Information on types of driving licence including provisional, UK full, UK automatic, European licences and the International Driving Permit. Getting your driving licence is one of those rites of passage many of us can't wait to go through. But which licence? There are several different UK driving licence categories, as well as European and international driving licences. In January 2013, changes to driving licences came into effect through the European Union Third Directive, which were aimed at making our roads safer. Learn more about different types of driving licence and who's eligible to hold them. Provisional licence All learners must hold a provisional licence before starting driving lessons, whether they're being taught by a professional instructor or by family or friends. You can apply for a provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday, or your 16th birthday if you want to ride a moped. You can apply online for your provisional licence at Gov. UK.† You'll need to pay a fee and supply your National Insurance number, plus a full UK passport if you have one, or another form of identification. Your provisional licence will usually arrive about two weeks after you apply for it and you can also track its progress online. Anybody teaching you to drive or supervising whilst you practise must be at least 21 and have held a full UK licence for three years or more. They must be fit to drive and must sit in the front passenger seat. All learner drivers must meet the minimum legal eyesight requirements and clearly display L-plates on the front and back of the car. You're not allowed to drive on the motorway before passing your test. UK full licence There are believed to be more than 35 million full driving licence holders in the UK, according to the Department for Transport.† To obtain a full licence, you must have passed the theory and practical parts.
If you have a Queensland provisional or open licence, you can learn to drive the next highest vehicle class. If your provisional or open licence only authorises you to drive a class of motor vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission, you are also authorised to learn to drive or ride the same or higher class of motor vehicle fitted with a manual transmission. Different rules apply when learning to ride motorcycles. Learning to drive a higher class When learning to ride or drive in a higher licence class, you must: be accompanied by a supervisor who holds an open licence in the licence class you are learning to drive in has held that licence class for at least 1 year clearly display L plates at the front and rear of the vehicle (back only for motorcycles) show your provisional or open licence to a police officer if required obey a zero alcohol limit not be under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs obey any conditions stated on your licence. Unaccompanied learner drivers will get 4 demerit points and a 8 fine. The maximum court-imposed penalty for this offence may be more than ,000. Moving to a higher class To apply for the next higher class, you must hold your current licence for a set period. This period: must have occurred in the last 5 years can be continuous or made up of different individual lengths of time (excluding any time that your licence was suspended, surrendered, cancelled or expired). Current licence class Minimum length of time Next higher licence class C 1 year RE RE 1 year R C 1 year LR or MR C 2 years HR LR or MR 1 year HR MR or HR 1 year HC HR or HC 1 year MC How to apply To apply for the next higher class of licence you must: Once you meet these requirements you can apply for your current licence to be re-issued with the new class.
Learning to drive a manual car You can start learning to drive a manual car at any time. You don’t need to apply for another provisional licence. You must follow all the usual rules when you’re learning to drive in a manual car. This includes displaying L plates. Book a driving test You don’t need to take a theory test to upgrade your licence. You have to book a driving test by phone with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ( DVSA). You can’t book it online. Taking the driving test The driving test works in the same way for a manual car as it does an automatic. You can continue driving an automatic car if you fail your driving test in a manual car.
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