Driving licence codes

[DomP]

To me they make no sense, looking at my licence and my 65 year old non bike licence holding mum's it looks like she has a full bike licence?

To me it's not at all obvious that I hold a full UK bike licence when looking at my card.

I got a bit confused too. If you look on the DVLA website, they show what the restrictions mean. It's probably 'trikes only' on your mum's license.

[theenglishman]

Yea - the new DVLA licence website tells you what you can and can't drive as well as getting you the code you need to give hire companies these days now that the paper bit of your licence is now useless.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

[DomP]

Either way it is highly confusing, my mum really believed she could get on my bike and go. Wouldn't be surprised if some police wouldn't understand the codes

[DomP]

Either way it is highly confusing, my mum really believed she could get on my bike and go. Wouldn't be surprised if some police wouldn't understand the codes

[TamSV]

She might have a bike provisional. In simpler times, if you ticked the appropriate box on the licence application, a full car licence came with a non-expiring bike provisional.


Nowadays you would now need a CBT pass too but could otherwise ride a 125 on L plates forever and never sit another bike test (at least that's how it was when I were a lad)

[aesmith]

Reading my licence it appears I'm not allowed to a motorcycle of less than 47HP, as I just have the one motorcycle category A ...

"You can drive a motorcycle of a power exceeding 35kW or with a power to weight ratio exceeding 0.2kW per kg, or A motorcycle of a power not exceeding 35kW with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2kW per kg and derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. A motor tricycle with a power exceeding 15kW"

Yes, another brilliant gem from dvla.


- When the web site was new (ish), I could only drive a lorry if over 6½/8½ tonnes (I forget which) !

I'm pretty sure that your mum can ride a 50cc bike without L-plates (Cat P), and a trike(Cat A with restriction code 79.tri?).


https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-codes


https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories

[aesmith]

That could well be correct, at one time you received the full moped licence if you passed either a car or a motorcycle test. No CBT needed either if you got that rating before 2001.