Driving licence in the United Kingdom

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In the United Kingdom, the driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on public roads. In England, Scotland and Wales they are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). As a licence is required to drive on a public road^[1], any person may drive on private land with the consent of the landowner, but it is illegal - regardless of any licence - to drive on any common public land, such as moorland.^[2]

Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 Driving licence codes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Background

In the United Kingdom, the minimum driving age for a car or van is 17 (unless in receipt of the higher rate disability allowance, in which case one can obtain a provisional licence at the age of 16 years), while a moped or restricted-power motorcycle can be ridden at 16.^[3] Until a United Kingdom driving test has been passed (which consists of three sections: theory and a hazard perception test followed by a supervised driving examination) a driver will hold a provisional licence^[4] and be subject to certain conditions.

The conditions attached to provisional licences of a particular category of vehicle are:^[5]

• L-plates or (in Wales only) D plates (Welsh: Dysgwr) must be conspicuously displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle.
• Learner drivers of a particular category and transmission type of vehicle must be accompanied by somebody aged at least 21 who has held a full driving licence for that category and transmission type for at least three years, except in the case of solo motorcycles and vehicles of certain categories designed solely for one person.
• No trailer may be towed, except when driving a tractor or where a full licence gives provisional entitlement to drive a car with trailer, large goods vehicle with trailer or bus with trailer.
• Motorcycle riders must not carry any pillion passenger.
• Bus drivers must not carry any passenger except a person giving or receiving instruction.
• Motorways must not be used by holders of car and motorcycle provisional licences.^[6]

In Northern Ireland, learner drivers are limited to a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), and drivers who have passed their test within the previous year must display "R" plates (restricted) and are also limited to a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) until the expiry of the restricted period. "R" plates are similar in style to "L" plates, with a thick-set dark orange R displayed on a white background.

After passing a driving test, the provisional licence is surrendered for a full UK licence (which must be done within two years of passing the test)^[4] for the relevant kind of vehicle, although full car licences allow use of mopeds and motorcycles provided a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) course is completed. There are no extra speed, signage or alcohol consumption restrictions on newly passed drivers (unlike some other countries). However if a newly qualified driver gains six penalty points within two years of passing, the licence is automatically cancelled and the driver must pass the test again, including the theory. Furthermore, the six points remains on the new licence until their designated expiry time. It is optional to display newly passed green on white 'P' plates on the vehicle of newly passed drivers.

UK licences distinguish between automatic- and manual-transmission vehicles. Whilst a manual-transmission vehicle licence permits the holder to drive a vehicle of either kind, an automatic-transmission vehicle licence is solely for vehicles with an automatic transmission.

Forklifts require a separate licence. Forklift truck licences are issued by third party training companies, and not by the DVLA/DSA, which regulate all other vehicles.

[edit] History

Registration was introduced in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. Competency tests were introduced in 1934 by the Motor Vehicles Regulations 1935; they were suspended in 1939 for seven years due to the Second World War and in 1956 for one year due to the Suez Crisis. The only person in the United Kingdom who is not required to have a driving licence in order to drive is The Queen. She also does not require number plates on any vehicles which are personally owned by her.^[7]

Until 1973, driving licences (and tax discs) were issued by local authorities, and had to be renewed every three years. In 1971, the decision was taken to computerise the licensing system to enable it to be linked to the Police National Computer, as well as extending the life of the licence up to the driver's 70^th birthday.

Until July 1998,^[8] driving licences outside Northern Ireland did not have photographs. Anyone who holds a licence issued before this date may retain their photo-less licence until expiry (normally one's seventieth birthday) or until they change address, whichever comes sooner. The new "photocard" driving licences are a two-part document, a plastic photocard which has to be renewed every ten years, and a paper sheet (the "Counterpart Driving Licence") which is valid until the holder's seventieth birthday. The Counterpart details the individual's driving entitlements and convictions ("Endorsements"). Endorsement codes stay on the licence for 4–11 years depending on the offence.

Licences issued to residents of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland appear only in English, whilst those issued to residents of Wales appear in both English and Welsh.

Each licence holder has a unique driver number, which is 16 characters long. The characters are constructed in the following way:^[9]

• 1-5: The first 5 characters of the Surname (Padded with 9s if less than 5 characters)
• 6: The decade digit from the year of birth (e.g. for 1987 it would be 8)
• 7-8: The month of birth (7th character incremented by 5 if driver is female e.g. 51-62)
• 9-10: The date of birth
• 11: The year digit from the year of birth (e.g. for 1987 it would be 7)
• 12-13: The first two initials of the first names, padded with a 9 if no middle name.
• 14-16: Three computer check digits

The UK uses a point system to handle repeat offenders.

