Driving licence in the United Kingdom


In the United Kingdom, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate motor vehicles on highways and other public roads. It is administered in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency. A driving licence is required in England, Scotland, and Wales for any person driving a vehicle on any highway or other "road", as defined in s.192 Road Traffic Act 1988, irrespective of the ownership of the land over which the road passes. Similar requirements apply in Northern Ireland under the Road Traffic Order 1981. As long as Great Britain and Northern Ireland remains within the European Union, a UK driving licence is a European driving licence. The EU flag will be removed from UK driving licences when the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.
As UK nationals do not normally have identity cards, a photographic driving licence can serve many of the purposes of an identity card in non-driving contexts, such as proof of identity or of age.

Regulations

Provisional licences and learner drivers

Applications for a provisional driving licence can be made in the UK from the age of 15 years and 9 months. Once a United Kingdom driving test has been passed, the driving licence is valid for driving a moped or light quad bike from age 16, and a car from age 17, or 16 for those who receive, or have applied for, the higher or enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP or DLA. A driving test consists of three sections: theory, hazard perception and a supervised driving examination. Until this test has been passed, a driver may hold only a provisional licence and is subject to certain conditions.
The conditions attached to provisional licences for a particular category of vehicle are:
In Northern Ireland, learner drivers are limited to a speed of 45 mph, and drivers who have passed their test within the previous year must display R plates and are also limited to a speed of 45 mph 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 and most L plates will have the orange R on the reverse side.
After passing a driving test, the provisional licence may be surrendered within two years in exchange for a full UK licence for the relevant kind of vehicle. Full car licences allow use of mopeds and motorcycles provided a CBT course is completed.

Newly qualified drivers

There are currently no restrictions on newly qualified drivers in England, Wales or Scotland, but if however a newly qualified driver receives six penalty points within two years of passing, the licence is automatically revoked and the driver must pass the full test again, this also applies in Northern Ireland. These six points remain on the new licence until their designated expiry time.
In Northern Ireland, new drivers have to display an orange R plate for 1 year post-test, and are limited to a maximum speed of 45MPH.

Towing restrictions

The rules on what a driver can tow are different depending on when they passed their driving test. If they passed their car driving test on or after 1 January 1997, they may drive a car or van up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass towing a trailer of up to 750 kg MAM, and they may tow a trailer over 750 kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500 kg MAM when loaded. They must pass the car and trailer driving test to tow anything heavier. If a driver passed their car test before 1 January 1997, they are usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg MAM. They are also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750 kg MAM.

Other regulations

Motor car licences issued in the United Kingdom distinguish between automatic and manual transmission vehicles, depending on whether or not a driving test was passed in a vehicle with manual transmission. While 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 automatic transmission. The licence also shows whether a driver requires glasses or contact lenses to meet the legal driving requirements, if known.
Drivers who obtained rights to drive category D1 minibuses before 1997 must not drive such vehicles for hire or reward, nor accept any form of payment in money, goods or kind from any passengers carried.
There is no maximum age for driving or holding a driving licence, but holders must renew their licences at age 70 and every three years thereafter, at which times they must self-certify their continued fitness to drive.
The Union Flag has been included on GB licences since July 2015, but not on Northern Ireland licences.

History

Driver registration was introduced in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. Holders of the sulphur-yellow coloured document were entitled to "drive a motor car or motor cycle". The wording was changed in 1930 after which holders were allowed to "drive or steer a motor car or to drive a motor cycle". Shortly afterwards, the document cover was changed to a dark red colour. Holders were for a period entitled to drive a vehicle of "any class or description". Subsequent changes saw the document list precisely those vehicle types for which holders were licensed.
Competency tests were introduced by the Motor Vehicles Regulations 1935 applicable to all drivers who started driving after 1 April 1934. Competency tests 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.
Until 1973, driving licences 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 and to extend the life of the licence up to the driver's 70th birthday, extendable at intervals thereafter provided the driver can prove fitness.
Except for Northern Ireland, driving licences issued before July 1998 did not have photographs on them. Anyone who holds a licence issued before this date may retain their photo-less licence until expiry or until they change address, whichever comes sooner. The new plastic photocard driving licences have to be renewed every ten years, for a fee. Until 2015, the licence consisted of both the photocard and a paper counterpart which detailed the individual's driving entitlements and convictions. The counterpart was abolished on 8 June 2015 and the information formerly recorded on it is now available online via the service, except in Northern Ireland where the counterpart must be kept with the photocard.
Licences issued to residents of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland appear only in English, while those issued to residents of Wales appear in both English and Welsh.
Each licence holder in England, Scotland and Wales has a unique driver number, which is 16 characters long. The characters are constructed in the following way:
Each Northern Ireland licence holder has a unique driver number which is 8 characters long. The characters are not constructed in any particular pattern.

