Drivers licence checking guide

Fleet support tool -

Procedure for checking employees’ driving licences

and entitlement to drive

This document is intended to provide basic guidance for driving licence

checks within the corporate fleet environment. If you have any concerns over

the eligibility of an employee to drive a vehicle in the UK, contact the Driver

and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) via the website at www.dvla.gov.uk, call

the DVLA customer enquiries line on 0870 240 0009, or seek legal or

professional advice.

The rules and regulations governing eligibility for driving in the UK are

changed periodically. Therefore, it is important to review your checking

procedures regularly and take into account any changes. Details of the

current situation can be found on the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk

The Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) endorses this publication.

The Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) endorses this publication and

will be including it as reference material in its training courses.

About this guide 3

Complying with the law 3

The legal aspects of motoring in the UK 4

UK driving licences – classes and categories 5

Vehicle classification codes 5

Standard driving licences for passenger cars 5

Motorcycle/moped licences 6

Minibuses and commercial vehicles 7

Towing trailers 7

Licence duration 8

Endorsement offence codes 9

Holders of overseas licences 10

Defining residency 10

European Community/European Economic Area 10

Northern Ireland 11

Designated countries (non-EC) 11

All other countries 11

Driving licence checking procedures 13

The importance of instigating the right checking procedure 13

Guidance policies 13

Original driver licence checks 13

Self-declaration 14

DVLA checks 14

Combining policies 15

Driver requirements 15

Monitoring and controlling the system 15

The cost of implementation versus the cost of negligence 15

Review of policies 16

Driver’s licence checklist 17

Appendix A – Vehicle classification codes 18

Appendix B – Annotated sample driving licence 19

Appendix C – DVLA medical standards 21

Appendix D – Endorsement offence codes 22

Appendix E – Designated countries (non-EC) and Gibraltar 24

Contents

This guide provides guidance on policy and

procedures for driving licence verification

within a fleet environment, and reflects current

best practice risk management. It is not

intended to provide a simple ‘fit and forget’

policy amendment and should be used to

ensure the on-going management and

monitoring of employees’ eligibility to drive

specific vehicles on company business.

The guidance is applicable to any size and form

of fleet. However, all fleets operate under

different conditions, with different driver

profiles and locations. The advice,

therefore, requires tailoring and

adapting to meet the specific needs

of your individual fleet.

This guide is intended to be used in

conjunction with, and

complement, your fleet policy

documentation and driver

handbooks. Use the information to

evaluate your current driving licence

verification policy and highlight any

potential deficiencies in your policies

and procedures.

Companies have an explicit Duty of Care to

all other road users while their employees are

driving on company business: ensuring that

employees are both able and eligible to drive is

of fundamental importance. This guide is

primarily concerned with helping you to

achieve this. By adopting the best practice

techniques outlined in this guide, you will

effectively reduce risk exposure and provide

protection to:

• employees, as they will be driving legally

and within their capabilities

• the employer, as they will be taking all

reasonable actions to meet basic Duty of

Care responsibilities

• shareholders/stakeholders, by reducing the

likelihood of legal action against the

company

• other road users, by removing the possibility

of them becoming an accident victim of a

driver who is neither competent nor

qualified to drive a vehicle (and, therefore,

not insured)

Complying with the law

In the UK, the laws governing driving activities

are clear in the Road Traffic Acts and the Road

Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.

These laws relate to the type of vehicle a driver

may operate, the condition and roadworthiness

of the vehicle, the ability and qualifications

needed to drive the vehicle, and issues of

adequate insurance cover. The same laws apply

to drivers whether on private or business

journeys.

About this guide

The requirements for all fleets are essentially

similar, regardless of fleet size or business

sector. In the UK, the legal minimum

requirement is for the driver of a vehicle to

hold a full and valid driving licence for that

vehicle category. Under this requirement,

drivers will be unable to carry out their

business duties on a provisional licence, unless

using a moped, as this would necessitate a

qualified driver accompanying them in the

vehicle at all times.

So, as a fleet operator, how can you ensure

that the minimum legal requirement is being

met? By the strict letter of the law, there is no

specific requirement for fleet managers to carry

out driving licence checks. Relying on

employees themselves to ensure they have a

current and valid driving licence can, however,

leave a company severely exposed to legal

action through negligence and failing to meet

Duty of Care obligations.

This guide is, therefore, intended to provide

practical guidance to any type of business -

whether large or small, and operating in the

private or public sector - to help it meet its

responsibility of ensuring drivers are qualified

to drive a vehicle on company business. It will

enable you to gain an understanding of the

many different licence types, vehicle categories,

and driving licence restrictions/caveats, all of

which need careful consideration when

assessing driver eligibility. The guidance will

prove of great value not only to fleet managers

and administrators, but also to company

secretaries, human resource managers and

company directors, because:

• often smaller businesses (those operating

only a few dozen vehicles) may not have

dedicated fleet personnel

• where there are dedicated fleet personnel

and an employee is involved in a serious

accident and is subsequently found not to

possess a full, valid and appropriate driving

licence, the courts may find that the

responsibility for this failing does not lie

solely with the driver and fleet manager, but

also rests with company directors

With central Government’s increasing focus on

Duty of Care and corporate manslaughter, it is

predicted that fleet operators will need to take

action to ensure that their policies and

monitoring systems will stand up to external

scrutiny in the event of a serious accident

involving employees on company business.

