source/life-course-families/transition-to-adulthood/learn-to-drive-car.v1.yaml

schema: life-course-family.v1
id: learn-to-drive-car
title: Learn to drive a car
aliases: [driving lessons, provisional licence, theory test, practical driving test, get a driving licence]
description: >-
  Follow the jurisdiction-specific route from provisional entitlement through
  supervised learning and tests to the full-licence handoff.
status: population_complete
assertion_status: normalized
life_course_domain: transition-to-adulthood
enclosing_processes:
  - id: move-into-independent-mobility-health-and-care
    assertion_status: normalized
    sources: [govuk-learn-to-drive-car, nidirect-provisional-licence]
situations:
  - A person wants to learn to drive a car in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
  - A learner needs to understand the evidence passed between licensing and testing stages.
user_needs:
  - Obtain the correct provisional entitlement.
  - Learn and practise lawfully with suitable supervision, vehicle and insurance.
  - Take the applicable tests and complete the full-licence handoff.
interaction_boundary: >-
  Discovery and evidence sequencing only; no fitness, entitlement, insurance
  cover or test-result decision is made.
applicability:
  - jurisdiction: Great Britain
    state: supported
    route_variants:
      - {id: great-britain, provider: organisation:driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency, primary_source: govuk-learn-to-drive-car}
    sources: [govuk-learn-to-drive-car, govuk-first-provisional-licence, govuk-private-practice, govuk-book-theory-test, govuk-driving-test-result, govuk-full-driving-licence]
  - jurisdiction: Northern Ireland
    state: supported
    route_variants:
      - {id: northern-ireland, provider: organisation:driver-and-vehicle-agency-northern-ireland, primary_source: nidirect-provisional-licence}
    sources: [nidirect-provisional-licence, nidirect-learner-rules, nidirect-theory-test, nidirect-practical-test, nidirect-claim-test-pass]
actors:
  - {id: organisation:driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency, role: great_britain_licensing_authority, authority_status: official, sources: [govuk-first-provisional-licence, govuk-full-driving-licence]}
  - {id: organisation:driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency, role: great_britain_testing_authority, authority_status: official, sources: [govuk-book-theory-test, govuk-driving-test-result]}
  - {id: organisation:driver-and-vehicle-agency-northern-ireland, role: northern_ireland_licensing_and_testing_authority, authority_status: official, sources: [nidirect-provisional-licence, nidirect-theory-test, nidirect-practical-test]}
  - {id: role:regulated-driving-instructor, role: optional_private_provider, authority_status: normalized, sources: [govuk-private-practice, nidirect-learner-rules]}
  - {id: role:motor-insurer, role: regulated_private_dependency, authority_status: normalized, sources: [govuk-private-practice, nidirect-learner-rules]}
journeys:
  ordinary:
    id: provisional-to-full-licence
    entry_state: A synthetic learner has selected the correct licensing jurisdiction and car category.
    outcome: The official full-licence handoff or next required action is retained.
    steps:
      - id: obtain-provisional-entitlement
        interaction: Apply to the correct licensing authority for provisional entitlement.
        provider: organisation:licensing-authority
        requirements: {state: supported, summary: Current residence, identity, age and health conditions from the selected route.}
        evidence: {state: supported, summary: Synthetic application evidence and licensing output.}
        rule: {state: supported, summary: DVLA rules apply in Great Britain and DVA rules in Northern Ireland.}
        channel: {state: supported, summary: Official licensing service.}
        cost: {state: supported, summary: Current fee is supplied by the live service and is not frozen here.}
        time: {state: not_published_by_source, reason: Processing time remains on the live route.}
        output: {state: supported, summary: Provisional entitlement, refusal or correction route.}
        outcome: {state: supported, summary: Ready to learn or directed to the current correction route.}
        redress: {state: supported, summary: Use the licensing authority's current correction or complaint route.}
        assertion_status: normalized
        sources: [govuk-first-provisional-licence, nidirect-provisional-licence]
      - id: learn-and-pass-tests
        interaction: Practise lawfully, take the theory test and take the practical test in order.
