, don’t freak out yet! Successful home buying is all about having the right information, and here we’ve gathered all the need-to-knows to guide your home buying journey.

First Time Buyer in the UK

Who is a First Time Buyer?

In the UK, a first-time buyer who may also be referred to as a first time homebuyer is someone who has never owned a home anywhere in the world either for residential purposes or lease. Breaking it down, you’re a first-time buyer if you’ve not owned a residential home or a buy-to-let property with or without a mortgage. Also, you must have not owned any property by inheritance.

 The law also excludes commercial property such as shops or offices. So, if you’re buying a property to serve as a workshop, office, warehouse, etc, you’re not considered a first-time buyer. In summary, you’re a first-time buyer if you’re buying a residential home for the first time.

First-time buyers in the UK enjoy some benefits from specific schemes to encourage them in the daunting process of buying their first home. An example of such a scheme is a first-time buyer mortgage.

What is a First Time Buyer Mortgage?

A first-time buyer mortgage is a type of mortgage designed for people who have never owned property. Usually, first-time buyer mortgages allow you to deposit as little as 5% to 10% of the home price.

 Several mortgage providers also offer 90% loan-to-value and a few, 95% mortgages. Some mortgage lenders offer attractive packages such as cash backs.

What is a Lifetime ISA and How Does it Work?

A lifetime ISA or LISA is a type of savings account that offers government benefits to individuals saving for buying their first home or retirement. A lifetime individual savings account allows you to save a maximum of £4000 annually. The savings can either be deposited as a whole sum or in bits, whichever works for you.

However, the good thing about saving for a home or retirement in a LISA is that you qualify for a 25% bonus from the state. In other words, you can save up to £5000 every tax year in a LISA. While you contribute £4000, the state adds £1000, that’s 25% of your savings.

Aside from the 25% cash benefit, you earn interest on your savings, which is entirely tax-free. LISA is a tax-advantaged savings account. The goal of the Lifetime ISA is to ease the process of first-time home buying by making the home more affordable.

Practically, you can get a free chunky £1480 each tax year in a lifetime ISA. At this rate, you get close to your home-buying goal faster.

Note that the state bonus is calculated based on your contributions alone, not on your investment growth (interest earned on contributions). However, once the bonus enters your account, it is counted as savings and the next bonus will be calculated based on the entire money in your account.

For example, if you contribute £1000 to your LISA in May and earn a 1% interest, your money becomes £1010. However, the government gives you £250, that’s 25% of £1000.

The bonus is paid only in the year you make contributions to your LISA until you reach the age of 50. The bonus is paid monthly, for each month you contribute, and takes between four and nine weeks to enter your account.

Who Qualifies to Use a Lifetime ISA?

To open a Lifetime ISA, you must be:

• between the age of 18 and 40. However, you can continue paying into a Lifetime ISA until you’re 50.
• a UK resident or a Crown servant or their spouse or civil partner if you live abroad.

Using a Lifetime ISA to Buy Your First Home

Using a lifetime ISA to buy a home is a great idea. However, there are a few restrictions to using the account. To save in a lifetime ISA;

• You must be a first time buyer according to the legal definition. That means you must not have or have owned a home in the UK or outside the UK.
• The home you intend to buy should not cost more than £450,000.
• The home you’re buying must be a residential home and not for commercial purposes like an office warehouse or a shop. The home should not also be for rent. You must plan to live in the home.
• You must buy the home through a traditional repayment mortgage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Contribute to My Lisa and Other ISA Accounts at the Same Time?

The answer is yes. The maximum amount of money you can save in ISA for the year 2022/2023 is £20,000. You can split your contribution between LISA and other ISA accounts. You can also have a Help to Buy ISA and a LISA at the same time, though you won’t be entitled to a first-time buyers’ bonus on the two accounts.

Can I Use My Savings for Another Purpose?

You can use your savings in the LISA for a purpose other than buying your first home or retiring. However, this attracts a penalty.

LISA charges you 25% of the amount withdrawn when you withdraw all or some of your savings before the age of 60 and for another purpose.

So, the answer to your question is yes, but be ready to pay a penalty.

Where Can I Open a Lifetime ISA?

There are many options to explore when it comes to choosing a Lifetime ISA. However, you have to ensure that you work with a trusted platform. Moneybox LISA is among the top picks among LISA providers. With the Moneybox app, you can manage your finances: save, invest, buy a home and save for retirement.

The platform also provides you with lots of educational materials to ensure you make the most of your finances.

Conclusion

Buying a home for the first time can be less challenging if you know the right steps to take. Now, you know that you can be highly effective with your savings for home buying by using a Lifetime ISA. A good way to start is to open a LISA account with Moneybox.