Licence categories, what can I drive?
Discussion
I'm getting a little confused with some of the rules on what I can or cannot drive based on my licence and where exemptions may apply, hopefully someone on here can explain clearly what is allowable!
I passed my test in July 2002, and I have only ever taken my car test. So as I understand it, I can drive up to 3.5 tonnes vehicles, and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs and I mostly understand the rules on that and don't need to worry anyway.
Now I am half-looking at driving larger vehicles but the rules appear to be different on what I can/cannot drive in this category.
There appears to be an exemption on driving old buses and coaches that are more than 30 years old, provided I am not doing so for any reward. Is this correct? Could I buy, if I wanted to, an old coach registered anytime before 1986, and drive it on my current licence?
Does any such exemption exist for other large vehicles, as I sort of have a hankering for an old Bedford 4 tonne army truck, many of which are also pre-1986 as well.
cheers in advance.
I passed my test in July 2002, and I have only ever taken my car test. So as I understand it, I can drive up to 3.5 tonnes vehicles, and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs and I mostly understand the rules on that and don't need to worry anyway.
Now I am half-looking at driving larger vehicles but the rules appear to be different on what I can/cannot drive in this category.
There appears to be an exemption on driving old buses and coaches that are more than 30 years old, provided I am not doing so for any reward. Is this correct? Could I buy, if I wanted to, an old coach registered anytime before 1986, and drive it on my current licence?
Does any such exemption exist for other large vehicles, as I sort of have a hankering for an old Bedford 4 tonne army truck, many of which are also pre-1986 as well.
cheers in advance.
It'll be on the back of your license as to what you and cannot drive.
My mum who passed when she was younger (now 55) can drive a load of different stuff even though she only took a car test. I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
We were talking about this in the pub the other week and there were 6 of us, all passed at different points over the last 10 years and we all had different license categories even though we all had only take a single car test.
This might help decipher what the letters mean, and if there's any restrictions or exemptions.
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
My mum who passed when she was younger (now 55) can drive a load of different stuff even though she only took a car test. I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
We were talking about this in the pub the other week and there were 6 of us, all passed at different points over the last 10 years and we all had different license categories even though we all had only take a single car test.
This might help decipher what the letters mean, and if there's any restrictions or exemptions.
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
ashleyman said:
It'll be on the back of your license as to what you and cannot drive.
My mum who passed when she was younger (now 55) can drive a load of different stuff even though she only took a car test. I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
We were talking about this in the pub the other week and there were 6 of us, all passed at different points over the last 10 years and we all had different license categories even though we all had only take a single car test.
This might help decipher what the letters mean, and if there's any restrictions or exemptions.
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
Thanks, this is all very well but then I found several exemptions elsehwere on the gov.uk website and was hoping for some clarification - I know what I can definitely drive, but its the grey areas that are not specific on the back licence that I'm confused about. My mum who passed when she was younger (now 55) can drive a load of different stuff even though she only took a car test. I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
We were talking about this in the pub the other week and there were 6 of us, all passed at different points over the last 10 years and we all had different license categories even though we all had only take a single car test.
This might help decipher what the letters mean, and if there's any restrictions or exemptions.
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
Shakermaker said:
Thanks, this is all very well but then I found several exemptions elsehwere on the gov.uk website and was hoping for some clarification - I know what I can definitely drive, but its the grey areas that are not specific on the back licence that I'm confused about.
What are the categories on your license?Shakermaker said:
I passed my test in July 2002 ... and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs
Bit less clear-cut than that.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
TooMany2cvs said:
Shakermaker said:
I passed my test in July 2002 ... and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs
Bit less clear-cut than that.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I can drive an old coach, up to 8 seats, but can I drive an old 4 tonne army truck?
Shakermaker said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Shakermaker said:
I passed my test in July 2002 ... and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs
Bit less clear-cut than that.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I can drive an old coach, up to 8 seats, but can I drive an old 4 tonne army truck?
You can also drive an artic HGV if it's pre-1960 and unladen.
ashleyman said:
It'll be on the back of your license as to what you and cannot drive.
I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
Why can't she drive vans up to 3.5tn?I passed 5 years ago andcan drive cars, small bikes, vans and I think LWB vans. My wife who passed last year can only drive cars and small bikes.
The only thing you can drive having passed 5 yrs ago that your wife can't drive having passed last year is a 3 wheeler. She can drive a Lamborghini, but not a Reliant Robin. For that she now needs a motorcycle licence.
shakotan said:
Shakermaker said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Shakermaker said:
I passed my test in July 2002 ... and I can tow small trailers up to 750kgs
Bit less clear-cut than that.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I can drive an old coach, up to 8 seats, but can I drive an old 4 tonne army truck?
You can also drive an artic HGV if it's pre-1960 and unladen.
Do you have a link to a list of exceptions please Dan? I can drive anything (weight wise), but it's something that I'm mildly interested in.
Edited by GC8 on Saturday 14th May 20:29
TwigtheWonderkid said:
She can drive a Lamborghini, but not a Reliant Robin. For that she now needs a motorcycle licence.
It's changed again, the UK has adopted the derogation in the EU directive. This means providing she is over 21 (minimum age for a full bike licence now) she can drive a Reliant Robin, or for that matter, my vintage Morgan three wheeler.The DVLA actually wrote and told me - but I'm an official pest on that issue...
Edited by Slidingpillar on Sunday 15th May 00:12
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