The legal aspects of driving a vehicle in the UK

are quite clear, whether driving for pleasure or

on business.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

(DVLA) requires that a vehicle owner or driver

must fulfil certain duties before taking a vehicle

on the public road. The vehicle must:

• be registered with the DVLA

• display a valid vehicle licence disc (according

to the appropriate vehicle excise duty (VED))

• be appropriately insured (for private and/or

business purposes)

• hold a valid MOT certificate (if required)

The vehicle driver must:

• hold the appropriate driving licence for the

vehicle being driven

• meet the minimum age requirements

• meet the legal eyesight and appropriate

medical standards

In addition, the DVLA must be informed if:

• the vehicle’s registered keeper changes

name and/or address

• the driving licence holder changes name

and/or address

• any alterations are made to the vehicle

• the vehicle is sold to a third party

• the driver has any notifiable medical

conditions (see Appendix C for details of

DVLA medical regulations)

Failure to notify the DVLA of any of these

changes can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Full details of vehicle owner and driver

obligations can be found on the DVLA website

at www.dvla.gov.uk

The legal aspects of motoring

in the UK

This section highlights the main categories of

UK driving licences.

Vehicle categories

This section highlights the main categories of

UK driving licences, covering a range of

vehicles from motorbikes and cars, to heavy

goods vehicles and trailer combinations. These

main categories are designated ‘A’ to ‘E’, and

have sub-categories defining particular vehicle

types. There is also an additional set of vehicle

types designated ‘F’ to ‘P’, covering

miscellaneous vehicles such as electric vehicles,

mopeds, agricultural tractors, etc.

This guide is concerned only with vehicles

under 3,500 kg.1 Appendix A contains an

extract from DVLA literature detailing all the

vehicle categories listed on a current UK driving

licence, along with a brief explanation of the

vehicle types covered. This will enable you to

use the category coding on a driver’s licence,

say ‘B’ or ‘B+E’, to determine which type(s) of

vehicle they are eligible to drive.

It is crucial that you check a driver’s eligibility to

drive the type(s) of vehicle expected of them

for business purposes. This will prevent a

situation arising where, for example, an

employee is allowed to drive a manual car,

although their licence shows a ‘B Automatic’

code. In this case, the driver would be driving

illegally and would also be uninsured.

UK driving licence

categories

1 Organisations operating large goods vehicles (LGV) must

apply for an LGV operating licence, which is outside the

scope of this guide. Further details can be found on the

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) website at

www.vosa.gov.uk

2 Ensuring eligibility to drive manual cars should be a

particular concern if your company frequently has visitors

from the USA who wish to drive in the UK. In the USA,

the majority of drivers are only qualified, or

experienced, in driving automatic cars.

Standard driving licences for

passenger cars

To drive a passenger car on the public road, a

driver must hold a valid and appropriate driving

licence. This is a legal requirement. The licence

confirms that a driver is physically able to

operate a car and has demonstrated an

adequate level of competence by passing a

driving test.

There are currently two main types of licence:

the old paper licence, and the new photocard

licence (introduced in 1998) that has a

paper counterpart. When checking a

driver’s licence, you need to check the

paper counterpart as well as the

photocard, as it is here that any

convictions and endorsements will

be recorded. Appendix B gives

details of the new licence.

Anyone wishing to learn to drive a

car in the UK needs to apply for a

provisional licence. To be granted a

provisional licence, the person must:

• be at least 17 years old (16 years old

for a moped)

• not already be disqualified from driving

• meet all relevant medical requirements (see

Appendix C), including passing an eyesight

test which requires that they can read a

vehicle number plate from 20.5 metres (or

20 metres if the number plate is set out in

the narrower font)

People holding a provisional licence are not

allowed to drive a car unaccompanied and

must display ‘L’ plates on the vehicle.

The person who accompanies them must be

over 21 and must have held a current full UK

or European Community/European Economic

Area (EC/EEA) licence valid for that category of

vehicle for at least three years. This restriction

of an accompanying driver tends to rule out

the practical use of drivers with provisional

licences in the fleet environment.

To advance to a full car licence that allows solo

driving, learner drivers need to satisfy the

residency requirements (see page 10) before

applying for and successfully completing a

theory test and a practical driving test. Tests are

conducted by the Driving Standards Agency

(DSA).

When a driver obtains a full driving licence,

they will be eligible to drive a number of other

vehicle categories, including a motor vehicle

with a Maximum Authorised Mass not

exceeding 3500kg, having not more than 8

passenger seats, with a trailer up to 750kg.

However, if the driving test was taken in an

automatic vehicle, the ‘B Automatic’ code will

be indicated on the licence and the driver is

only entitled to drive vehicles with an

automatic gear box. Drivers with a ‘B’ code are

entitled to drive vehicles with either manual or

automatic gearboxes.

Under the Road Traffic (new drivers) Act 1995,

drivers enter a two year probationary period

after passing their first driving test. If they

acquire six penalty points during this time, the

driver must apply for a provisional licence until

both a theory and a practical test have been

retaken and passed. Appendix D lists the

penalty points awarded for various offences.

Motorcycle/moped licences

The minimum age for applying for a provisional

driving licence is 16, although at this age,

entitlement is restricted to riding a moped.

Since January 1997, all moped riders must

complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT),

unless:

• they have taken a moped test since 1st

December 1990

• since 1st February 2001, passing a car test

does not provide automatic entitlement to a

moped, and a Compulsory Basic Training

(CBT) course must be completed through

the DSA

Current CBT certificates (DL196) are valid for

two years.

To ride a motorcycle, the minimum age is 17,

and all motorcycle riders must complete CBT.

There are two classes of motorcycle licence:

• sub-category A1 (light motorcycles) which

restricts the holder to motorcycles up to

125cc, with a power output not exceeding

11 kW (14.6 bhp)

• category A which includes all motorcycles,

and entitles the holder to ride motorcycles

over 125cc engine capacity

To gain a full sub-category A1 licence, a

practical test must be taken on a motorcycle

with an engine capacity between 75cc and

125cc. This type of licence also provides

entitlement to ride a moped.

The route to a full category A licence is

dependent on age. Riders under 21 years old

must take a category A test on a motorcycle

with an engine capacity between 120cc and

125cc, and the motorcycle must be capable of

100 kph. The full licence awarded will have a

two-year restriction placed on it, permitting the

holder to ride motorcycles with a power output

of up to 25 kW (33 bhp) only. After two years,

the holder can legally ride any size of

motorcycle.

