British driving licence | |
---|---|
Example of a driving licence in the United Kingdom | |
Issued by | United Kingdom |
Type of document | Driving licence |
Purpose | Authorisation |
Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age | Notes[Notes 1] |
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AM | Mopeds | 16 | 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25 km/h (15.5 mph) but not more than 45 km/h (28 mph). This category also includes light quadricycles with an unladen mass of not more than 350 kg (not including batteries if it is an electric vehicle) and a maximum design speed of over 25 km/h (15.5 mph) but not more than 45 km/h (28 mph). Electrically propelled pedal cycles (with 2 or 3 wheels) 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.[Notes 2] Electrically assisted scooters are considered to be electrically assisted only if they conform to certain additional EPAC rules, otherwise a licence is required.[24] |
P | Mopeds | 16 | Motor vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels with a maximum design speed of over 45 km/h (28 mph) but not more than 50 km/h (31 mph). Its engine size must not be more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine. |
Q | Mopeds | 16 | Motor 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 25 km/h (15.5 mph). |
A1 | Motorcycles | 17 | Light motorbicycles with an engine size up to 125cc, a power output of up to 11 kW (14.75 hp), and a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW/kg (136.2 hp/ton). This category also includes motor tricycles with power output up to 15 kW (20.1 hp). |
A2 | Motorcycles | 19 | Motorbicycles in category A1, as well as motorbicycles with a power output up to 35 kW (46.9 hp) and power to weight ratio not more than 0.2 kW/kg (272.5 hp/ton). The motorcycle must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. |
A | Motorcycles | 24[Notes 3] | Motorcycles in categories A1 and A2, as well as motorcycles with a power output more than 35 kW (46.9 hp) or a power to weight ratio more than 0.2 kW/kg (272.5 hp/ton) and motor tricycles with a power output more than 15 kW (20.1 hp). |
B1 | Light vehicles and quadricycles | 17[Notes 4] | Motor vehicles with 4 wheels up to 400 kg unladen, or 550 kg if they are designed for carrying goods. |
B | Cars | 17[Notes 5] | Full licence obtained before 1 January 1997:
Full licence obtained after 31 December 1996:
|
B auto | Cars | 17[Notes 6] | As Category B, but only automatic transmission. |
BE | Cars | 17[Notes 7] | A 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. |
C1 | Medium-sized vehicles | 18[Notes 8] | Vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500 kg MAM (with a trailer up to 750 kg). |
C1E | Medium-sized vehicles | 21[Notes 9] | C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg. The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000 kg. |
C | Large vehicles | 18[Notes 10] | Vehicles over 7,500 kg (with a trailer up to 750 kg MAM). |
CE | Large vehicles | 18[Notes 10] | Category C vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg. |
D1 | Minibuses | 21[Notes 11] | Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats, a maximum length of 8 metres, and a trailer up to 750 kg. See also Category B. |
D1E | Minibuses | 18[Notes 11] | D1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg MAM. The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000 kg. |
D | Buses | 18[Notes 11] | Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750 kg MAM). |
DE | Buses | 18[Notes 11] | D category vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg. |
F | Agricultural tractor | 16 | Maximum weight with trailer = 24 390 kg. Age 16 for tractors less than 2.45m wide. It must only pull trailers less than 2.45 m (96 in) wide with two wheels, or four close-coupled. |
G | Road roller | 18[Notes 12] | |
H | Tracked vehicles | 18[Notes 13] | |
K | Mowing machine or pedestrian-controlled vehicle | 16 | |
L | Electrically-propelled vehicle | 17 | Category now deprecated – tests no longer available (since 2001) for this category. Vehicles now classified by the appropriate group above. |
M | Trolley vehicles | ||
N | Exempt from duty | Normally as per group if not exempt | Category now deprecated (since 2001). 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 (which was similar in appearance to the pre-1973 dark red licence except that it was light blue in colour). This separate licence was proof that the driver had the proper permission to drive an official vehicle (which was neither insured nor taxed). A pre-requisite to passing a driving test (and being granted the licence) for this category was that the driver held a normal full licence appropriate for the type of vehicle being driven (military use excepted). The minimum ages for driving were the same as for the normal licence, except that two types of vehicle (motor-cycles and cars displaying military number plates) could be driven at 16 years of age by a serving member (not a civilian employee) 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. |