Driving Licence Explained!

Front of the Photocard Driving Licence Explained

Front of the UK photocard driving licence explained

• Your personal details (1, 2 and 3): Fields 1, 2 and 3 show your surname, first names, and your date and place of birth.
• Issue date, expiry date and issuing authority (4): 4a – Date the photocard was issued.
  4b – Date the photocard expires (you must renew by this date).
  4c – The authority that issued the licence (DVLA).
• Driver number (5): This is your unique driving licence number. The format contains:
  • JONES – First five letters of your surname. If your surname is shorter, spare spaces are filled with the digit 9.
  • 849339 – The first and last numbers are your year of birth. The 2nd and 3rd numbers are the month of birth. For female drivers, 5 is added to the second digit (so it will be 5 or 6). The 4th and 5th digits show the day of the month you were born.
  • TS – First initials of your forenames. If you only have one forename, the second character becomes 9.
  • 8AD – Computer check digits used by the DVLA.
  • ** – Licence issue numbers (used if a licence is replaced/updated).
• Licence holder’s signature (6): Digitally reproduced from your application and securely printed into the card.
• Ghost photograph (7): A smaller, faint version of your photo used as a security feature.
• Issuing authority roundel (8): Shows the stamp of the EC authority that issued the licence.
• Holder’s address (9): Your permanent address in Great Britain. You must update this if you move.
• Holder’s photograph (10): Your main photo as supplied on your application.
• Entitlement categories (11): The capital letters show the vehicle categories you’re allowed to drive under EU rules. Any extra national categories are shown in smaller letters.

Back of the Photocard Driving Licence Explained

Rear of UK driving licence explained

• Production barcode (12): Used during production to link your photocard with any paperwork when it is dispatched.
• Not used (13 / 14): Currently unused spaces on the card.
• Pictograms (15): Small pictures showing vehicle types. These match the categories in the table below so you can easily see what you’re allowed to drive.

Provisional Driving Licence

A GB provisional licence shows the same type of information as a full licence.

Since September 1999, the DVLA has added a red “L” symbol on provisional licences to show the holder is a learner driver.

How Long Does It Take for My Driving Licence to Arrive?

You will usually receive your driving licence within three weeks.

If you passed your practical test and handed your provisional licence to the examiner, the test pass certificate they give you allows you to drive legally until your full licence arrives.

How Long Does a Driving Licence Last?

Your photocard driving licence must be renewed every 10 years.

On the front of the card:

• 4a – Date the card was issued
• 4b – Date the card expires (renew by this date)

If the DVLA has your correct address, they’ll usually send you a renewal form about two months before your licence runs out.

Which Countries Can I Drive In with a UK Licence?

A full and valid GB driving licence allows you to drive in all European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, plus Switzerland.

Outside the EU/EEA, you may need an International Driving Permit depending on the country’s rules.

Current EU/EEA countries include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

Driving Licence Country Codes

If you exchange a foreign licence for a GB licence, a country code is shown to indicate where your original licence was issued.

Driving Licence Vehicle Categories

These are the main vehicle categories shown on your UK driving licence: