What does the front of your driving licence mean?

The front of your UK driving licence includes: Section 1: Your surname; Section 2: Your first and middle name; Section 3: Your date of birth and place of birth; Section 4a: The date your licence became valid; Section 4b: The date your photocard expires, requiring renewal with the DVLA (typically at age 70); Section 4c: Where the licence was issued; Section 5: Your individual driving number; Section 7: Your signature; Section 8: Your address (incorrect details could lead to a £1,000 fine); Section 9: Categories of vehicles you can drive, detailed further on the back.

What does the back of your driving licence mean?

The back of your UK driving licence has four columns: Column 9 lists the types of vehicles you are allowed to drive; Columns 10 and 11 show the start and end dates for when you can drive those vehicles (if no date is listed, you cannot drive that category); Column 12 lists any specific restrictions for those categories.

Where can I check for penalty points on my driving licence?

For old green or pink paper driving licences, penalty points are written on the document. For new photocard licences, penalty points are not displayed, and you must use the DVLA’s online tool to check for penalty points.

What does the traffic light sign on the back of the driving licence mean?

The traffic light symbol (amber light illuminated) on photocard licences issued after February 2014, or the steering wheel symbol on older licences, is a security feature and does not relate to penalty points or driving record, as confirmed by the DVLA.

UK driving licence codes explained – what 01, 78, 101 and other codes mean

Q: What are common driving restrictions on your licence?

Common restrictions listed in Column 12 on the back of your licence include: 01 – Eyesight correction (e.g., must wear glasses while driving); 02 – Hearing aid; 40 – Modified steering; 78 – Restricted to automatic transmission vehicles; 105 – Vehicle no more than 5.5m long; 115 – Organ donor. You must comply with these restrictions to avoid fines.

Confused by the letters and numbers on your UK driving licence? From code 01 for eyesight correction to code 78 for automatic vehicles, the information on your photocard tells you what you can drive and any conditions or restrictions you must follow.

Here motoring journalist and expert Pete Barden looks at what some of the important and popular codes mean to help you read and understand your licence.

Here are the sections on the front of a UK driving licence. (Credit Pete Barden)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
What the front of your driving licence means
What the back of your driving licence means
Common driving restrictions on your licence
Where can I check for penalty points?
What does the traffic light sign on the back mean?

How to read the front of your UK driving licence

Here’s what the sections say about you and your driving.

Your Details

Section 1: Your surname

Section 2: Your first and middle name

Section 3: Your date of birth and where you were born

Details and expiry date of your licence

What does 4a mean on a driving licence?

4a is the date your driving licence was issued.

What does 4b mean on a driving licence?

4b is the date your photocard driving licence expires. You normally need to renew your photocard before this date.

Section 4c: Where the driving licence was issued

Section 5: Your individual driving number

Section 7: Your signature

Section 8: Your address – if this is wrong, you could be fined £1,000

Section 9: These are the categories of vehicles you can drive all listed in one place. The reverse of the driving licence explains these in greater detail – as have we, below.

Subscribe for free motoring and travel news here - support independent journalism

How to read the back of your UK driving licence

The front of your UK driving licence contains your personal details, licence number, issue and expiry dates and vehicle categories. The back shows the vehicle categories you can drive, the dates those entitlements are valid and any restrictions or conditions shown by codes in column 12.

Back of a UK driving licence showing vehicle categories and codes Here are the categories and columns for dates they are active (we have blurred the dates to protect the licence holder's privacy. (Credit Pete Barden)

Column 9: The types of vehicle you are allowed to drive

Columns 10: and 11: From and to dates that you can drive the vehicles listed in column 9 – if applicable. No date means you can’t drive or ride that category.

What do the codes in column 12 mean?

The numbers in column 12 show conditions or restrictions that apply to the vehicle category listed on that row. They can tell you, for example, that you must wear glasses, drive an automatic vehicle or comply with a particular vehicle restriction.

