Road Traffic Act 1988

89 Tests of competence to drive. E+W+S

(1) A licence authorising the driving of motor vehicles of any class shall not be granted to any person unless he F1 [F2 ... satisfies the Secretary of State]—

[F3 (a) that at some time during the period of two years ending with the date the application is made but not earlier than the appointed day he has passed—

(i) the test of competence to drive prescribed by virtue of subsection (3) below, or

(ii) a Northern Ireland test of competence to drive which corresponds to such a test, or

(iii) a test of competence which under subsection (6) below is a sufficient test;

F4 . . . or

(b) that at some time not earlier than the appointed day he has held—

(i) a full licence authorising the driving of vehicles of that class, or

(ii) a full Northern Ireland licence authorising the driving of vehicles of that or a corresponding class;

or that, if it is available to him, he satisfies the alternative requirement of section 89A of this Act; or

(c) that at some time during the period of two years ending with the date the application is made he has passed a test of competence to drive vehicles of that or a corresponding class F5 . . . for the purpose of obtaining a British Forces licence; or

(d) that at some time not earlier than the appointed day he has held a full British external licence or a full British Forces licence to drive vehicles of that or a corresponding class F4 . . . ; or

(e) that at some time during the period of two years ending with the date the application is made he has passed a test of competence to drive vehicles of that or a corresponding class conducted under the law F6 . . . of Gibraltar F7 . . .; or

[F8 (ea) that either at the time of the application for the licence he holds a Community licence authorising the driving of vehicles of that or a corresponding class or at some time he has held such a Community licence; or]]

[F9 (f) that, at the time of the application for the licence, he holds an exchangeable licence authorising the driving of vehicles of that or a corresponding class.]

This subsection is subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act as to provisional licences and to the provisions of any regulations made by virtue of section 105(2)(f) of this Act.

F10 (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F11 (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above—

[F12 (a) a licence which has been revoked under section 99(3) of this Act or under any corresponding provision of—

(i) the law of Northern Ireland,

(ii) the relevant external law, or

(iii) the law of an EEA State F13 ...,

as a licence granted in error shall be disregarded for the purposes of paragraph (b), (d) or (ea) (as the case may be) of that subsection;]]

F14 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) a British external licence to drive any class of goods vehicle or any class of passenger-carrying vehicle is to be disregarded for the purposes of paragraph (d) of that subsection unless the Secretary of State, by order made by statutory instrument, designates the relevant external law under which it is granted as one which makes satisfactory provision for the granting of such licences.

[F15 (2A) Except as provided under subsection (5A) below, no person submitting himself for a test of competence to drive a motor bicycle shall be permitted to take the test unless he furnishes the prescribed certificate of completion by him of an approved training course for motor cyclists either with his application for an appointment for a test or to the person who is to conduct the test.]

(3) Regulations may make provision with respect to—

(a) the nature of tests of competence to drive for the purposes of this section [F16 and section 36 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (disqualification) [F17 and the administrative arrangements for submitting for such tests],]

(b) the qualifications, selection and appointment of persons by whom they may be conducted [F18 , conditions which must be satisfied during the currency of an appointment, the charging of reasonable fees in respect of applications for appointment or appointments or in connection with any examination or assessment which may be required before appointment or during the currency of any appointment] and the revocation of any appointment,

[F19 (ba) the duty of a person submitting himself for a test to produce, and in prescribed circumstances surrender, any licence previously granted to him,]

(c) evidence of the results of such tests,

and generally with respect to such tests.

(4) [F20 Regulations under subsection (3)(a) above may in particular] provide—

(a) for requiring a person submitting himself for a test to provide [F21 a safe and suitable vehicle] for the purposes of the test [F22 and for requiring that, if the vehicle is a vehicle of a prescribed description, it has been certified in the prescribed manner after a prescribed inspection as satisfying such requirements as may be prescribed,]

[F23 (aa) for requiring a person submitting himself for a test to have been [F24 normally and lawfully resident in Great Britain or the United Kingdom (within the meaning of section 97A)] for such period ending on the date of his appointment for the test as may be prescribed,]

[F25 (b) for the charging (whether on the making of an appointment for a test or otherwise) of reasonable fees for or in connection with the test and any inspection of a vehicle required by regulations under paragraph (a) above in relation to the test,]

(c) for ensuring that a person submitting himself for a test and failing to pass that test shall not be eligible to submit himself for another test by the same or any other person before the expiration of a period specified in the regulations, except under an order made by a court or sheriff under the power conferred by section 90 of this Act,

and different regulations may be made with respect to tests of competence to drive different classes of vehicles.

(5) If regulations make provision for a test of competence to drive to consist of separate parts, they may make for each part—

(a) any provision that could be made for a test not consisting of separate parts, F26 . . .

(b) F26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F27 (5ZA) Regulations under subsection (3)(b) above may in particular provide—

(a) for the supply by the Secretary of State to persons by whom tests of competence to drive, or parts of such tests, may be conducted of forms for certificates evidencing the results of such tests or parts of such tests, and

(b) for the charging of reasonable fees in respect of the exercise of any function conferred or imposed on the Secretary of State by the regulations.]

[F28 (5A) Regulations may prescribe cases in which persons are exempt from the requirement imposed by subsection (2A) above; and the regulations may—

(a) limit the exemption to persons in prescribed circumstances;

(b) limit the exemption to a prescribed period;

(c) attach conditions to the exemption; and

(d) regulate applications for, and the issue and form of, certificates evidencing a person’s exemption from that requirement.]

