A UK driving licence is a legal document that allows you to drive a vehicle on public roads in the UK and other countries. It also serves as an official form of identification and proof of age. If you want to learn to drive, apply for a driving licence, renew or update your licence, or exchange your foreign licence for a UK one, you need to know the rules and requirements that apply to you. In this article, we will cover the most important UK driving licence topics that you should be aware of in 2023.
How to get a UK driving licence
To get a UK driving licence, you need to follow these steps:
- Check if you are eligible to drive in the UK. You must be at least 17 years old (or 16 if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance), have a valid UK passport or another form of identity, and meet the minimum eyesight standards.
- Apply for a provisional driving licence. This is the first type of licence that allows you to learn to drive with a qualified instructor or someone who has held a full driving licence for at least 3 years. You can apply online or by post, and you need to pay a fee of £34 or £43 respectively.
- Take driving lessons and practice. You need to learn the rules of the road, the Highway Code, and how to drive safely and confidently. You can find driving schools, lessons, and instructors online or through recommendations. You also need to practice vehicle safety questions and prepare for your theory test.
- Book and pass your theory test. This is a computer-based test that consists of two parts: multiple-choice questions and hazard perception. You need to score at least 43 out of 50 on the first part and at least 44 out of 75 on the second part to pass. You can book your theory test online or by phone, and you need to pay a fee of £23.
- Book and pass your practical test. This is a test that assesses your driving skills and ability to deal with different road situations. You need to perform some vehicle safety checks, drive for about 40 minutes, follow directions from a sat nav or traffic signs, and complete one reversing manoeuvre and one independent driving task. You can book your practical test online or by phone, and you need to pay a fee of £62 or £75 depending on when you take it.
- Receive your full driving licence. Once you pass your practical test, you can start driving on your own without supervision. You will receive your full driving licence by post within 3 weeks. If you have a photocard provisional licence, you do not need to send it back to DVLA. If you have a paper provisional licence, you need to send it back with your pass certificate.
How to renew or update your UK driving licence
You need to renew or update your UK driving licence if it expires, gets lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, or if your personal details change. Here are some scenarios and what you need to do:
- If your photocard licence expires, you need to renew it every 10 years. You can do this online or by post, and you need to pay a fee of £14 or £17 respectively.
- If your paper licence expires, you need to exchange it for a photocard licence. You can do this online or by post, and you need to pay a fee of £20.
- If your licence expires when you are 70 or over, you need to renew it every 3 years. You can do this online or by post for free.
- If your licence expires because of a medical condition, you need to renew it more often depending on your condition. You can do this online or by post for free.
- If your licence gets lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, you need to replace it as soon as possible. You can do this online or by post, and you need to pay a fee of £20.
- If your address changes, you need to update it on your licence for free. You can do this online or by post.
- If your name or gender changes, you need to update it on your licence for free. You can do this by post only.
- If your photo changes, you need to update it on your photocard licence every 10 years. online or by post, and you need to pay a fee of £14 or £17 respectively. You can use your passport photo if you have a valid UK passport and apply online. Otherwise, you need to provide a new passport-type photo that meets the DVLA standards.
How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a UK one
If you have a foreign driving licence and want to drive in the UK, you need to check if you can use it or if you need to exchange it for a UK one. Here are some rules depending on where your licence was issued:
- If your licence was issued in an EU or EEA country (including Norway), Switzerland, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man, you can use it to drive in the UK until it expires. You can also exchange it for a UK one at any time without taking a test. However, from 1 January 2021, the EU flag has been removed from UK driving licences and number plates.
- If your licence was issued in a designated country (including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA), you can use it to drive in the UK for up to 12 months. You can also exchange it for a UK one within 5 years of becoming a UK resident without taking a test.
- If your licence was issued in any other country, you can use it to drive in the UK for up to 12 months. You cannot exchange it for a UK one and you need to apply for a provisional licence and take a test to continue driving in the UK.
How to upgrade your UK driving licence
If you want to drive a different type of vehicle or tow a trailer or caravan, you may need to upgrade your UK driving licence by adding new categories to it. Here are some examples and what you need to do:
- If you want to drive a car with a manual gearbox, but you have an automatic car licence, you need to take a driving test in a manual car. You do not need to take another theory test.
- If you want to drive a medium-sized lorry (category C1) or bus (category D1), you need to apply for a provisional licence for that category, take a theory test and a driving test, and meet higher medical standards.
- If you want to drive a large lorry (category C) or bus (category D), you need to apply for a provisional licence for that category, take a theory test and a driving test, meet higher medical standards, and get the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification.