Look out for these codes in column 12:

Code	What it means
01	Eyesight correction, such as glasses or contact lenses
02	Hearing or communication aid
78	Automatic transmission only
96	Vehicle and trailer combination between 3,500kg and 4,250kg in the circumstances specified
101	Not for hire or reward
105	Vehicle no more than 5.5 metres long
106	Automatic transmission
115	Organ donor
118	Start date is for earliest entitlement
121	Restricted to conditions specified in the Secretary of State's notice
122	Valid on successful completion of the Basic Moped Training Course

Licence categories for motorbikes

AM: This category applies to mopeds, meaning you can drive two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicles at a maximum speed of 28mph - including quad bikes. You must be at least 16 years old to hold an AM licence and have passed your motorbike theory and practical test.

A1: Allows holder to ride motorbikes with an engine of up to 125cc with a power input up to 11kW, and tricycles with a power input up to 15kW. To hold this, you need to be at least 17 and have passed your motorbike theory and practical test.

A2: Motorbikes up to 35kW and you must be at least 19 years old and have taken your theory and practical test.

A: Holders can drive any bike of any size or engine. You must be 24 years old to get this licence or 21 years old if you’ve held your A2 licence for more than 2 years and have passed both a motorbike theory and practice test.

Licence categories for cars

B1: You can drive a vehicle with 4 wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if designed for carrying goods.

B: This on your licence allows you to drive a manual or automatic car, or both if you passed using a manual car.

Licence categories for lorries and buses

C1: You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) - with a trailer up to 750kg

C: You can drive any vehicle over 3,500 kg - with a trailer up to 750kg MAM

D1: You can drive minibuses with no more than 16 passenger seats, a maximum length of 8 metres and a trailer up to 750kg.

D: You can drive any bus with more than 8 passenger seats and a trailer up to 750kg.

Licence categories for trailers

BE: Allows drivers who passed their driving test after 1st January 1997 to tow trailers up to 3,500 kg MAM with a standard driving licence without of passing any additional tests or qualifications.

C1E: Lets drivers drive C1 vehicles with a trailer of over 750 kg. The combined weight can’t exceed 12,000kg MAM.

CE: Same as Category C apart from it allows you to tow a trailer over 750kg.

D1E: Means you can drive D1 minibuses and tow a trailer over 750kg with a weight not exceeding 12,000kg MAM.

DE: Allows you to drive buses seating more than 8 passengers together with towing a trailer over 750kg

Common driving restrictions on your licence

Look out for these in column 12 on the rear of your licence. You must comply with them or risk fines.

01 – Eyesight correction (i.e. the use of glasses whilst driving)

02 – Hearing Aid

40 – Modified Steering

78 – Restricted to automatic transmission vehicles

105 – Vehicle no more than 5.5m long

115 – Organ donor

What is the difference between driving licence categories and codes?

Driving licence categories tell you what types of vehicle you are entitled to drive.

Driving licence codes show conditions or restrictions attached to that entitlement.

For example:

B = car entitlement

01 = eyesight correction

78 = automatic transmission only

Where can I check for penalty points?

If you have the old green or pink paper driving licence, you will see them written on it. The new photocard licences don’t, so you will need to use the online tool to check your licence for penalty points.

Find out more about licence codes and categories here at the Gov.UK DVLA website.

What does the traffic light sign on the back mean?

Rumour has it that this symbol relates to having points on your licence, but this is not the case.

The symbol - which looks like a set of traffic lights with the amber light illuminated - can be found on photocard licences issued after February 2014. Older licences may have a steering wheel symbol.

In both cases, they have nothing to do with points on the licence or pending penalties, and merely act as a security feature that does not reflect your driving record at all. This was confirmed by the DVLA.

Most read motoring content

Take a look at more of our top motoring-related content here...

Author: Pete Barden:

Twitter: @pete_barden

Pete Barden is a qualified journalist who has written and produced for publications including The Sun (thesun.co.uk), New Statesman Media Group, Whatcar? (Whatcar.com) Stuff Magazine (Stuff.tv), Fastcar Magazine (Fastcar.co.uk), Maxim Magazine and UK broadcast stations within the Heart network (Formerly GCAP). Pete specialises in motoring and travel content, along with news and production roles. You can find out more about Pete Barden on LinkedIn.

Read all articles by Pete Barden

See our privacy page here