Riders over 21 may take the category A on a

larger motorcycle, with a power output of up

to 35 kW (46.6 bhp), under the Direct Access

Scheme (DAS). This scheme allows learners to

ride a larger motorcycle when accompanied by

a certified DAS instructor. In these cases, the

full licence awarded will be unrestricted.

Whichever test is taken, a full Category A

licence provides the holder with the

entitlement to ride all category A1 motorcycles

and mopeds.

Where mopeds or motorcycles are

being driven in a fleet or corporate

environment, best practice would be

to ensure that all riders take a CBT

test or receive suitable alternative

training, whether or not they are

required to by law.

Minibuses and commercial

vehicles

Changes to the regulations in January 1997

affected the entitlement to drive a minibus.

Holders of full car licences obtained before 1st

January 1997 (showing entitlement to drive

groups ‘A’ and ‘B Automatic’ on old licences,

and groups ‘B’ and ‘D1 not for hire or reward’

on new licences), can drive a minibus with a

maximum of 16 passenger seats as long as

they are at least 21 years old. In addition, the

vehicle must not be driven for hire or reward.

To drive a minibus with nine or more passenger

seats for hire or reward, a Passenger-Carrying

Vehicle (PCV) category D1 or D licence is

required. An additional driving test is required

for a category D1 or D licence and higher

medical standards must be met.

Drivers who obtained full car licences after 1st

January 1997 are restricted to driving vehicles

with up to eight passenger seats, and would

need to take an additional driving test and

meet higher medical standards before driving

higher capacity vehicles. Information on the

necessary medical standards and additional

testing can be obtained from Traffic Area

Offices or the DVLA.

In certain circumstances, however, drivers

may be allowed to drive a minibus

with up to 16 passenger seats

without having category D1

entitlement, where the following

criteria are met:

• the minibus is being driven for a non-

commercial body (i.e. a charity) for social

purposes, and not for hire or reward

• the driver is over 21 (if over 70, they must

meet Group 2 health standards)

• the driver has held a full car licence

(category B on the new licences) for at least

two years

• the service is provided voluntarily

• the minibus does not exceed 3.5 tonnes (or

4.25 tonnes if fitted with specialist

equipment for the disabled)

Within the UK, Minibus and Community Bus

Permits

can also enable drivers with a

standard car licence to drive minibuses with up

to 16 passenger seats where a charge is made

for carrying passengers. This is as long as the

organisation that runs the minibus is concerned

with education, religion or other services that

benefit the community. In all other cases, if a

minibus is operated for hire or reward, a PCV

category D1 or D licence is required.

There are many more factors to consider when

driving a minibus, and you need to take extra

care when evaluating eligibility for PCV

licences, the towing of trailers, etc. Carefully

check the employee’s eligibility against the

types of vehicle they are expected to drive, and

make sure you fully understand the financial

arrangements under which the minibus will be

operating. Consult the DVLA or Traffic Area

Offices if you are in any doubt over eligibility.

3 These permits are not recognised in other EU countries,

and a PCV licence would be required whenever a charge

is made for carrying passengers.

Best practice within the fleet industry

dictates that all employees driving

minibuses should undergo some form

of appropriate driver training. This is

the case even if they are permitted to

drive the vehicle by virtue of holding

a car licence issued before January

1997, or under a Minibus and

Community Bus Permit. Many fleets

obtain training through the Minibus

Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS)

operated by the Community Transport

Association. In addition, some fleets

impose minimum age (e.g. 25 years of

age) limits and minimum driving

experience (e.g. three years) on their

drivers. These extra safety measures

highlight the high risk associated with

driving minibuses and buses, where

the potential for personal injury or

fatalities is greatly increased.

Where Local Authorities are operating

minibuses, they will have additional operational

requirements. Refer to the local Transport

Manager or Vehicle and Operator Services

Agency (VOSA) to ensure compliance.

Towing trailers

The area of towing is a fairly complex one, and

a significant number of sub-categories and

weight restrictions apply to this element of

driving in the UK. If an employee is required to

tow a trailer on business, it is essential that you

view the driver’s licence and identify the vehicle

and trailer combinations that they are entitled

to drive, and that you also check the

operational limits of the vehicle and trailer

themselves.

Driving licences will state the maximum

authorised mass (MAM) for towing vehicles

and trailers, which is the maximum permissible

weight or gross vehicle weight (gvw) that the

holder is entitled to drive. In addition, you will

need to check the manufacturer’s handbook

supplied with the vehicle to ensure that the

trailer does not exceed the vehicle’s maximum

permissible towing weight.

Restrictions on towing entitlements have been

in place since 1st January 1997. Drivers with a

full car licence issued before this date are

entitled to drive a vehicle/trailer combination

up to 8.25 tonnes MAM, and a minibus towing

a trailer over 750 kg MAM. Drivers who passed

their car test after this date, however, are

restricted to driving vehicle/light trailer

combinations up to 3.5 tonnes in combined

weight, as long as the MAM of the trailer does

not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle.

Licence duration

Under normal circumstances, a full driving

licence is issued following the completion of

the relevant theory and practical tests, and

remains valid until the holder’s 70th birthday.

After this, the licence needs to be renewed

every three years. If a licence holder has a

specific medical condition, the licence may

need to be renewed every one to three years.

The DVLA medical standards are covered in

Appendix C.

New photocard licences are issued every ten

years, to ensure that the photograph on the

licence remains a true likeness of the holder.

Towing a trailer involves a wider skills

set than merely driving a car or light

van, especially when reversing. This

was recognised by the introduction of

an additional test and weight

restrictions in 1997. Best practice

within the fleet industry would

suggest that employees be given some

form of appropriate driver training,

even where they are legally entitled

to drive the vehicle and trailer

combination without it. Training

would reduce risks to both employee

and employer.

