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TRAINING SERVICES
Specialist Driver Training




Understanding your Licence



What is on your driving licence?

Driving Licence front

Driving Licence back

 

1. Surname
This is your surname, as recorded on the driver's record.
2. First Names
These are your first names, as recorded on the driver's record.
3. Date and place of birth
These are the details recorded on the driver's record.
4. Dates and issuing authority

The date shown in 4a is the date the photocard was issued. 4b shows the date the photocard must be renewed.

The authority that issued the licence is shown in 4c.

In Great Britain that is the DVLA.

5. Driver number

A = This is the first five letters of your surname. If your surname has fewer than five letters, the remaining spaces will be made up using the number 9 (for example, MAN99)

B = The first and last numbers are the year of your birth. The second and third numbers are the month of your birth. (If you are female, '5' is added to the second number and the total used as the second digit. So if you are a woman born in October the second and third numbers would be 60.) The fourth and fifth digits are the day of the month you were born on.

C = This is the first two initials of your first names. If you have only one inital, the second character will be a '9'.

D = Computer check digits, randomly produced as a security measure.

E = This is the licence issue number, which will increase by one with every licence issued. This number should correspond with the number on the upper right of the paper part of the licence.

6. Holder's photo
This is a digital copy of the photo you provided with your application.
7. Holder's signature
This is a digital copy of your signature on the application form.
8. Holder's address
This shows your permanent address in Great Britain.
9. Categories of vehicles
The letters in capitals show the categories of vehicle you can drive according to the European Community Directive. The smaller letter show the national categories of vehicles you can drive.
10. Issuing authority stamp
This is the stamp of the authority that issued the licence.
11. Ghost image of photograph
This image of the holder's photograph is a security feature. It prevents the licence from being copied.
12. Bar code
The bar code links a photocard with its counterpart document.
13 and 14. Not used
.
15. Pictograms
These pictures show the types of vehicle in the categories shown.
16. Category validity periods
These are the dates when your entitlement to drive each category of vehicle begins and ends.
17. Information codes
The code numbers printed in this area show any restrictions to your driving the category of vehicles shown.
18. Categories
This is a list of the categories of vehicle you are entitled to drive.

 

Provisional entitlements are listed on the paper part of the driving licence.

 

 

These are the licence categories and what they mean.

 

Category
Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
B
Rigid motor vehicle not exceeding 3500kg.
C1
Rigid motor vehicle exceeding 3500kg but not 7500kg.
C
Rigid motor vehicle exceeding 7500kg.
D1
Minibus between 9 and 17 seats
D
Bus or coach with more than eight passenger seats
B+E
Category B vehicle towing a trailer.
C1+E
Category C1 vehicle towing a trailer with a maximum combination of 12000kg.
C+E
Category C vehicle towing a trailer. This covers both rigid/drawbar combinations and articulated vehicles exceeding 7500kg.
D1+E
Minibus towing a trailer over 750kg.
D+E
Bus or coach with more than eight passenger seats towing a trailer over 750kg.

If you hold a B, C1 or C licence, you are eligible to tow a trailer without the need for the extra +E entitlement, however there are restrictions.

Category B can pull a trailer with a MAM of 750kg and a total of 4250kg combined weight (vehicle + trailer).

Category C1 can pull a trailer with a MAM of 750kg, and a total weight of 8250kg.

Category C can pull a trailer with a MAM of 750kg.

In each case, if the MAM of the trailer exceeds 750kg, then an additional +E test will be required.

Drivers who passed their Category B test before 1 January 1997 were granted the additional C1 and C1+E entitlement automatically when they were 18 years old. These drivers, with the C1+E entitlement, are restricted to vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 8250kg. New drivers (after January 1997) are required to pass the C1 test if they wish to add this entitlement.



Knowing your licence codes


01
02
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
42
43
44
44(1)
44(2)
44(3)
44(4)
44(5)
44(6)
44(7)
44(8)
45
70
71
78
79
101
102
103
105
106
107
108
110
111
113
114
115
118
119
120
121
122
125
Eyesight correction
Hearing / communication aid
Modified transmission
Modified clutch
Modified braking system
Modified accelerator system
Combined braking and accelerator systems
Modified control layouts
Modified steering
Modified rear view mirror(s)
Modified driving seats
Modifications to motorbikes
Single operated brake
(adjusted) hand operated brake (front wheel)
(adjusted) foot operated brake (back wheel)
(adjusted) accelerator handle
(adjusted) manual transmission and manual clutch
(adjusted) rear view mirror(s)
(adjusted) commands (direction indicators, brake lights)
Seat height (allowing two feet on road at same time)
Motorbikes only with sidecar
Exchange of licence
Duplicate of licence
Restricted to vehicles with auto transmission
Restricted to vehicles in conformity with licence details
Not for hire or reward (not to make profit)
Drawbar trailers only
Subject to certificate of competence
Vehicle not more than 5.5 metres long
Restricted to vehicles with auto transmission
Vehicle not more than 8250 kilograms
Subject to minimum age requirements
Limited to tranpsorting persons with restricted mobility
Limited to 16 passenger seats
Limited to 16 passenger seats except for automatics
With any special controls required for safe driving
Organ donor
Start date is for earliest entitlement
Weight limit for vehicle does not apply
Complies with health standard for D1
Restricted to conditions specified by Secretary of State
Valid on completion; basic moped training course
Tricycles only