[edit] Driving licence codes

This is a list of the codes that might be found on a UK driving licence.

Licence code	Vehicle type	Minimum age	Notes[Notes 1]
A1	Motorcycle	17	Light motorcycles with a cubic capacity not exceeding 125 cc and of a power output not exceeding 11 kW (14.6 bhp).
A	Motorcycle	17	Motorcycles up to 25 kW (33 bhp) and a power to mass ratio not exceeding 0.16 W/kg. Motorcycle combination with a power mass ratio not exceeding 0.16 W/kg.
A	Motorcycle	21[Notes 2]	Any size motorcycle with or without a sidecar.
B1	3 or 4 wheeled light vehicles	17	Motor tricycles/quadricycles up to 550 kg (1,200 lb) unladen.[Notes 3]
B	Cars	17 [Notes 4]	Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3,500 kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750 kg (1,700 lb). Combinations of vehicles in Category B and a trailer, where MAM of the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. Example: A vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement, as the MAM of the combination does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.
B	Minibuses	21	Vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats not for hire or reward. MAM not exceeding 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers. No trailer of any size may be pulled. B licence must have been held for 2 years.
B (Automatic)	Automatic cars	17	As cars (B), but only those with automatic transmission.[Notes 5]
B+E	Cars with trailers	17	Combinations of vehicles consisting of a vehicle in category B and a trailer, where the combination does not come within category B. The MAM of the trailer must not exceed the mass of the unladen towing vehicle[Notes 6]
C1	Medium sized vehicle	18	Vehicles between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg with a trailer up to 750 kg.
C1+E	Medium sized vehicle with trailers	21	Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory C1 and its trailer has a MAM of over 750 kg provided that the MAM of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12,000 kg and MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.
C	Large vehicles	21	Vehicles over 3,500 kg with a trailer up to 750 kg.
C+E	Large vehicles with trailers	21	Vehicles over 3,500 kg with a trailer over 750 kg.
D1	Minibuses	21	Vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750 kg. See also under B
D1+E	Minibuses with trailers	21	Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory D1 and its trailer has a MAM of over 750 kg, provided that the MAM of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12,000 kg, and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.
D	Buses	21 [Notes 7]	Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750 kg.
D+E	Buses with trailers	21	Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer over 750 kg.
f	Agricultural tractors	16 [Notes 8]	N/A
g	Road rollers	21 [Notes 9]	N/A
h	Tracked vehicles	21	N/A
k	Mowing machine or vehicle controlled by a pedestrian	16	N/A
l	Electric vehicles	17	Category now deprecated - tests no longer available (since 2001) for this category. Vehicles now fit into category B1 or B.
n	Vehicles used for very short distances on public roads	N/A	Category now deprecated - tests no longer available (since 2001) for this category. Vehicles now fit into category B1 or B.
p	Motorcycles	16	Engine capacity must not exceed 50 cc and the maximum design speed must not exceed 50 km/h (31 mph)

Notes 

1. ^ MAM = Maximum authorised mass
2. ^ Age 21 or 2 years from date of standard A test pass.
3. ^ Age 16 you may be issued a licence if you are in receipt of the higher rate of disability living allowance. However if the rate is withdrawn, the normal minimum age for driving a car (17 years) applies.
4. ^ At the age of 16 you can be issued a licence if you are in receipt of the higher rate of disability living allowance. However if the rate is withdrawn, the normal minimum age for driving a car (17 years) applies.
5. ^ At age 16 you may be issued a licence if you are in receipt of the higher rate of disability living allowance. However if the rate is withdrawn, the normal minimum age for driving a car (17 years) applies.
6. ^ If you passed your category B or B automatic test before 1 January 1997 your licence will already show C1, C1E (8.25 tonnes), D1, D1E (not for hire or reward) as entitlement flowing from the category B.
7. ^ Age 17 if member of armed forces; age 18 under certain other circumstances
8. ^ Age 16 for tractors less than 2.45m wide. It must only pull trailers less than 2.45 m (96 in) wide with two wheels, or four close-coupled
9. ^ Age 17 for small road-rollers with metal or hard rollers. They must not be steam powered, weigh more than 11.69 tonnes or be made for carrying loads

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official England, Scotland and Wales driver information website
• Official Northern Ireland driver licensing website

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