Licensing Laws

We all remember the time our very first driving licence came through the post. This shiny piece of plastic with that very unflattering image or ‘mug shot’ on the front was like a pass to freedom. No longer were we bound by the restrictions of public transport, we were now fully qualified drivers. The road was our oyster and our licence the ticket.

Although we spend the best part of our teens longing for the day we finally receive our licence, most of us are only aware of two main things about them; they allow us to drive and they allow us to buy alcohol (if we’re ‘lucky’ enough to look under 25…) But there is much more to know about licences that should not be taken for granted. Did you know for example that the Queen is the only person in the UK who does not require one? Ok, so perhaps that is not the most important piece of information – but I guarantee you’ll tell it to the next person you see!

On a more need-to-know basis, there is a common misconception that your driving licence will expire on your 70th birthday. Whilst it is true that you do not need to retake your test, the photo-ID licence actually runs out after 10 years. You are able to renew your licence through the DVLA at the cost of £20. If your card expires and you do not renew it you could incur a fine of up to £1000 and receive between 3-6 points on your licence.

Have no fear, you do not need to circle the expiry date in your diary 10 years in advance, the DVLA will write to your home address prior to your card expiring to remind you. This brings forth another factor to consider: if the address on your driving licence is incorrect you could, again, be in line for a £1000 fine. A change of address should be done through the DVLA and can be done for free providing you send back both your counterpart and photocard; if you have misplaced one or both of these then you will be required to pay the fee of £20.

Once you have attained a full licence, you are able to drive any in Economic European Area (EEA). The same cannot be said for driving outside of the EEA however, as you may be permitted to apply for an international driving permit.

It has recently been announced that, as of February 2014, a new design of photocard will be introduced with additional security features; such as a new holographic image. Holders of the old design will not be required to attain the new photocard, but it shall be issued to those renewing or replacing their old card. Read more here.

A lot of confusion is cast over the different ages you have to be in order to drive certain vehicles. I have produced a table that I hope will answer some of the questions you might have. Please note that this is a rough guide and there are other variants which might affect whether or not you are eligible to drive certain vehicles (e.g. further training).

For more information, please visit this link where you will find an interactive guide to age limits.

So there you have it, hopefully you now know a little bit more about driving licences than you did 5 minutes ago! If you have any further questions then please do not hesitate to call the team on 01753 851561.