When you carry out driving licence checks, you

need to find out any endorsements that may

be present on the driving licence

to enable

you to assess the level of risk that the licence

holder presents, and their ability to carry out

your business safely.

A vast array of offences may be committed,

which will result in a fixed fine as well as

points being added to a licence. Minor

offences may attract two penalty points, while

the more severe could attract up to 11 points

or even disqualification. Appendix D details the

endorsement codes that are recorded on a

licence, along with a brief description of the

offence and the number of points that it

would normally attract. Once a driver has

amassed 12 points, the licence is usually

withdrawn and a driving ban imposed. For very

serious offences, such as drink driving, a ban

may be imposed following a single offence.

It is vital that you know why any points are on

a licence. With the increasing number of

automated speed detection devices (primarily

fixed and mobile speed cameras), it is

regrettable, but increasingly accepted, that

drivers may have three points on their licence.

You need to be able to compare these points

with those obtained through driving without

due care and attention or dangerous driving,

as these offences have very different levels of

risk associated with them.

Many fleet operators set a maximum number

of points that a driver may amass (perhaps six

or nine) before they have to undergo driver

training, or a driving assessment by a qualified

driver training company. Some companies even

take disciplinary action before 12 points are

reached, especially where driving is a core

activity for that employee.

The majority of offences remain on a licence

for four years (although they only remain valid

for three years), after which time the driver can

apply to have them removed. For the most

serious offences, i.e. driving under the

influence of drink or drugs, causing death by

careless driving while under the influence of

drink or drugs, or causing death by careless

driving then failing to provide a specimen, the

endorsements remain on the licence for 11

years (although they only remain valid for 10

years).

Since 1974, endorsements have remained on

the driving licence for one year longer than the

actual validity. This change was made to

prevent timely applications for the removal of

existing endorsements before a subsequent

court appearance, when there was a real

prospect of further endorsements being added

and an increased penalty. Retaining

endorsements on the driving licence for an

extra year has prevented such abuse, but does

not affect the length of time for which

endorsements remain valid for totting-up

purposes.

Endorsement offence codes

4 With the new photocard licences, any endorsements will

be on the paper counterpart.

Checking the driving licences of drivers from

outside the UK is very important, as different

restrictions apply to different countries, and

further caveats and restrictions exist in addition

to those outlined in this section. The best

policy is to check all foreign licences very

carefully and seek assistance from the DVLA

where necessary. The DVLA’s website at

www.dvla.gov.uk contains a lot of information

about driving in the UK on foreign licences and

will provide you with a good starting-point for

checking drivers’ eligibility. You may also find it

useful to contact the UK-based embassy of

the country in which the licence was

issued, to check that the licence is still

current and valid. Often, embassies

can supply official translations of

licences, if needed.

Defining residency

The rules governing eligibility for

driving in the UK for visitors or new

residents depend upon their country

of origin and the type of vehicle they

wish to drive.

The term ‘resident’ is not, in fact, explicitly

defined in British legislation for the purposes of

driving licences. However, it is a prerequisite for

obtaining a UK licence that the applicant

‘meets the relevant residency requirement’

highlighted in Section 89(1a) of the 1988 Road

Traffic Act (as amended).

The term ‘normal residence’ is defined in

relevant European legislation, in Article 9 of

the second EC Directive on Driving Licences

(91/439/EEC), which states:

While the term ‘normally resident’ is not

defined for drivers who hold non-EC/EEA

driving licences, it is possible that a court might

take the definition contained in the second EC

directive into consideration in determining the

individual’s status.

Holders of overseas licences

“This is used to help define residency

for EC/EEA nationals. For the purpose

of this Directive, ‘normal’ residence

means the place where a person

usually lives, that is for at least 185

days in each calendar year, because of

personal or occupational ties; or in the

case of a person with no occupational

ties, because of personal ties which

show close links between that person

and the place where he is living.”

The DVLA notice INF 38 states:

European Community/

European Economic Area

If a driver comes from the European

Community/European Economic Area (which

includes all countries in the EU, as well as

Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway), their

Community licence has similar eligibility to the

UK licence. If they hold a valid Community

licence and are visiting Britain, they can drive

any vehicle categories/class(es) for which full

entitlement is shown on the Community

licence, for as long as that licence remains valid.

For new residents, ordinary licence holders may

drive on their Community licence until aged

70, or for three years after becoming resident,

whichever is the longer period. Alternatively,

they can apply to the DVLA to exchange their

licence for a UK licence. Exchanging the licence

will also give the driver access to the fixed

penalty system for road traffic offences, instead

of them having to go to court.

Community vocational licence holders, with

entitlement to drive minibuses, buses or

vehicles over 3,500 kg, who live in Britain

must, by law, register their details with the

DVLA. Holders of these licences have greater

restrictions based on age:

• drivers under 45 can drive on their

Community licence up to the age of 45 or

for five years after becoming resident,

whichever is the longer period

• drivers over 45 but under 65 can drive until

their 66th birthday or for five years after

becoming resident, whichever is the shorter

period

• drivers over 65 can drive for just 12 months

after becoming resident

Once an age or time limit is met, the driver

must obtain a UK driving licence.

The medical standards for obtaining a

Community licence are similar to those that

apply for UK licences. Residents must report

any change in medical conditions to the DVLA.

If you are in any doubt about entitlement to

drive, contact the DVLA.

“Your country of normal residence is

taken to mean the place where you

usually live and have personal and/or

occupational ties. A visitor’s stay in

this country must be of a temporary

nature and the driver must be

normally resident outside the UK.”

Northern Ireland

Drivers from Northern Ireland can exchange a

full car licence issued on or after 1st January

1976 for a UK licence, or a bus and lorry

licence issued on or after 1st April 1986.

