{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-vehicles-driving-licences-regulations-1999/regulation-17",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-vehicles-driving-licences-regulations-1999/regulation-17.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1999/2864",
  "legislation_title": "The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/motor-vehicles-driving-licences-regulations-1999",
  "path": "regulation/17",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "17",
  "heading": "Meaning of “qualified driver\"",
  "text": "(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (2A), a person is a qualified driver for the purposes of regulation 16 if he—\n(a) is 21 years of age or over,\n(b) holds a relevant licence,\n(c) has the relevant driving experience, and\n(d) in the case of a disabled driver, he is supervising a provisional licence holder who is driving a vehicle of a class included in categories B, C, D, C+E, or D+E and would in an emergency be able to take control of the steering and braking functions of the vehicle in which he is a passenger.\n(2) In the case of a person who is a member of the armed forces of the Crown acting in the course of his duties for naval, military or air force purposes sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) of paragraph (1) shall not apply.\n(2A) For the purposes of supervising the holder of a provisional licence driving a vehicle of a class included in sub-category C1, C1+E, D1 or D1+E (“the learner vehicle”) which the holder is authorised to drive by that licence, a person is not a qualified driver unless that person has, in addition to meeting the requirements specified in paragraph (1), passed a test in which the vehicle used in the practical test fell within the same sub-category as that of the learner vehicle , or such a person gained their entitlement to drive vehicles included in such sub-categories on or after 15th November 2021.\n(3) For the purposes of this regulation—\n(a) “disabled driver\" means a person who holds a relevant licence which is limited by virtue of a declaration made with his application for the licence or a notice served under section 92(5)(b) of the Traffic Act to vehicles of a particular class;\n(b) “full licence\" includes a full Northern Ireland licence and a Community licence;\n(c) “relevant licence” means, subject to sub-paragraph (d), a full licence authorising—\n(i) the driving of vehicles of the same class as the vehicle being driven by the provisional licence holder, and\n(ii) where sub-paragraph (f) applies—\n(aa) where that class of vehicle is included within any sub-category specified in column 1 of the table at the end of this regulation, the driving of vehicles in the sub-category specified in column 2 which is opposite that sub-category, or\n(bb) where sub-paragraph (aa) does not apply, the driving of vehicles in the category specified in column 2 of that table which is opposite the category specified in column 1 that includes the class of vehicle being driven by the provisional licence holder;\n(d) in the case of a disabled driver who holds a licence authorising the driving of vehicles in category B, a relevant licence must authorise the driving of a quadricycle or vehicles in sub-category B1 (invalid carriages);\n(e) ... a person has relevant driving experience if—\n(i) where sub-paragraph (c)(i) only applies, he has held the relevant licence for a period of 3 years, or\n(ii) where sub-paragraph (c)(ii) applies, he has held the relevant licence authorising the driving of vehicles—\n(aa) of the same class as the vehicle being driven by the provisional licence holder for a minimum period of 1 year, and\n(bb) in the category or sub-category specified in column 2 described in sub-paragraph (c)(ii) for a minimum period of 3 years;\n(ea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(f) this sub-paragraph applies where—\n(i) a person holds a full licence authorising the driving of vehicles of the same class as the vehicle being driven by the provisional licence holder;\n(ii) that class is included in a category or sub-category specified in column 1 of the table at the end of this regulation, and\n(iii) that person has held that licence for less than a minimum period of 3 years;\n(g) for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (e) and (f), the minimum period of time for holding a full licence may be met either by holding that licence continuously for that period or for periods amounting in aggregate to not less than that period.\nTABLE\nColumn 1\nColumn 2\nCategories and sub-categories which include the vehicle being driven by the provisional licence holder\nCategories and sub-categories authorised by the relevant licence\nC\nC + E, D and D + E\nC1\nC1 + E, D1 and D1 + E\nC+E\nC and D + E\nC1+E\nC, C1, and D1 + E\nD\nC, C + E and D + E\nD1\nC1, C1 + E and D1 + E\nD+E\nC + E and D\nD1+E\nC1 + E, D and D1",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17(1) substituted (1.5.2010) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1203), regs. 1(2), 5(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17(1)(d) substituted (1.11.2005) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2717), regs. 1, 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Reg. 17(2A) inserted (1.5.2010) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1203), regs. 1(2), 5(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17(2A) inserted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(a) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Reg. 17(3)(c)-(g) and Table substituted for reg. 17(3)(c)-(f) and Table (1.4.2006) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/524), regs. 1(2), 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17(3)(d) substituted (19.1.2013) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/977), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 11"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17(3)(e) omitted (15.11.2021) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(b) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Reg. 17(3)(ea) omitted (15.11.2021) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(c) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(i) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(ii) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(iii) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(iv) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(v) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(vi) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(vii) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in reg. 17 table substituted (15.11.2021) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1251), regs. 1(2), 4(d)(viii) (with reg. 9)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2864/regulation/17",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:42:23.500437+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}