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Other Useful Information...
Driving on licences from
other countries
If you are driving in the
UK and come from abroad, and you need to find
out what the rules are concerning the driving
licence you presently hold. Then you can use the
DSAs interactive tool that will help you decide
what you need to do about your licence. You can
find that interactive tool HERE!
Frequently
asked questions about the driving licence.
| I
have a current provisional licence to
drive a moped. Do I need another licence
to drive a car? |
Basically
the answer is no you don't need another
licence, but here's a fuller
explanation.
All
applicants for a first provisional
licence are automatically granted
provisional categories B, F, K and P
entitlement (provided they meet the
necessary health conditions). In the
case of 16 year olds, provisional
category B cannot be shown on a licence
unless the applicant asks for it to
commence on their 17th birthday or
later. If they do not ask for this to be
done, upon reaching the age of 17 they
will automatically have provisional
entitlement to drive vehicle in category
B. This is known as `growing
entitlement'. However, if you are the
holder of a photocard licence, which was
issued to you at the age of 16, category
B will be shown with a commencement date
of your 17th birthday.
|
| I
have sent in my application for my first
provisional licence. Am I covered to
drive? |
| You
must check with your insurance company
to check they are happy for you to drive
at this stage. Most insurance company's
won't have a problem with this, but best
to make sure before you get behind the
wheel. |
| I
have lost my driving licence. How do I
apply for a duplicate copy? |
If
your photocard licence/counterpart
licence has been lost, stolen or
destroyed and there are no changes to
your name or postal address you may
apply for a new licence over the
telephone using your credit or debit
card (Access, Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard
or Switch are acceptable). Ring 01792
772151 between
8.15 and 4.30, Monday to Friday. If your
licence has been defaced or you have
lost one part of your photocard licence
or, there are changes to your name or
postal address, you will need to
complete an application form D1. In
addition, if you are a photocard holder
and your name has changed you will need
to complete form D750 (available from
DVLA or most post offices). The form/s
should be sent, with the appropriate
fee, to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1AB. If,
after applying for a duplicate you find
the original licence then you should
return it to the DVLA with an
explanatory letter.
From 1 April 1999, if your paper driving
licence has been lost, stolen, defaced
or destroyed you must apply for a
photocard licence by completing both the
D1 and D750 application forms available
from most post offices. The credit/debit
card facility is not available if you
are making your first photocard
application.
|
| I
have changed my postal address. What do
I need to do? |
You
need to complete the appropriate section
of your licence stating the new postal
address, sign and date it and send your
paper licence or both parts of your
photocard licence to the DVLA, Swansea,
SA99 1BN. You will then be issued with a
new licence free of charge. If the
licence has been lost, stolen or
destroyed, you must apply for a
duplicate (see question 4) with the
appropriate fee.
You need only notify a change of postal
address in GB. A postal address outside
GB cannot be entered on your licence. |
| I
have changed my name. What do I need to
do? |
If
you hold a paper licence and have
married, just complete the back of the
licence, sign and date it and send it to
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. A new licence
will be issued to you free of charge.
If you hold a paper licence and you are
a male driver and have changed your name
and postal address, it will be necessary
to send us some form of evidence of the
name change, i.e. Deed Poll or Birth
Certificate. A new licence will be
issued to you free of charge and any
documentary evidence will be returned to
you.
If you hold a photocard licence, you
will need to complete a D750 form
(available from DVLA or most post
offices) and send this together with
both parts of your photocard licence to
DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BN. |
| How
do I apply for an International Driving
Permit? |
You
do not need an International Driving
Permit (IDP) to drive in an EC member
state, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
Although all versions of GB licences are
acceptable for driving in these
countries, if your licence is an older
style pink or green one, you may prefer
to exchange it for the latest EC model
licence. This is not obligatory but, if
you wish to do so, please complete an
application form D1 and send it together
with your present licence and the
appropriate fee to DVLA, Swansea, SA99
1AB. For advice on whether an IDP is
needed in any other countries you are
planning to visit, and to obtain an IDP
if required, you should contact your
nearest office of the:
Automobile Association (AA);
Green Flag National Breakdown;
Royal Automobile Club; or
Royal Scottish Automobile Club (RSAC).
They will also be able to offer more
detailed advice about driving abroad.
If you do need an IDP, you can only
obtain one from the above organisations.
You do not need to be a member but must
be aged 18 or over, have passed a
driving test and be resident in Great
Britain. You will need to show your full
GB driving licence or prove that you
have held one. A passport sized
photograph is also required. |
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