Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2864; the “1999 Regulations”).
Regulation 3 and Schedule 1 substitute a new Schedule 3 to the 1999 Regulations specifying revised fees payable upon an application for a driving licence made on or after 1st March 2004.
Note 1: The following table shows the change in the fee payable upon an application for a type of licence specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (as substituted by these Regulations).
| Paragraph in Schedule 3 specifying a type of licence and the circumstances of the application | Fee payable on application under these Regulations (£) (fee payable formerly (£)) | Percentage increase (decrease) by virtue of these Regulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | A first licence (as defined in Part 2 of Schedule 3). | 38 (29) | 31 but see Note 2 below |
| 2. | A provisional licence (as detailed). | 38 (29) | 31 but see Note 2 below |
| 3. | A full Group 1 licence (as detailed). | 9 (12) | (25) but see Note 2 below |
| 4. | A licence granted on exchange (as detailed). | 19 (18) | 5.6 |
| 5. | A replacement licence (as detailed). | 19 (17) | 12 |
| 6. | A licence following disqualification (as detailed)—
| 75 (50) 50 (35) | 50 43 |
| 7. | A provisional licence following disqualification (as detailed)—
| 75 (50) 50 (35) | 50 43 |
| 8. | A provisional Group 2 licence (as detailed). | 50 (35) | 43 |
| 9. | A licence following disqualification (as detailed). | 50 (35) | 43 |
| 10. | A licence following disqualification (as detailed). | 50 (35) | 43 |
| 11. | A licence following disqualification (as detailed). | 50 (35) but see Note 3 below | 43 |
Note 2: Prior to the coming into force of these Regulations an applicant for a provisional Group 1 licence, who later proceeded to exchange his provisional licence following a test pass, would have to pay an aggregate of £41 for the two licences (£29 for a provisional licence and £12, on exchange, for a full licence). Under these Regulations, the aggregate cost to a new applicant of obtaining a provisional and subsequently a full licence is reduced by £3, or 7.3%.
These Regulations make special provision for persons who have obtained a provisional licence pursuant to an application made before the coming into force of these Regulations, but who obtain a first full licence after 29th February 2004. Such persons will pay £9 (the previous exchange fee being £12) to exchange a provisional licence for a full licence and so will have paid £38 in total for their two licences (all applicants for first licences from 1st March 2004 will pay £38, but there will be no charge for exchanging a provisional licence for a full licence).
Note 3: Section 146 of the Power of Criminal Court (Sentencing) Act 2000 derives from section 39 (now repealed) of the Crime (Sentencing) Act 1997. The application fee following disqualification under the former provision amounts to an increase of 43% on the application fee following disqualification under the latter provision.
From 1st March 2004 licences issued in the following circumstances will no longer be issued subject to a fee or charge;
a full licence granted in exchange for a full Northern Ireland licence or to a person who has held a full Northern Ireland licence which was granted on or after 1st January 1976;
a provisional licence authorising the driving of motorcycles, other than a first licence or a licence under paragraph 5, 6, or 7 of Schedule 3 of the 1999 Regulations as substituted by these Regulations;
a Group 1 licence (as defined in regulation 70 of the 1999 Regulations) granted upon the expiry of a previous Group 1 licence;
a provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category C (which category is defined in Schedule 2 to the 1999 Regulations and includes most lorries);
a full Group 2 licence (as defined in regulation 70 of the 1999 Regulations) granted upon the expiry of a previous full Group 2 licence; and
a provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category D (which category is defined in Schedule 2 to the 1999 Regulations and includes commercially operated buses and coaches).
Driving licence fees were last increased on 15th November 2001 by the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3486).
The fees in these Regulations have been set further to the Department for Transport (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Fees) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2994) which established a common pool for costs incurred in respect of various vehicle registration functions, and various driver licensing functions of the Secretary of State. In accordance with the terms of that Order, in setting the levels of fees further to this Order the Secretary of State has taken into account the costs within that common pool.
A full regulatory impact assessment of these Regulations can be obtained from Drivers Policy Group, DVLA, 3 Sandringham Park, Swansea, SA7 0EP.