Traffic rulesUnited Kingdom

No. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) licenses drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, collectively called Great Britain. The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) licenses drivers in Northern Ireland.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducts theory and practical driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales.

The DVA conducts and administers theory and practical driving tests in Northern Ireland.

Yes. A valid Great Britain licence is recognised in Northern Ireland, subject to its categories, restrictions and current legal status.

Yes. A valid Northern Ireland licence is recognised in England, Scotland and Wales.

Recognition depends on the destination. Many countries recognise a valid UK licence for visits, while others require an International Driving Permit or local exchange.

No. A driver should hold only one current UK driving licence record and must exchange the licence when the applicable residence rules require it.

Yes. Great Britain drivers can use the DVLA view-or-share service, while Northern Ireland drivers use the corresponding DVA online service.

No. The GOV.UK digital driving licence remained in testing and was not yet generally available for public download on 4 August 2026.

The two systems share many principles, but provisional applications, learner speed rules, restricted-driver plates, test administration, licence exchange and planned reforms differ.

The normal minimum age is 17 in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Yes. A person receiving the qualifying enhanced mobility benefit may be able to obtain car entitlement from age 16.

A first provisional licence can normally be applied for from age 15 years and 9 months, although car entitlement does not normally become usable until age 17.

It can normally be applied for up to two months before the seventeenth birthday, but it does not become valid for car driving before age 17.

The DVLA.

The DVA.

The applicant must provide acceptable identity information, a photograph where required, residential details and the declarations requested by the licensing authority.

A candidate must normally have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 185 days during the preceding 12 months.

The candidate must normally be resident in Northern Ireland. Special proof is required where a Great Britain provisional holder seeks to test there.

Yes. The applicant must be able to read a number plate at the prescribed distance and satisfy any additional medical vision requirements.

No. A current driving disqualification or revoked entitlement must be resolved before lawful driving or testing can resume.

No. The learner must comply with supervision, insurance, plate and vehicle conditions until the practical test has been passed.

No. Most Group 1 applicants make medical declarations rather than undergoing a routine examination.

Yes. A driver or applicant must notify DVLA or DVA of a notifiable medical condition or disability that may affect safe driving.

Examples include epilepsy, loss of consciousness, serious visual impairment, neurological disease, certain heart conditions, diabetes complications, sleep disorders and substance dependence.

No. The licensing authority assesses the individual facts and may grant, retain, restrict, shorten or revoke the licence.

Yes. A restriction code is recorded when corrective lenses must be worn while driving.

Yes. Codes may require hand controls, an automatic transmission, modified pedals or another adaptation.

Yes. The candidate should notify the test authority and use a vehicle that meets the technical and insurance requirements.

Yes. Group 2 licence holders and applicants must satisfy stricter medical standards and provide periodic medical reports.

The driver should stop driving where medically necessary, seek professional advice and notify the licensing authority when the condition is reportable.

Sometimes, under statutory continuation provisions, but only when all legal conditions are satisfied and the person remains medically fit. The driver should verify the individual position with DVLA or DVA.

No fixed number of lessons with an instructor is legally required for an ordinary car licence, but professional tuition is strongly recommended.

Yes, if the learner, supervisor, vehicle and insurance satisfy all legal requirements.

The supervisor must be at least 21 years old.

At least three years for the relevant vehicle and transmission type.

A qualifying full licence from the UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can satisfy the supervision rule.

The supervisor must sit in the front passenger seat and remain capable of properly supervising the learner.

Yes. Red L plates must be clearly displayed at the front and rear; a red D plate may be used instead in Wales.

Yes. There is no general prohibition on learning at night, provided all learner conditions are met.

Only with an approved driving instructor in a dual-controlled car displaying L plates.

No. The current Northern Ireland learner rules prohibit motorway driving.

A vehicle displaying L plates is generally limited to 45 mph, including when another person is driving it, subject to specified vehicle exceptions.

Yes. The learner must be correctly insured, and the vehicle must be taxed, roadworthy and hold a valid MOT where one is required.

Yes. A valid car theory-test pass is required before the practical test can be booked or taken.

There are 50 questions.

At least 43 out of 50.

The ordinary time is 57 minutes.

It uses video clips in which the candidate identifies developing hazards by responding at the appropriate time.

At least 44 points out of 75.

Yes. A car candidate must pass both multiple choice and hazard perception in the same test appointment.

The candidate must retake the complete car theory test, even if the other part was passed.

The candidate must wait at least three working days.

It is valid for two years.

Yes. Both use 50 multiple-choice questions, a 43-point pass mark and a 44-out-of-75 hazard-perception pass mark.

Yes. Candidates should declare reading difficulties, disabilities or health conditions when booking so that authorised support can be arranged.

They are an eyesight check, vehicle-safety questions, general driving including independent driving, and a reversing exercise.

It normally lasts about 40 minutes, with at least 30 minutes of on-road driving.

The candidate follows a sat-nav route, traffic signs or a combination without continuous turn-by-turn instructions from the examiner.

It may last approximately 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the route and examiner’s test plan.

The candidate answers one vehicle-safety question before driving and demonstrates another safety task while driving.

They are recorded as driving faults, serious faults or dangerous faults.

A candidate can pass with no more than 15 driving faults, provided there is no serious or dangerous fault.

Yes.

Yes, if it satisfies the test authority’s insurance, roadworthiness, equipment, visibility and identification requirements.

Yes. The test-pass certificate permits driving while the full licence is processed, provided the driver is properly insured and the entitlement has not otherwise been restricted.