British external countries

and designated countries

(non-EC)

There are a number of designated, non-EC

countries to which a different set of rules

apply. These countries are listed in Appendix E.

Visitors from these countries who hold a full

ordinary licence from their country of origin,

are entitled to drive vehicles up to 3,500kg

with up to 8 passenger seats, for up to 12

months from the date of entering Britain. If the

licence covers medium-sized or large lorries or

buses, drivers are only entitled to drive vehicles

that have been registered outside of Britain

and which they have driven temporarily into

the country.

To ensure a continuous entitlement to drive,

visitors must exchange their original licence for

a UK one before the 12-month period elapses.

If an exchange is not made within 12 months,

the individual must not drive, although they

may still apply to exchange their licence any

time within five years of becoming resident.

For new residents from these countries, their

foreign licence is valid for 12 months for cars,

mopeds and motorcycles. To ensure continuous

driving entitlement, the original licence must

be exchanged for a UK one within this period,

otherwise the licence becomes invalid and they

cannot drive on public roads.

Holders of vocational driving licences from

designated countries must pass the relevant UK

driving test before driving medium-sized or

large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles,

with the exception of drivers from Gibraltar,

Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. A driving

licence from a designated country can be

exchanged for a UK licence up to five years

after taking up residency, but driving must

cease after 12 months until the full UK licence

is obtained.

A number of other caveats apply to certain

designated countries, such as the requirement

for licences from Japan and the Republic of

Korea to be accompanied by an official

translation (usually available from the relevant

embassy). If you are dealing with employees

from designated countries, seek clarification

and advice from the DVLA.

5 The British external countries are Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man.

All other countries

Drivers from all other countries cannot

exchange a foreign licence for a UK licence.

However, a visitor with a full, valid licence may

drive a vehicle up to 3,500 kg with up to eight

passenger seats in Britain for up to 12 months,

as long as the licence or International Driving

Permit remains valid. Drivers of medium-sized

and large vehicles are only entitled to drive

vehicles that have been registered outside

Britain and which they have driven temporarily

into the country.

New residents who hold ordinary vehicle

licences may drive on these foreign licences for

up to 12 months. To ensure continuous

entitlement to drive, they must obtain a

provisional UK licence and pass the appropriate

driving tests within this 12-month period.

During this time, the usual restrictions on the

UK provisional licence do not apply (i.e. they

do not need to display ‘L’ plates, may drive on

motorways and need not be accompanied by a

qualified driver) but, if a full UK licence is not

obtained within the 12 months, standard

provisional licence conditions will come

into effect.

If a provisional UK licence is not applied for in

the first 12 months, all driving must cease until

a provisional licence has been obtained. Again,

in these circumstances, provisional licence

restrictions will apply.

Vocational licence holders taking up residency

may not drive medium-sized or large vehicles

until they have passed all the relevant UK

driving tests.

The importance of instigating

the right checking procedure

There are many different categories of driving

licence, with variations arising in the level of

entitlement, vehicle classifications, and the

licence holder’s country of origin. All these

issues make it very important that you ensure

every driver on company business has a full

and valid driving licence. Whether or not the

company actually provides the vehicle that the

employee is to drive on company business is an

irrelevance. If an employee is driving on

company time, for business purposes, the

employer has a Duty of Care over the actions

of that individual and, consequently, an

absolute responsibility to ensure that the

employee acts within the law.

Ensuring that every individual in an

organisation is correctly qualified to drive their

vehicle clearly presents some very real, practical

problems. There is obviously some reliance on

employees’ honesty. There are also several

widely utilised policies within the UK fleet

environment that can help employers and fleet

operators to ensure compliance with the

regulations and that also satisfy an employer’s

Duty of Care responsibilities.

The approach taken to ensure that the employer

has taken all reasonable steps to check drivers’

eligibility to drive will depend on a company’s

size, location and management structure.

In the event of a worst-case scenario, where a

fatal incident has occurred involving an

employee without a valid licence, the employer

would be required to provide evidence of the

policies and procedures in place to try and

prevent such an occurrence. A poor policy or

substandard implementation could lead to an

element of responsibility falling on the company

or its relevant managers/directors under Duty of

Care obligations. The best defence is, therefore,

a robust and well-managed policy, which checks

that all employees hold a valid licence and are

eligible to drive the vehicles being used for

company business. Such an approach should

protect the company and its managers/directors,

should the worst happen.

Guidance policies

This section outlines some best practice driving

licence checking policies that you can use to

check and monitor your employees’ eligibility

to drive, and suggests appropriate applications

for such policies.

The policies are intended to provide guidance

only. Selecting the policy that best fits your

company will depend to some extent on your

company’s corporate culture and perceived

levels of risk exposure. Companies that employ

many drivers or higher risk drivers, such as

young drivers within their probationary driving

period or overseas workers, may need to

increase the level or intensity of the checks. On

the other hand, companies with more mature

staff, a low staff turnover and low accident

rates, may consider a less rigorous policy as

satisfactory. Carry out a positive risk

assessment to identify the underlying risk levels

in your organisation and establish the most

suitable policy.

Driving licence checking

procedures

Whichever policy you decide is best suited to

your organisation, the first step is to check the

original driving licences of all employees who

will drive on company business. You will base

an employee’s eligibility to drive on the findings

of this check. Keep a signed, dated copy of the

licence on record.

Best practice suggests that driving licence

checks are carried out on an annual basis. To

help with administering this process, it may be

worth timing the checks to coincide with other

annual operations, such as issuing VED discs or

renewing insurance policies.

Original driver licence checks

A check of the driver’s original licence should

form the first stage of any driving licence

policy, and is the primary step in ensuring

driver eligibility. This is probably the most

common form of vehicle licence check and a

very robust method, usually suitable for both

large and small companies alike.