Driving licence categories

Current categories

This is a list of the categories that might be found on a driving licence in the United Kingdom.
CategoryVehicle typeMinimum ageNotes
AMMopeds162-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 15.5 mph but not more than 28 mph.
This category also includes light quadricycles with an unladen mass of not more than 350 kg and a maximum design speed of over 15.5 mph but not more than 28 mph.
Electrically propelled pedal cycles are exempt from the requirement for a licence provided the conform to the EPAC rules although there is a minimum age of 14. Such vehicles must be equipped with pedals by means of which the vehicle is capable of being propelled. If there are no pedals, then a moped licence is required. Electrically assisted scooters are considered to be electrically assisted only if they conform to certain additional EPAC rules, otherwise a licence is required.
PMopeds16Motor vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels with a maximum design speed of over 28 mph but not more than 31 mph. Its engine size must not be more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine.
QMopeds16Motor vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels which, if propelled by an internal combustion engine, have a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50cc and, if not equipped with pedals by means of which the vehicle is capable of being propelled, have a maximum design speed not exceeding 15.5 mph.
A1Motorcycles17Light motorbicycles with an engine size up to 125cc, a power output of up to 11 kW, and a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW/kg. This category also includes motor tricycles with power output up to 15 kW.
A2Motorcycles19Motorbicycles in category A1, as well as motorbicycles with a power output up to 35 kW and power to weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW/kg. The motorcycle must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power.
AMotorcycles24Motorcycles in categories A1 and A2, as well as motorcycles with a power output more than 35 kW or a power to weight ratio more than 0.2 kW/kg and motor tricycles with a power output more than 15 kW.
B1Light vehicles and quadricycles17Motor vehicles with 4 wheels up to 400 kg unladen, or 550 kg if they are designed for carrying goods.
BCars17Full licence obtained before 1 January 1997:
  • A vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg maximum authorised mass.
  • A minibus with a trailer over 750 kg MAM.
Full licence obtained after 31 December 1996:
  • Vehicles up to 3,500 kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats. Also covers heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500 kg.
  • Motor tricycles with a power output higher than 15 kW if driver is over 21 years old.
  • Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement will also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles. Able-bodied drivers can no longer ride motor tricycles with a provisional category B licence.
B autoCars17Same as Category B, but only automatic transmission.
BECars17A vehicle with a MAM of 3,500 kg with a trailer. The size of the trailer depends on the BE 'valid from' date shown on the licence. If the date is before 19 January 2013, vehicle can tow any size trailer. If the date is on or after 19 January 2013, vehicle can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg.
C1Medium-sized vehicles18Vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500 kg MAM.
C1EMedium-sized vehicles21C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg. The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000 kg.
CLarge vehicles18Vehicles over 7,500 kg.
CELarge vehicles18Category C vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg.
D1Minibuses21Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats, a maximum length of 8 metres, and a trailer up to 750 kg. See also Category B.
D1EMinibuses18D1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg MAM. The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000 kg.
DBuses18Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats.
DEBuses18D category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg.
FAgricultural tractor16Maximum weight with trailer = 24 390 kg. Age 16 for tractors less than 2.45m wide. It must only pull trailers less than wide with two wheels, or four close-coupled.
GRoad roller18
HTracked vehicles18
KMowing machine or pedestrian-controlled vehicle16
LElectrically-propelled vehicle17Category now deprecated – tests no longer available for this category. Vehicles now classified by the appropriate group above.
MTrolley vehicles
NExempt from dutyNormally as per group if not exemptCategory now deprecated. This category was reserved for vehicles driven for a government department. Neither the issue of the licence nor the testing were carried out by the normal licencing authorities. Each department issued the licence to drive. This separate licence was proof that the driver had the proper permission to drive an official vehicle. A pre-requisite to passing a driving test for this category was that the driver held a normal full licence appropriate for the type of vehicle being driven. The minimum ages for driving were the same as for the normal licence, except that two types of vehicle could be driven at 16 years of age by a serving member on behalf of one of the armed services.The category was abandoned because all government departments now hire or lease their vehicles from regular suppliers. The armed services also lease standard civilian-supplied vehicles, with only specialist military vehicles being 'owned' by the crown.

; Notes :

Obsolete goods classes

Although the category system was changed over 20 years ago, the freight industry and driver recruitment agencies still predominantly use the obsolete class numbers for the entitlement of HGV drivers.
The two systems are not exactly compatible, so the descriptions given are only a guideline.
Class 1: any goods vehicle over 7½ long tons with any trailer.
Class 2: any rigid goods vehicle over 7½ long tons.
Class 3: any rigid goods vehicle over 7½ long tons with no more than two axles.

Points and endorsements

The UK uses a cumulative points system for driving offences. Points are added for driving offences by law courts or where the driver accepts a fixed penalty in lieu of prosecution, and the licence is endorsed accordingly. A UK driving licence may be endorsed for various offences, not only for those committed while driving or in charge of a vehicle. If the individual committing the offence does not hold a valid driver's licence the endorsements may be put by until a licence is held.
Most endorsements remain valid for four years; some are recorded on the licence for 11 years because more severe penalties apply to those convicted twice within 10 years of drink or drug driving offences.
Twelve points on the licence within three years makes the driver liable to disqualification under the "totting-up" procedure; however this is not automatic and must be decided on by a court of law. Endorsements remain on the licence for one year longer than their validity because a court can consider points awarded even though they are not valid for 'totting up'.

Driving licence codes

Certain codes are included on driving licences to indicate restrictions on use. These codes are listed on the back of the card under the column headed "12. Codes" and are listed for each category that is licensed.
As long as the UK remains within the EU, these codes are the same than those for the EU, currently defined by DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC.
The codes and their meanings are as follows:
Identity cards for UK nationals were introduced in 2009 on a voluntary basis, and the attempt to introduce a nationwide identity-card scheme in 2010 was reversed mid-course. Its in-progress database was halted and then destroyed. Only workers in certain high-security professions, such as airport workers, were required to have an identity card in 2009, and this remains the case today. Therefore, driving licences, particularly the photocard driving licence introduced in 1998, along with passports, are the most widely used ID documents in the United Kingdom. Most people do not carry their passports with them; this leaves driving licences as the only valid form of ID to be presented. In day-to-day life there is no legal requirement to carry identification whilst driving or otherwise, and most authorities do not arbitrarily ask for identification from individuals.
Non-professional drivers are not legally obliged to carry a driving licence while driving, but section 164 of the Road Traffic Act 1998 allows a police officer to require a driver to produce a driving licence within seven days at a police station chosen by the driver. The form which was once issued in such circumstances, the HO/RT 1, was known colloquially as "a producer", as exemplified in Smiley Culture's hit single "Police Officer".