Photocard driving licences

These pages include extracts from the DVLA's D100 leaflet called "What you need to know about driving licences". You can download the original document by following this link.
This leaflet and these pages gives general information. It is not a statement of law.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information reproduced is correct, Select All cannot not be held responsible for any inaccuracies.

Your licence shows whether you are entitled to drive:

• motor cars;

• motorcycles;

• medium or large vehicles (weighing 3500kg or over);

• minibuses; or

• buses.

However, you must apply for, and take a separate test for, each category.

Nowadays we issue photocard driving licences, not paper ones. This is to improve road safety by:

• reducing the risk of people impersonating others during driving tests; and

• making sure the person driving a vehicle is qualified to do so.

You will receive a photocard showing:

• your photograph and signature which is electronically copied from your application form; and

• the categories (types) of vehicle you are entitled to drive.

You will also receive a paper ‘counterpart document’ showing:

– your signature (also electronically copied);

– details of any endorsements (points) on your licence; and

– if you hold a full licence, any vehicles you are allowed to drive as a learner until you pass the relevant test.

Note: you must produce both the photocard and counterpart if the police or a court asks you to. You should also present both parts when taking a driving test. You may also find that other organisations, such as car-hire firms and insurance companies, will ask to see both parts.

You will need to renew your photocard licence every 10 years until you are 70 to keep the photograph up to date. This will not affect the period your licence is valid for. We will send you a reminder when you need to renew your photocard licence. If you need to renew your licence more frequently than every 10 years (for example, for medical reasons or because you drive buses or lorries), you will not need to renew your photograph every time you renew your licence.

Drivers renewing at 70

After renewing your photograph at 70, you do not need to renew your photograph again unless you want to.