Check an employee’s licence as part of the

induction process when they first join the

company, or when their job description

changes such that they are required to drive on

business. Examine the employee’s original

driving licence, check for any problems, and

then photocopy it. Get the copy dated, signed

and countersigned by the driver and the

manager responsible (e.g. fleet manager, HR

director), to show that the original licence has

been seen.

Keep this copy on record. In the case of

employees with the new photocard licence,

photocopy both the card and the paper

counterpart.

If you work in a larger organisation, with

employees spread over several sites, it may be

possible to get the employee’s line manager to

inspect the original licence, photocopy it and

obtain signatures and countersignatures. This

approach delegates some responsibility to the

line manager. Make sure that they are

conversant with driving licence types, eligibility,

endorsements and vehicle categories.

Repeat these checks each year for all drivers

who are expected to carry out regular driving

during company time. Do not forget to check

the licences of occasional drivers before they

are allowed to do any driving for business

purposes.

Where practicable and possible, check the

driving licences of named drivers who are not

employees, such as employees’ partners. Even

if the named drivers are only going to use a

company vehicle for private use, the check will

ensure that only qualified drivers use the

vehicle and that the vehicle remains properly

insured for all users.

Self-declaration

Some very large organisations, where the

employees are spread over many sites or a

wide geographical area, rarely coming into

contact with fleet personnel or senior

management, opt for a self-declaration system.

Essentially this system depends on drivers

completing and returning an annual document,

asking them to confirm that, since their licence

was last checked, they:

• still hold a full and valid driving licence for

the vehicle types they are driving

• have not been convicted of any motoring

offences

• have not received any endorsement points

on their licence

The written self-declaration should be returned

to the relevant fleet manager, where it is kept

on file with a copy of the original licence, as

evidence that the employee still holds a valid

licence. Under this system, employees must

be held to be honest in their declarations.

Make sure that the necessity to complete

the forms accurately is clearly embedded

in the terms and conditions of

employment, and make it a disciplinary

offence to falsify the document.

Where employees are making self-

declarations, put a random auditing

process in place to ensure that the policy

is actually effective. Carry out documented,

random sample checks on employees’ original

driving licences on a regular basis. These spot

checks are essential in demonstrating that your

organisation has a robust monitoring and

enforcement system in place, to minimise the

opportunity for false declarations.

Again, do not forget to include named drivers

and occasional drivers in this system. Often,

named drivers’ declarations can be made on

the same form as the employee’s, saving

administrative time and effort.

DVLA checks

DVLA checks offer the most robust and

foolproof method of carrying out driving

licence checks, and offer a strong and

defensible policy. The checks are particularly

effective if you suspect that a number of

employees may be driving without a valid

licence, or may have amassed significant

penalty points without declaring them.

Unfortunately, there are a number of ways for

employees to beat the system of checking

original driving licences. For example,

employees may obtain a duplicate licence,

claiming that the original has been lost. In

reality, it has not been lost, but the employee is

about to be convicted of an offence. Once

they have a duplicate licence, they send it to

the courts to have the points entered onto it,

thereby keeping the original licence free from

endorsements. This original licence, free from

endorsements, is then presented annually to

the fleet manager. In this way, in an extreme

case the employee may even have their licence

revoked via the totting-up system, but can still

be presenting an original, clean licence to the

company. Ways of tightening these loopholes

are currently being investigated by the DVLA.

The only practical way to ensure that no

cheating is going on is to deal directly with the

DVLA, which can provide details on the

employee’s current licence and endorsement

status. The only potential barrier to this system

is that the employee’s consent is required, as

personal data held by the DVLA are covered by

the Data Protection Act. Approaching

employees for consent can meet with

resistance, as the move implies mistrust.

The DVLA can provide a one to three year

mandate system, during which period the

employee allows the company unlimited access

to the employee’s driving records. The three-

year mandate was introduced to assist in

reducing the administrative burden of this

system. A number of other companies provide

a similar service via the DVLA’s system,

providing a fully-administered solution, with

associated costs.

You may also want to include occasional and

named drivers in these checks.

Combining policies

In some instances, you may be advised to

combine more than one of these policies. For

example, you may introduce a physical driving

licence checking system but, due to concerns

over an individual driver or limited group of

drivers, may need to make checks directly with

the DVLA. Combining policies in this way will

result in a robust and defensible policy against

potential abuse.

Driver requirements

Regardless of the system you choose to

implement, you need to make it an absolute

requirement for drivers to inform their

employer straightaway if they are convicted of

any of the following:

• a driving offence connected with alcohol

or drugs

• a driving offence linked to dangerous or

reckless driving

• any other offence relating to speeding or

driving without due care and attention

This information must be provided for the

company to carry out adequate risk

management assessments. If employees collect

an unacceptable number of points (even

before disqualification), the company may wish

to instigate one of the following:

• driver training for the employee

• insurance premium/excess loading

• disciplinary action

• withdrawal of access to, or use of, a

company vehicle

Monitoring and controlling

the system

When evaluating risk under Duty of Care and

health and safety legislation, many companies

believe that having a detailed written policy is

enough in itself. In reality, the policy is merely a

guiding principle or statement of intent to

address the potential risk, and as such, the

existence of a clear policy in itself is not

adequate.

A clear and unambiguous monitoring and

control system must be implemented, to

ensure that policy and practice meet the aims

of ensuring that all drivers are checked for

eligibility to drive the category of vehicle they

operate. There must be demonstrable

procedures and records that clearly show that

some form of licence check is carried out on a

regular basis and that where any checks have

been omitted or have brought to light

unacceptable risks, action has been taken to

address the situation.

If one or two drivers do not submit their

driving licences for checking or fail to make

self-declarations, company policy must assume

that they do not hold valid licences, or have

accrued endorsement points. Such cases clearly

identify unacceptable risk and action must be

taken to secure a copy of the driver’s licence,

or obtain a DVLA licence check. If the licence

cannot be viewed, any business driving (or

private use in a company-provided vehicle)

must be suspended immediately. The risk

associated with any driver driving illegally and

without insurance must be deemed great. This

applies to any person driving on company

business, whether they are administrative staff

or directors. An individual’s position in a

company is no defence for not carrying out a

licence check.

