Driving a Manual on an Auto Licence

[Stu]

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

Just to add to the confusion. My licence isn't actually printed with a code 78, although it should be (an error on the part of the DVLA). I discovered this mistake last week when comparing licences with a fellow Canuck (I have "70CDN" and he has "78-70CDN"). I've rung the DVLA and they advise that I have to send it back with a covering letter and then hope they don't make it worse (like lose my motorcycle entitlement) while making corrections.

Mate!!!!!
Do not send off your licence and do not take the exam and do not tell your insurance company anything.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ns/DG_10022623

Code 70 is an exchange of licence you do not have an Auto restriction, you have a full licence in your hands don't **** it up, go and drive your manual car, on your own, on the motorway, with no L plates.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

they would see that the DVLA has no documentation that I've passed (or shown evidence that I've passed) a manual test.

And the DVLA have no evidence that you passed a test in an auto.
As long as you haven't forged your licence, what it says is what you can do.

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by Stu

And the DVLA have no evidence that you passed a test in an auto.
As long as you haven't forged your licence, what it says is what you can do.

Not quite -they do have record that I've handed over my Canadian licence in exchange for my UK licence. When I rang the DVLA she confirmed that their records didn't show documentation/evidence of me having passed the manual licence.

The licence does state "70CDN" which means it's a foreign -exchanged licence originating from Canada. It doesn't take much effort to discover (it's on the direct.gov website) that this means I'm not entitled to drive a manual until I've passed the test here.

Even if I did have a reasonable chance of getting away with it, the £50 and a few hours of my time to take the test are a small price to pay for ensuring that I don't get stuck with a bill for thousands (or maybe tens or hundreds of thousands if I injured or killed another person in an accident). Just not worth the risk when I'm confident I can pass the test.

[CheGuevara]

From the Direct.gov site:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...nce/DG_4022562
Canadian licences

If you are the holder of a Canadian licence you will receive automatic transmission only when exchanging for a British licence. This can only be upgraded to manual upon presentation of confirmation, from the relevant licensing authority, of a manual test being passed or a manual test is passed in this country.

@Che

You now have a UK photocard licence, yes? Check on the rear to ensure that you actually do have provisional entitlement to drive a manual.

The govt have tightened up on this stuff during the last 10 years or so and entitlements that used to be automatic (e.g. towing trailers, driving mini-buses over a certain seating capacity, provisional motorbike entitlement, driving track-laying vehicles, etc) are not automatic any longer. As is the way with so many things now, they have to be applied for.

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by Jabba

@Che

You now have a UK photocard licence, yes? Check on the rear to ensure that you actually do have provisional entitlement to drive a manual.

The govt have tightened up on this stuff during the last 10 years or so and entitlements that used to be automatic (e.g. towing trailers, driving mini-buses over a certain seating capacity, provisional motorbike entitlement, driving track-laying vehicles, etc) are not automatic any longer. As is the way with so many things now, they have to be applied for.

I have the following (category : code):

A : 70CDN
B : 70CDN
BE : 70 CDN
B1 :
fkp :
115 (organ donor I think)

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

From the Direct.gov site:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...nce/DG_4022562
Canadian licences

If you are the holder of a Canadian licence you will receive automatic transmission only when exchanging for a British licence. This can only be upgraded to manual upon presentation of confirmation, from the relevant licensing authority, of a manual test being passed or a manual test is passed in this country.

This is just an opinion. I am no expert on these matters and whether you listen to or act on this is entirely up to you..

The directgov link you posted tells you what you should have been given (past tense) when swapping your Canadian license, but that doesn't seem to be what you have been given.

If you have (present tense) a license that entitles you to drive a manual, then you are entitled to drive a manual, regardless of whether or not the DVLA messed up when they gave you the license.

Whoever processed it at the DVLA probably didn't check the rules for a Canadian licence.

The DVLA records are not good (hence loosing motorcycle entitlement, etc), so the very fact you have a manual license code means the DVLA will assume that you have presented proof of having completed a manual test at some time in the past otherwise you COULDN'T have got it (their processes are infallible you see!). If they can't find any record of you having done so, that won't be a surprise to them either, they can't find any record of bikers having passed their tests when they complain about loosing motorcycle entitlement. If you now send them proof of completing a manual test, I would bet the bottle of malt I'm drinking here, that there will be confusion and you'll need to make 100 phone calls to clear it up, "why have you sent us proof of passing your manual test? You already have a manual entitlement" (Computer doesn't lie!)

If the police or an insurance company wants to cross reference your license card and counterpart, they'll phone up and ask the DVLA if you have a manual license, the clerk at the other end of the phone will look up your record on the computer and reply, "yes, he has" the clerk won't think "hang on, that's a canadian license, did we **** up and give him manual entitlement by mistake? Maybe I'd better look for proof of him passing a manual test"

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

This is just an opinion. I am no expert on these matters and whether you listen to or act on this is entirely up to you..

You might be right, and getting it sorted might be a hassle, but would you gamble your livleihood on it, or that of your wife or family as a result of being wrong?

My suspicion is that it's just an error -somebody slipped up while inputting the data. That doesn't make me legal -it doesn't change the law.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

That doesn't make me legal -it doesn't change the law.

I dunno, doesn't the law say "in possession of a valid license"?

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I dunno, doesn't the law say "in possession of a valid license"?

So your advice is that I should risk it to save £50 and a few hours? I think I'll just do the test and not try my luck on this one