- If you want to tow a trailer or caravan with a car (category B+E), you do not need to take another driving test as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg. This is because the new rules for towing a trailer with a car came into force on 16 December 2021. The DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you are allowed to tow trailers. You will get category BE added to your driving licence when you next apply to get a new driving licence.
- If you want to tow a trailer with a medium-sized lorry (category C1+E) or bus (category D1+E), you need to have the relevant licence for that category and take a driving test with the trailer attached. You do not need to take another theory test.
- If you want to tow a trailer with a large lorry (category C+E) or bus (category D+E), you need to have the relevant licence for that category and take a driving test with the trailer attached. You also need to have the Driver CPC qualification or take the initial qualification if you do not have it.
UK Driving Licence Codes: What They Mean and How to Check Them
If you have a UK driving licence, you may have noticed some numbers and letters on the back of your photocard. These are called driving licence codes, which indicate what conditions you must meet to drive certain vehicles or under certain circumstances. For example, some codes may tell you if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses or if you can only drive cars with automatic transmissions. This article will explain what driving licence codes are, what they mean, and how to check them on your licence.
Do you know what the numbers and letters on the back of your UK driving licence mean? If not, you could miss important information affecting your driving ability and legal obligations. These are called driving licence codes, which indicate what conditions you must meet to drive certain vehicles or under certain circumstances. For example, some codes may tell you if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses or if you can only drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. This article will explain what driving licence codes are, what they mean, and how to check them on your licence. By the end of this article, you will be able to understand your driving licence codes and avoid any potential problems or penalties.
What are driving licence codes?
Driving licence codes are the numbers in column 12 on the back of your licence. These will be numbers like “122” or “79 (3)”, for example. These codes tell you what conditions you need to meet to drive legally, and some codes may be different in Northern Ireland.
Some of the most common driving licence codes and their meanings are as follows:
- 01 – eyesight correction, for example, glasses or contact lenses
- 02 – hearing/communication aid
- 40 – modified steering
- 78 – restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission
- 79 – restricted to vehicles in conformity with the specifications stated in brackets on your licence
- 96 – allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer where the trailer weighs at least 750kg, and the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is between 3,500kg and 4,250kg
- 101 – not for hire or reward (that is, not to make a profit)
- 106 – restricted to vehicles with automatic transmissions
- 107 – not more than 8,250 kilograms
- 115 – organ donor
- 118 – start date is for the earliest entitlement
- 122 – valid on successful completion: Basic Moped Training Course. This does not apply to trial e-scooters
You can find the full list of driving licence codes on the GOV.UK website.
Why do driving licence codes matter?
Driving licence codes matter because they show what restrictions or adaptations apply to your driving ability or vehicle. If you do not comply with the conditions stated by the codes on your licence, you could be breaking the law and face penalties such as fines, points on your licence, or even disqualification from driving.
For example, if you have code 01 on your licence, it means you need to wear glasses or contact lenses when driving. If you are caught driving without them, you could be fined up to £1,000 and get three points on your licence.
Similarly, if you have code 78 on your licence, it means you can only drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. If you are caught driving a manual vehicle, you could be fined up to £1,000 and get three to six points on your licence.
Therefore, it is important to check your driving licence codes regularly and make sure you understand what they mean. You should also inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if any of your personal details or medical conditions change that could affect your driving ability or require new codes on your licence.
How to check your driving licence codes?
The easiest way to check your driving licence codes is to look at the back of your photocard. You will see a table with four columns: column 9 shows the types of vehicles you can drive, column 10 shows the start date of your entitlement, column 11 shows the end date of your entitlement, and column 12 shows the driving licence codes.
You can also check your driving licence information online using the View Driving Licence service. You will need your driving licence number, national insurance number, and postcode to access this service. You will be able to see your personal details, vehicles you can drive, penalty points and disqualifications, and driving licence codes.
Conclusion
Driving licence codes are an important part of your UK driving licence that tell you what conditions you must meet to drive legally. They can relate to your eyesight, hearing, vehicle modifications, vehicle types, trailer towing, and more. You should always check your driving licence codes and make sure you comply with them. If you do not follow the rules stated by the codes on your licence, you could face serious consequences such as fines, points on your licence
A UK driving licence is more than just a piece of plastic that allows you to drive. It is also a document that shows your identity, age, entitlements, and endorsements. It is important to keep your licence up to date and valid at all times and to know the rules and requirements that apply to you depending on where your licence was issued and what type of vehicle you want to drive. In this article, we have covered the most important UK driving licence topics that you should be aware of in 2023. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.