Record any cases of unacceptable risk and

actions taken as evidence of effective

implementation of the company policy. To take

no action after a significant risk has been

identified could be potentially far worse than

doing nothing in the first place.

The cost of implementation versus the cost

of negligence

The main costs involved in instigating and

maintaining driving eligibility checks are those

of administrative time and effort. These costs

are usually minor, although this will depend on

the policy and procedures implemented, and

the size of the company. In the majority of

cases, annual checks will be sufficient.

There may be a further associated cost for

employees if they are required to bring their

original licences to main office sites, but these

checks can normally be fitted around business

meetings which require their presence at the

offices.

The potential costs associated with an accident

involving an employee who turns out to be

without a valid driving licence, particularly

where a fatality has occurred, can be

astronomical. In addition to the human

tragedy, the company could find members of

its management team or board of directors

held liable, as well as the company being

prosecuted under Duty of Care, and health and

safety legislation. In addition, the amount of

management time involved in accident

investigations would be significant.

Review of policies

The rules and regulations governing eligibility

for driving in the UK are changed periodically.

Review your checking procedures regularly and

make changes as necessary. Details of the

current situation can be found on the DVLA

website at www.dvla.gov.uk

Driver’s licence checklist

Check name and address on licence (if photocard, on paper counterpart too)

Check that vehicle category codes provide eligibility for vehicle being driven

Check licence is full and has no restrictions (e.g. age)

Check for endorsements. If there are any, are they:

For minor offences?

For major offences?

How many endorsements/points have been collected and does this represent an

unacceptable risk?

Should driver training or disciplinary action be taken?

If the employee has to tow a trailer:

Does the licence cover this (note post-1997 restrictions)?

Is the vehicle suitable for towing (MAM and licence limitations)?

Is the trailer suitable for the vehicle towing it (MAM and licence limitations)?

Has the employee passed the trailer test (note post-1997 restrictions)?

Has the employee received any additional training for towing trailers?

If the employee is to drive a minibus:

Does the licence cover this (note 1997 restrictions)?

Number of passenger seats

Is driver over 21?

Is it for hire or reward (is a PCV category D1 or D required and higher medical standard)?

Has the driver passed the minibus test, or had additional training?

Does the driver have a Minibus and Community Bus Permit?

Is the minibus going to be towing a trailer?

Is the vehicle suitable for the trailer it is towing (MAM and licence limitations)?

Is the trailer suitable for the vehicle towing it (MAM and licence limitations)?

Does the driver’s licence allow towing by minibuses?

Overseas visitors/residents:

Is the driver on a visitor’s visa or are they a resident in Great Britain (GB)?

Do they hold an EC/EEA licence?

– Minimal restrictions on driving in GB for cars and light vehicles

– Can be exchanged for a GB licence

– Some restrictions on heavy vehicles and vocational licences

Do they hold a designated country licence?

– 12-month limitation on existing licence for cars and light vehicles

– Must exchange driving licence for a GB licence within 12 months

– Vocational drivers required to pass GB test for medium-sized or large vehicles or

passenger vehicles (with some exceptions)

Do they hold a licence outside EC/EEA and designated countries?

– 12-month limitation on existing licence for cars and light vehicles

– Must take GB driving test within the 12 months but can drive on a GB provisional

licence without usual restrictions

– Vocational drivers required to pass GB test for medium-sized or large vehicles or

passenger vehicles (with some exceptions)

If in doubt contact the DVLA on 0870 240 0009

or visit www.dvla.gov.uk

Appendix A –

Vehicle category descriptions

Appendix B –

Annotated sample driving licence

1 Surname

These are the names recorded on the driver’s

record.

2 Forenames

These are the forenames recorded on the

driver’s record.

3 Date of birth; place of birth

These are the details recorded on the driver’s record.

4 Date of licence issue, photo

expiry, issuing authority

The date shown in 4a is the date the

photocard was issued. 4b is the date on which

the photocard must be renewed. The authority

that issued the licence is shown in 4c. In Great

Britain that is DVLA.

5 Driver number

ABCDE

DRIVE 512185 YT 9ME ..

A= First 5 characters of surname. If the

surname is less than 5 characters the

remaining spaces will be made up using the

figure 9. (e.g. MAN99).

B= First and last numbers are the year of birth.

Second and third numbers are month of

birth. (Note: in the case of female licence

holders ‘5’ is added to the second digit,

this means that the second digit will be 5

or 6). The fourth and fifth digits are the day

of the month of your birth.

C= The first two initials of your forenames. If

you have only one initial then the second

character will be a ‘9’.

D= Computer check digits.

E= Licence numbers.

6 Holder’s photograph

This is digitally reproduced from the

photograph provided by the applicant.

7 Holder’s signature

This is digitally reproduced from the signature

provided on the application form.

8 Holder’s address

This shows the driver’s permanent address in

Great Britain.

9 Entitlement categories

The letters in capitals show the categories of

entitlement covered by the European

Community Directive. National categories are

shown in smaller letters.

10 Issuing Authority roundel

This shows the stamp of the EC authority that

issued the licence.

11 Ghost image of photograph

This ghosted image of the holder’s photograph

is a security feature.

12 Production barcode

Used to link a photocard with its counterpart

document ready for despatch.

13 14 Not used

15 Pictograms

These illustrations are representations of types

of vehicles in those categories shown.

16 Category validity periods

These are the dates when entitlement to drive

each category begins and ends.

17 Information codes

The code numbers printed in this area indicate

what (if any) restrictions the entitlement is

subject to.

18 Other information codes

Codes relating to such things as eyesight

correction will be shown here.

