Changes To Driving Licences

driving Licence Changes

As of the 19th January 2013 a European Directive will come into force in the UK, meaning that those who drive motorcycles, lorries, buses, minibuses and those who tow trailers will see their licenses change.

Dates and the way that new licenses are set out will be changed, to make it clearer what vehicles the holder can drive, and expiry date will be shown clearer. Also the expiry date of your license will be shown on the front of your license, and the expiry date of your entitlements will be shown on the back.

With the new directive you will only be allowed to drive vehicles that are listed under your entitlements on the back of your license. However, if you passed your test in a larger vehicle then you may be allowed to drive vehicles that are smaller than the vehicle you passed your test in.

On the front of the licence the changes which will occur will be as follows:

All dates will be shown as DD.MM.YYYY
Categories shown will be separated by a slash
The date in 4b will show the licence expiry date

From the 15th October 2012 to the 18th January 2013 drivers will be issued with either a photocard licence as shown in Example A below or example B which is also shown below. From the 19th January 2013 you will only be issued the type of licence shown in Example B only.

Example A – issued from 15 October 2012 to 18 January 2013 1 – New design showing full table of categories, pictograms, start and expiry dates and any codes that apply 2 – Legend containing explanation of each field’s contents 3 – Overflow of information/restriction codes

Example B – issued from 15 October 2012 to 18 January 2013 1 – New design showing full table of categories, pictograms, start and expiry dates and any codes that apply 2 – Legend containing explanation of each field’s contents 3 – Overflow of information/restriction codes.

The expiry date shown on your licence will be on the front of the photocard shown in section 4b and the expiry date of your entitlements will be shown on the back on the driving licence. The new style licence will look different to the current driving licence. All vehicle categories that you need to have a licence to drive, will be shown on the back of the driving licence with the dates next to those that you are entitled to ride or drive.

You will not be able to drive any other type of vehicle which does not have dates next to the category of vehicle. The types of vehicle that you are not entitled to drive will have a line next to it instead of dates.

However if you have passed in a larger vehicle you may still be entitled to drive or ride smaller vehicles of that type. For example holders of a full category A licence would be able to ride a category A2 vehicle.

License counterparts will list your provisional driving entitlements, any driving offences and other relevant information. For those who pass their lorry or bus tests on or after the 19th January, their license will be valid for 5 years after which time it must be renewed. To renew this you will have to fill out a form and medical questions. For those who passed before this date, the new rules will apply to them when they next need to renew their license.

New Categories and Category changes from 19th January 2013 can be shown in the table below:

Category	Description	Minimum Age

P	Moped - Motor vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels with a maximum design speed exceeding 45 kilometres per hour (km/h) but not exceeding 50km/h and which, if propelled by an internal combustion engine, has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50cc.	16
Q	Moped - Motor vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels which, if propelled by an internal combustion engine, has a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50cc and, if not equipped with pedals by means of which the vehicle is capable of being propelled, has a maximum design speed not exceeding 25km/h.	16
AM	Moped - 2-wheel vehicles or 3-wheel vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25km/h and not more than 45km/h. Light quadricycle With an unladen mass of not more than 350kg, not including the mass of the batteries in the case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is over 25km/h and not more than 45km/h.	16
A1	Motorcycles - A motorcycle with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125cc, of a power not exceeding 11kW and with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.1kW per kg. A motor tricycle with a power not exceeding 15kW.	17
A2	A motorcycle of a power not exceeding 35kW, with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2kW per kg and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power.	19
A	A motorcycle of a power exceeding 35kW or with a power to weight ratio exceeding 0.2kW per kg, or A motorcycle of a power not exceeding 35kW with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2kW per kg and derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. A motor tricycle with a power exceeding 15kW.	24
B1	4 wheeled light vehicles - Motor vehicles with four wheels up to 550kg unladen and invalid carriages.	17
D1	Minibuses - Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats in addition to the driver and with a maximum length not exceeding 8 metres with a trailer up to 750kg.	21
D	Buses - Any bus designed and constructed for the carriage of more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver, with a trailer up to 750 kg.	24
D1E	Minibuses with trailers - Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats in addition to the driver and with a maximum length not exceeding 8 metres with a trailer over 750 kg, provided that the MAM of the combination formed does not exceed 12,000kg.	21
DE	Buses with trailers - Any bus designed and constructed for the carriage of more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver, with a trailer over 750 kg.	24

Having worked in the car rental industry for over 15 years, he really knows his stuff. Rob heads up our marketing department and as a keen traveller, always has a new location to talk about. Particularly if there is a golf course nearby.