It lasts two years from passing the first driving test.

The licence is revoked and the person must obtain a new provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests again.

Yes. Unexpired points on the provisional licence carry over and can contribute to revocation after the test.

No. Green P plates are optional in Great Britain, while Northern Ireland currently requires R plates.

A new car or motorcycle driver must display amber R plates for one year after passing.

A car displaying R plates is limited to 45 mph.

The R-plate rule is a Northern Ireland licensing restriction; a driver should nevertheless carry the correct licence and follow the law of the place being driven.

Graduated Driver Licensing is planned to begin, including a six-month minimum learning period, a programme of training and logbook and a two-year new-driver plate period.

On 1 April 2027, after the first learners complete the six-month minimum period.

For the first six months, new drivers up to age 24 are planned to be limited to one passenger aged 14 to 20 between 23:00 and 06:00, subject to family and qualified-supervisor exemptions.

No. The planned two-year R-plate system will identify new drivers without imposing the current 45 mph restriction.

No. They are future rules and remain dependent on the required subordinate legislation and commencement arrangements.

It covers mopeds and light quadricycles within the statutory speed, engine and power limits.

It covers light motorcycles up to 125 cm³, 11 kW and the prescribed power-to-weight limit.

It covers motorcycles up to 35 kW with the prescribed power-to-weight and derivation restrictions.

It covers unrestricted motorcycles, subject to direct-access or staged-access age and testing rules.

It covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver.

A driver who passes category B receives full BE entitlement and may tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM within the vehicle and combination limits.

No. Northern Ireland retains its own category B and BE rules, so drivers should check the categories and valid-from dates shown in the DVA record.

It covers medium-sized vehicles above 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg, normally with a trailer up to 750 kg.

It covers large goods vehicles above 3,500 kg, normally with a trailer up to 750 kg.

D1 covers minibuses within its seat and length limits; D covers buses with more than eight passenger seats.

Many drivers who passed before 1 January 1997 retain C1 and D1 entitlements, subject to restriction codes and renewal at age 70.

No. A licence restricted to automatic category B vehicles must be upgraded through the applicable manual practical test procedure.

Not always. Many professional drivers also need a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

It is the qualification process for new professional lorry, bus and coach drivers, combining licence tests with professional competence modules.

Yes. A qualified driver normally completes 35 hours every five years.

It is a qualification route for professional driving within the United Kingdom.

It is the qualification required when the professional driving activity must remain valid for both the UK and relevant international operations.

Yes. Group 2 provisional applications and renewals require medical evidence at the prescribed ages and intervals.

No. Taxi and private-hire drivers also need the local licensing authority’s driver licence and must satisfy its medical, criminal-record and conduct standards.

No. Taxi licensing and professional procedures are administered under Northern Ireland’s own transport system.

Many goods and passenger operations are subject to domestic or retained international rules on driving time, breaks, rest and tachographs.

Yes. Traffic commissioners in Great Britain and the corresponding Northern Ireland authorities can take action against professional driving entitlement or conduct.

The photocard must normally be renewed every 10 years.

No. The card and photograph expire, while ordinary Group 1 entitlement normally continues until age 70 unless medically limited, revoked or disqualified.

The driver must renew the entitlement and then renew every three years.

A renewed licence is normally issued for up to three years, subject to medical and category conditions.

Yes. Group 2 categories require periodic renewal and medical reports, with more frequent review from age 45.

Notify DVLA or DVA promptly and request an updated licence using the applicable service.

Apply for an updated licence and provide the documentary evidence required by the licensing authority.

Yes. The driver can apply for a replacement through DVLA or DVA.

No. The electronic driver record determines whether the person may drive.

Yes, with the driver’s permission or a valid share code through the official online services.

Yes. A valid EEA licence can generally be used without the ordinary 12-month new-resident restriction, subject to age, validity and category rules.

Yes. A valid EEA licence is generally recognised under Northern Ireland’s applicable residence and age rules.

It can generally be used for up to 12 months for the authorised small-vehicle categories.

Yes. Eligible licences from designated countries or territories can be exchanged within the applicable period and category conditions.

The exchange application can normally be made within five years after becoming resident, although the ordinary right to drive may end earlier.

The resident must obtain a provisional licence and pass the required UK theory and practical tests before the foreign-licence driving period ends.

An official translation or International Driving Permit may be needed when the licence is not readily understandable in English or does not use a recognised format.

Participating PayPoint stores issue the relevant permit to eligible UK licence holders.

Validity depends on the convention type and destination; common UK-issued permits are valid for one or three years.

No. It must be used together with the valid physical UK driving licence.

A driver reaching 12 or more points within three years can be disqualified by a court.

Normally at least six months, although the court considers the individual case.

They normally remain for four or eleven years, depending on the offence.

The prescribed blood limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The prescribed blood limit is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

Yes. Driving while unfit through drink or drugs can be an offence regardless of the measured concentration.

Yes. It is illegal to drive with certain drugs above prescribed limits or while impaired, including some prescription medicines.

Yes. Failure to provide a required specimen without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence.

Yes. Dangerous driving, serious drink- or drug-driving, high-speed offences and other conduct can lead to a direct court ban.

The driver must apply for a new licence before driving again and may be ordered to take an extended test in specified cases.

This FAQ was prepared from current GOV.UK, DVLA, DVSA, nidirect and Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure guidance.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with DVLA, DVSA, DVA, the Department for Infrastructure, a court, test centre or driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent authority always take precedence.