13/14

15 16

Appendix C –

DVLA medical standards

You must tell the DVLA if you have ever had,

or you currently suffer from, any of these

conditions:

• epilepsy

• fit(s) or blackouts

• severe and recurrent disabling giddiness

• diabetes controlled by insulin

• diabetes controlled by tablets

• an implanted cardiac pacemaker

• angina (heart pain) which is easily provoked

by driving

• persistent alcohol misuse or dependency

• persistent drug misuse or dependency

• Parkinson’s disease

• narcolepsy or sleep apnoea syndrome

• stroke with any symptoms lasting longer

than one month, recurrent ‘mini-strokes’

or TIAs

• any type of brain surgery, severe head injury

involving in-patient treatment or brain

tumour

• any other chronic neurological condition

• a serious problem with memory or episodes

of confusion

• severe learning disability

• serious psychiatric illness or mental ill health

• total loss of sight in one eye

• any visual condition affecting BOTH eyes, or

remaining eye if one eye only (excluding

short/long sight or colour blindness)

• any visual condition affecting your

visual field

• any persistent limb problem which requires

your driving to be restricted to certain types

of vehicle or those with adapted controls

You must tell the DVLA if you have

any of these conditions. Otherwise

you are committing an offence that

can lead to prosecution and a fine up

to £1,000.

A person who knowingly makes a

false statement for the purpose of

obtaining a driving licence is liable to

a fine of up to £2,500.

If in doubt, contact the Drivers

Medical Unit, DVLA, Swansea,

SA99 1TU or telephone 0870 600 0301.

Appendix D – Endorsement offence codes

Code Offence Penalty points

Accident offences

AC10 Failing to stop after an accident 5-10

AC20 Failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours 5-10

AC30 Undefined accident offences 4-9

Disqualified driver

BA10 Driving while disqualified by order of court 6

BA30 Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court 6

Careless driving

CD10 Driving without due care and attention 3-9

CD20 Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users 3-9

CD30 Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other 3-9

road users

CD40 Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink 3-11

CD50 Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs 3-11

CD60 Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit 3-11

CD70 Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis 3-11

CD71 Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for drug analysis 3-11

Construction and use offences

CU10 Using a vehicle with defective brakes 3

CU20 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle 3

with parts/accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition

CU30 Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s) 3

CU40 Using a vehicle with defective steering 3

CU50 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load/passengers 3

Reckless/dangerous driving

DD40 Dangerous driving 3-11

DD60 Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle 3-11

DD80 Causing death by dangerous driving 3-11

Drink or drugs

DR10 Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit 3-11

DR20 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink 3-11

DR30 Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis 3-11

DR40 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit 10

DR50 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink 10

DR60 Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting 10

to drive

DR70 Failing to provide a specimen for breath test 4

DR80 Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs 3-11

DR90 In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs 10

Insurance offences

IN10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks 6-8

Licence offences

LC20 Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence 3-6

LC30 Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence 3-6

LC40 Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability 3-6

LC50 Driving after a licence has been revoked or refused on medical grounds 3-6

Code Offence Penalty points

Miscellaneous offences

MS10 Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position 3

MS20 Unlawful pillion riding 3

MS30 Play street offence 2

MS50 Motor racing on the highway 3-11

MS60 Offence not covered by other codes as appropriate

MS70 Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight 3

MS80 Refusing to submit to an eyesight test 3

MS90 Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc 3

Motorway offences

MW10 Contravention of Special Roads Regulations (excluding speed limits) 3

Pedestrian crossings

PC10 Undefined Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing Regulations 3

PC20 Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing Regulations with moving vehicle 3

PC30 Contravention of Pedestrian Crossing Regulations with stationary vehicle 3

Speed limits

SP10 Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits 3-6

SP20 Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) 3-6

SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on public road 3-6

SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit 3-6

SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway 3-6

SP60 Undefined speed limit offence 3-6

Traffic directions and signs

TS10 Failing to comply with traffic lights signals 3

TS20 Failing to comply with double white lines 3

TS30 Failing to comply with ‘Stop’ sign 3

TS40 Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden 3

TS50 Failing to comply with traffic sign (excluding ‘Stop’ signs, traffic lights or double white lines) 3

TS60 Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign 3

TS70 Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign 3

Totting disqualifications

TT99 Totting up disqualification (12 penalty points within three years calculated from offence date)

Theft or unauthorised taking

UT50 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 3-11

Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring

Offences as coded above, but 0 is changed to 2, e.g. LC20 becomes LC22

Causing or permitting

Offences as coded above, but 0 is changed to 4, e.g. LC20 becomes LC24

Inciting

Offences as coded above, but 0 is changed to 6, e.g. LC20 becomes LC26

Non-endorsable, disqualifiable offences

In cases where the offence is a non-endorsable one, i.e. the details do not appear on the driving licence, the

following range of NE codes should be used when notifying:

• a disqualification period • a reduction in an existing disqualification period

• removal of a disqualification period

NE96 This code should be used to notify non-endorsable disqualifications (maximum period two years)

and any amendments/removals under the provisions of the Child Support Pensions and Social

Security Act 2000, which came into force on 2nd April 2001.

NE98 This code should be used to notify non-endorsable disqualifications under the Powers of Criminal

Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, which came into force on 1st January 2004.

NE99 This code should be used to notify non-endorsable disqualifications under the Theft Act 1968 and

any others, which are not already covered by the NE96 and NE98 codes.

Appendix E –

Designated countries (non-EC)

and Gibraltar

Australia

Singapore

Gibraltar

Zimbabwe

Canada

Monaco

Japan

Barbados

British Virgin Islands

Switzerland

New Zealand

Hong Kong

South Africa

Republic of Korea

Falkland Islands

Energy Saving Trust, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP, Tel 0845 602 1425, www.est.org.uk

Printed on Revive Silk which contains 75% de-inked post-consumer waste and a maximum of 25% mill broke.