Road Traffic Act 1988

98 Form of licence.E+W+S

(1)A licence shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may determine and shall—

(a)state whether, apart from subsection (2) below, it authorises its holder to drive motor vehicles of all classes or of certain classes only and, in the latter case, specify those classes,

(b)specify the restrictions on the driving of vehicles of any class in pursuance of the licence to which its holder is subject by virtue of the provisions of section 101 of this Act, [F1and]

(c)in the case of a provisional licence, specify the conditions subject to which it is granted, F2

F2(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)Subject to subsections (3) [F3, (4) and (4A)]below, a [F4person who holds a licence which]authorises its holder to drive motor vehicles of certain classes only (not being—

[F5(a)a provisional licence, or

(b)any other prescribed description of licence)]

[F6may]drive motor vehicles of all other classes subject to the same conditions as if he were authorised by a provisional licence to drive motor vehicles of those other classes.

(3)[F7Subsection (2) above does not]authorise a person to drive—

(a)a vehicle of a class for the driving of which he could not, by reason of the provisions of section 101 of this Act, lawfully hold a licence, or

(b)unless he has passed a test of competence to drive, a [F8motor bicycle without a side-car]which, by virtue of section 97(3)(d) of this Act, a provisional licence would not authorise him to drive before he had passed that test [F9; or]

[F9(c)unless he has passed a test of competence to drive, a motor bicycle on a road in circumstances in which, by virtue of section 97(3)(e) of this Act, a provisional licence would not authorise him to drive it before he had passed that test.]

(4)In such cases [F10or as respects such classes of vehicles]as the Secretary of State may prescribe, the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) above shall not apply or shall apply subject to such limitations as he may prescribe.

[F11(4A)[F12Subsection (2) above does not]authorise a person on whom a notice under section 92(5)(b) of this Act has been served to drive motor vehicles otherwise than in accordance with the limits specified in the notice.]

(5)A person who fails to comply with any condition applicable to him by virtue of subsection (2) above is guilty of an offence.

Textual Amendments

F1Word inserted by S.I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(a)(i)

F2S. 98(1)(d) and word immediately preceding it repealed by S.I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(a)(ii)

F3Words substituted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 5(10)(a)

F4Words substituted by S.I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(b)(i)

F5S. 98(2)(a)(b) substituted for paras. (a)–(c) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 11(b)

F6Word substituted by S. I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(b)(ii)

F7Words substituted by S.I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(c)

F8Words substituted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 11(c)(i)

F9S. 98(3)(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. 11(c)(ii)

F10Words inserted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 11(d)