(6) For the purposes of subsection [F29 (1)(a)(iii) above F4 . . . ], a test of competence shall be sufficient for the granting of a licence authorising the driving of—

(a) vehicles of any class, if at the time the test was passed it authorised the granting of a licence to drive vehicles of that class,

(b) vehicles of [F30 all] classes which are designated by regulations as a group for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above, if at the time the test was passed it authorised the granting of a licence to drive vehicles of any class included in the group [F31 , and]

[F31 (c) vehicles of all classes included in another such group, if a person passing the test is treated by virtue of regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph as competent also to drive vehicles of a class included in that other group.]

(7) If vehicles of any classes are designated by regulations as a group for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above, a licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in the group shall be deemed for the purposes of subsection [F32 (1)(b)(i) above or section 89A(4)(a) below to authorise the driving of—

(a) vehicles of all classes included in the group [F33 (except where regulations otherwise provide)], and

(b) vehicles of all classes included in another such group, if a person holding the licence is treated by virtue of regulations as competent also to drive vehicles of a class included in that other group].

The reference in this subsection to a licence does not include a licence which has been revoked in pursuance of section 99(3) of this Act.

(8) For the purposes of this section and section 88(1) of this Act, an exchangeable licence issued in respect of a F34 . . ., country or territory shall not be treated as authorising a person to drive a vehicle of any [F35 class] if—

(a) the licence is not for the time being valid for that purpose, or

(b) it was issued in respect of that [F35 class] for a purpose corresponding to that mentioned in section 97(2) of this Act.

[F36 (9) A test of competence falling within paragraphs (a)(ii), (c) or (e) of subsection (1) above shall be sufficient for the granting of a licence authorising the driving of—

(a) vehicles of all classes designated by regulations as a group for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above, if [F37 (except where regulations otherwise provide)] at the time the test was passed it authorised the granting of a licence to drive vehicles of any class included in the group, or of any class corresponding to a class included in the group, and

(b) vehicles of all classes included in another such group, if a person passing a test of competence authorising the granting of a licence to drive vehicles of a class included in the group mentioned in paragraph (a) above is treated by virtue of regulations as competent also to drive vehicles of a class included in that other group.

(10) A full Northern Ireland licence, a full British external licence, a full British Forces licence [F38 , a Community licence] or an exchangeable licence shall be treated for the purposes of paragraphs (b)(ii), (d) [F39 , (ea)] or (f) (as the case may be) of subsection (1) above as authorising the driving of—

(a) [F40 (except where regulations otherwise provide)] vehicles of all classes designated by regulations as a group for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above, if the licence authorises the driving of vehicles of any class included in the group, or any class corresponding to a class included in the group, and

(b) vehicles of all classes included in another such group, if by virtue of regulations a person holding a licence authorising him to drive vehicles of any class included in the group mentioned in paragraph (a) above is treated as competent also to drive vehicles of a class included in that other group.

(11) F41 . . . In this section and section 89A “the appointed day” means the day appointed for the coming into force of section 1 of the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 89(1) omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 9 para. 63(a); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 2(g)

F2 Words in s. 89(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(a)

F3 S. 89(a)–(f) substituted (1.4.1991) for paras. (a)–(d) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 4(1)(2)

F4 Words in s. 89(1)(a)(d)(6) repealed (8.11.2006) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 59, 61, Sch. 7(19)

F5 Words in s. 89(1)(c) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b)

F6 Words in s. 89(1)(e) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(c)(i)

F7 Words in s. 89(1)(e) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(c)(ii)

F8 S. 89(1)(ea) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(d)

F9 S. 89(1)(f) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(e)

F10 S. 89(1A) omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 9 para. 63(b); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 2(g)

F11 S. 89(2) substituted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 4(1)(3)

F12 S. 89(2)(a) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(a)

F13 Words in s. 89(2)(a)(iii) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Driving Licences (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1251), regs. 1(2), 2(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 S. 89(2)(b) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(b)

F15 S. 89(2A) inserted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 6(1)(a)

F16 Words in s. 89(3)(a) inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 63; S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

F17 Words in s. 89(3)(a) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(a), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(a)

F18 Words in s. 89(3)(b) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(b), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(a)

F19 S. 89(3)(ba) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(c), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F20 Words in s. 89(4) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(a), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F21 Words in s. 89(4)(a) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(b), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F22 Words in s. 89(4)(a) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(c), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F23 S. 89(4)(aa) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(5)

F24 Words in s. 89(4)(aa) substituted (14.7.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 9 para. 63(c); S.I. 2014/1820, art. 2(g)

F25 S. 89(4)(b) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(d), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F26 S. 89(5)(b) and preceding word repealed (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(4), 59, 61, Sch. 7(9); S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F27 S. 89(5ZA) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(5), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

F28 S. 89(5A) inserted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 6(1)(b)

F29 Words in s. 89(6) substituted (1.4.1991) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(b)(i)

F30 Word in s. 89(6)(b) substituted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(b)(ii)

F31 S. 89(6)(c) and word immediately preceding it inserted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(b)(iii)

F32 Words in s. 89(7)(including paras. (a) and (b)) substituted (1.4.1991) for words by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(c)

F33 Words in s. 89(7)(a) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(6)

F34 Words in s. 89(8) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(7)

F35 Word in s. 89(8) substituted (1.4.1991) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(d)

F36 S. 89(9)–(11) substituted (1.4.1991) for s. 89(9) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(e)

F37 Words in s. 89(9)(a) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(8)

F38 Words in s. 89(10) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(a)

F39 Words in s. 89(10) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(b)

F40 Words in s. 89(10)(a) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(c)

F41 Words in s. 89(11) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(10)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 89(2A) excluded by S.I. 1987/1378, regs. 23E(2)(4), 23F, 23G(1) (as inserted by S.I. 1990/2334, reg. 4)