        provider: organisation:testing-authority
        requirements: {state: supported, summary: Provisional entitlement, supervision, vehicle, insurance and prior test evidence.}
        evidence: {state: supported, summary: Theory and practical booking and result outputs.}
        rule: {state: supported, summary: The selected jurisdiction and vehicle category control.}
        channel: {state: supported, summary: Official test booking and result routes.}
        cost: {state: supported, summary: Live booking services provide current fees.}
        time: {state: supported, summary: Result validity and booking conditions remain on current sources.}
        output: {state: supported, summary: Test pass, fail, cancellation or reschedule output.}
        outcome: {state: supported, summary: Continue, repeat or use the conduct-complaint boundary.}
        redress: {state: supported, summary: Provider complaint or stated court boundary; not a merits reassessment.}
        assertion_status: normalized
        sources: [govuk-private-practice, govuk-book-theory-test, govuk-driving-test-result, nidirect-learner-rules, nidirect-theory-test, nidirect-practical-test]
      - id: complete-full-licence-handoff
        interaction: Pass the practical-test output to the correct licensing authority.
        provider: organisation:licensing-authority
        requirements: {state: supported, summary: Applicable practical-test pass and identity or licence evidence.}
        evidence: {state: supported, summary: Official pass and handoff record.}
        rule: {state: supported, summary: Automatic or separate claim conditions depend on the route.}
        channel: {state: supported, summary: DVLA or DVA current handoff route.}
        cost: {state: not_published_by_source, reason: Consult the selected live route.}
        time: {state: supported, summary: Any claim deadline remains route-specific.}
        output: {state: supported, summary: Full licence or further official action.}
        outcome: {state: supported, summary: Licence issued, pending or correction required.}
        redress: {state: supported, summary: Licensing authority correction or complaint route.}
        assertion_status: normalized
        sources: [govuk-driving-test-result, govuk-full-driving-licence, nidirect-claim-test-pass]
  exceptions:
    - id: wrong-jurisdiction-missing-evidence-or-test-failure
      entry_state: The route is wrong, required evidence is missing or a test does not produce a pass.
      outcome: The official correction, fresh application, reschedule or complaint boundary is retained.
      steps:
        - id: stop-correct-and-re-enter
          interaction: Stop the sequence, retain the failure state and use the selected authority's current next route.
          provider: organisation:licensing-or-testing-authority
          requirements: {state: supported, summary: The actual decision, result or missing-evidence notice.}
          evidence: {state: supported, summary: Synthetic official output; no personal licence or policy data.}
          rule: {state: supported, summary: Do not infer entitlement or a changed result.}
          channel: {state: supported, summary: Current licensing, test reschedule or conduct-complaint route.}
          cost: {state: not_published_by_source, reason: The selected live service controls any further fee.}
          time: {state: not_published_by_source, reason: Current decision or booking terms control.}
          output: {state: supported, summary: Corrected application, new booking or retained complaint.}
          outcome: {state: supported, summary: Re-enter the ordinary sequence only with the required output.}
          redress: {state: supported, summary: Authority complaint or stated legal boundary.}
          assertion_status: normalized
          sources: [govuk-learn-to-drive-car, govuk-driving-test-result, nidirect-practical-test]
dependencies:
  - {id: role:regulated-driving-instructor, state: supported, selection_basis: official_register_or_current_public_guidance, sources: [govuk-private-practice]}
  - {id: role:motor-insurer, state: supported, selection_basis: regulator_first_no_provider_recommendation, sources: [govuk-private-practice, nidirect-learner-rules]}
sources:
  - {id: govuk-learn-to-drive-car, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: govuk-first-provisional-licence, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: govuk-private-practice, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: govuk-book-theory-test, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: govuk-driving-test-result, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: govuk-full-driving-licence, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: nidirect-provisional-licence, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: nidirect-learner-rules, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: nidirect-theory-test, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: nidirect-practical-test, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
  - {id: nidirect-claim-test-pass, register: source/learning-to-drive-speeding.v1.yaml}
limitations:
  - Vehicle categories, medical fitness and individual entitlement remain on current official services.
  - Private lessons or insurance do not establish public entitlement.
review: {population_gate: complete, specialist_review: required}
narrative:
  markdown: services/learn-to-drive-car.md
  process_context: Move into independent mobility, health and care