Car and Other Vehicle Driving Licences
This is the complete guide on how to obtain a driving license for cars and other vehicles in Jersey.
For a complete guide on how to obtain driving licences for mopeds and motorcycles please visit here.
Table of Contents
Minimum Age for Acquiring Types of Licences
Ensure you meet the minimum age requirement for the license you wish to apply for.
Below is a table listing the minimum age for each specific license type.
| Type of vehicle | Licence category | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
|
Car or light goods vehicle (van less than 3,500kg) |
B |
17 |
|
Agricultural tractor |
F |
16 |
|
Medium goods vehicle or minibus |
C1 or D1 |
18 |
|
Large goods vehicle, such as a lorry
|
C |
21 |
|
Large passenger carrying vehicle, such as a bus or coach |
D |
21 |
Applying for a Jersey Provisional Driving License
Once you have confirmed that you meet the age requirement, you can begin the process by applying for a Jersey provisional driving license to start learning to drive.
Application Fee:
- £30, payable online via debit or credit card.
Requirements:
- A recent photograph (taken within the last 6 months).
- You may need a medical report for certain licenses or if you have certain medical conditions.
- You must be a Jersey resident to be eligible (live in Jersey continuously for the last 12 months).
Once issued:
- Your provisional license will be valid for six months and is only valid within Jersey.
- You must carry it with you at all times when driving.
Click below to apply for a provisional driving licence.
Practicing Driving with a Provisional Licence
Once you have a provisional driving licence, you can begin practicing driving on the road.
Supervision Requirements
- While practicing, you must always be supervised by someone inside the vehicle.
Who Can Supervise You?
- You can practice with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or a qualified family member or friend, provided they:
- Are 21 years or older.
- Have held a full Jersey driving licence for at least 3 years for the vehicle type you are learning to drive.
Practice Guidelines
- There’s no required minimum number of lessons or hours you must complete.
- The vehicle you use must display Learner ‘L’ plates at all times.
- You can practice driving day or night without restrictions on time.
Insurance Requirements
- You must have valid insurance for any vehicle you drive while practicing.
- Ensure a windscreen insurance disc (WID) is displayed on the vehicle.
- If you’re practicing in someone else’s car, confirm that you’re covered under your own insurance policy or the owner’s insurance.
- Some insurance policies may require the supervising driver to be over 25 years old, so check this before practicing.
Driving Theory Test
Before you take your practical test you must first take your theory test.
The theory test is an exam to test your knowledge of the Highway Code, road safety and vehicle rules. It has 2 parts, multiple-choice questions and hazard perception videos. For more information on this please visit here.
There are 3 driving theory tests depending on the licence you want.
- Cars and light vans
- Large goods, such as lorries and medium goods vans
- Large passenger, such as buses, minibuses and coaches
Theory Test Fee:
- £39.50 for cars and light vans
- £48.50 for large goods or passenger vehicles
Requirements:
- Your provisional licence number for the category you want to book
- A debit or credit card
On the Day of the Theory Test
- The test will take place at Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVS).
- Arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals won’t be allowed to take the test and will need to re-book and pay again.
- Bring a valid provisional licence for the category you’re testing for.
- If you don’t have the provisional licence with you, DVS may check their records, but a photo ID will be required.
After Theory Test
- If you pass, you’ll receive a certificate, valid for life unless you’re disqualified and required to retake the test after a ban.
- If you fail, you’ll need to retake the test and pay again. You’ll also receive a breakdown of your results to help you prepare.
Click below to book the driving theory test.
Driving Practical Test
Once you have passed your driving theory test and are experienced enough in your driving ability you can take your practical test.
A practical driving test includes:
- An eyesight check
- Safety questions
- About 40 minutes of driving for a car, moped and motorcycle and 70 minutes for a lorry, bus or coach.
You can take your test in a vehicle with a manual or automatic transmission. DVS doesn’t provide the vehicle for the test.
If you take your test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you’ll only be allowed to drive automatic vehicles. You’ll need to pass another practical test to drive vehicles with manual transmissions.
Passengers are generally not allowed, except for the examiner. If you want to bring someone, approval is required from the Inspector of Motor Traffic. An observer from DVS may sometimes accompany the examiner.
Practical Test Fee:
- £58.50 for cars and heavy motorcycles
- £110 for large goods or passenger vehicles
Requirements:
- Your provisional driving licence number
- Your theory certificate number
- A debit or credit card
On the Day of Your Practical Test
Your test will start and finish at Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVS).
You should:
- Arrive 15 minutes early; late arrivals must re-book and pay again.
- Bring a suitable vehicle.
- Show your theory certificate and provisional licence.
- Have glasses or contact lenses if needed.
- Sign a declaration confirming insurance for the vehicle.
If using someone else’s vehicle, you may need a different Windscreen Insurance Disc (WID).
After Your Practical Test
- You can drive for 7 days without supervision after passing. Keep your pass certificate with you when driving.
- Within 7 days, apply for your full driving licence to continue driving. You have up to 5 years to apply without retaking the test.
- A full licence costs £70 and is valid for 10 years.
- Licences are issued by Parishes. Find your parish on Comité des Connétables.
- Ensure you have the proper insurance to drive solo.
- If you fail, you can retake the test after 7 days. During this time, you can drive while supervised with your provisional licence.
What You’ll Be Tested On
To pass the test, you must demonstrate that you:
- Drive safely and competently in various conditions.
- Drive defensively, anticipating other road users.
- Take the correct road position while driving and at junctions.
- Use proper observation when needed.
- Show knowledge of The Highway Code through your driving.
- Move off correctly on a hill.
- Complete 2 reversing manoeuvres.
- Park in a left or right parallel space.
- Perform an emergency stop and move off correctly.
Additional requirements apply depending on the vehicle category.
Vehicles Eligible for the Practical Test
You must provide a suitable vehicle for your practical test. The vehicle must:
- Be roadworthy and free of warning lights.
- Display a valid windscreen insurance disc (WID).
- Display L plates on both the front and rear (or an integrated L plate for mopeds/motorcycles).
- Provide good all-round vision for the examiner.
- Have front seats equipped with head restraints and seat belts.
Certain vehicles are not suitable for the test, including left-hand drive vehicles, panel vans, and convertibles such as the Fiat 500, Ford KA, BMW Mini, and VW Beetle, as they do not provide adequate visibility for the examiner. If you’re unsure whether your vehicle is suitable, contact DVS for confirmation.
You may use driving aids like electronic parking brakes, hill start assist, and reversing cameras or sensors, but you’ll still be assessed on mirror use and blind spot checks. If the vehicle has a self-parking feature, it must be switched off during the test.
Click below to book the driving practical test.
