The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

Further requirements at tests E+W+S

38.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall submit himself for a theory test, practical test or unitary test unless he satisfies the residence requirement specified in section 89(1A) of the Traffic Act and where any question arises as to whether a person is normally resident in Great Britain or the United Kingdom (as the case may be) he shall be deemed to be normally resident there if he shows that he will have lived there for not less than 185 days during the period of 12 months ending on the day for which the test appointment is made.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a person who submits himself for an appropriate driving test pursuant to section 36 of the Offenders Act or for any part of such a test.

(3) A person submitting himself for a theory test shall—

(a) before the test commences—

(i) except in a case to which paragraph (7) applies, produce to the person conducting the test an appropriate licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of a class included in the category or sub-category in respect of which the test is to be taken and a counterpart thereof,

(ii) except where he has produced an appropriate licence containing his photograph, satisfy the person conducting the test as to his identity in accordance with paragraph (6), and

(iii) sign a record of his attendence at the test;

(b) during the test comply with all reasonable instructions given by the invigilator for the purpose of ensuring the proper and orderly conduct of the test.

(4) A person submitting himself for a practical test on a motor vehicle of a class included in any category shall, except in a case where—

(a) he is exempt from the requirement to pass a theory test by virtue of regulation 42, or

(b) by virtue of [F1 regulation 40(4)], no theory test is prescribed for that class,

produce to the person conducting the test before the test commences [F2 a valid standard theory test pass certificate or a valid large vehicle theory test pass certificate] showing that he has passed the theory test prescribed in respect of the same category or a valid certificate corresponding to such a certificate furnished under the law of Northern Ireland.

(5) A person submitting himself for a practical or unitary test shall, before the test commences—

(a) produce to the person conducting the test an appropriate licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of the class on which the test is to be taken and a counterpart thereof,

(b) except where he has produced an appropriate licence containing his photograph, satisfy the person conducting the test as to his identity in accordance with paragraph (6), and

[F3 (c) sign, on the Driving Test Report Form produced to him by the person conducting the test, a declaration to the effect that–

(i) there is in force, in relation to the use of the vehicle provided for the test, a policy of insurance which complies with the requirements of Part VI of the Traffic Act, and

(ii) he satisfies the residence requirement as described in paragraph (1).]

[F4 (5A) A person submitting himself for a theory test, practical test or unitary test who produces a licence which fails to satisfy the person conducting the test, after an examination or otherwise, that it is an appropriate licence as required under paragraph (3)(a)(i) or (5)(a) must surrender the licence forthwith to the person conducting the test.]

[F5 (6) For the purposes of this regulation, a person conducting a test may be satisfied as to a person’s identity –

(a) from a valid passport, or

(b) where the person conducting the test is a person to whom regulation 23(1)(b) or regulation 24(1)(b) applies, from such evidence as that person considers appropriate.]

(7) In the case of an applicant who is a full-time member of the armed forces of the Crown (to whom the provisions of regulation 11(1) do not apply), he shall before the commencement of a theory test or, as the case may be, a practical or unitary test prescribed in respect of a category specified in column (1) of the table at the end of regulation 11 satisfy the examiner that he has passed the test prescribed in respect of the category specified in column (2) of the table in relation to the first category.

(8) A person submitting himself for a practical test for a licence authorising the driving of a motor vehicle of a class included in category A or P shall before the test commences, unless he is exempt from the requirement imposed by section 89(2A) of the Traffic Act, produce to the examiner a valid certificate furnished under regulation 68(1).

(9) A person submitting himself for a practical or a unitary test shall, during the test—

(a) except where the test is for a licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of a class included in category A, G, H, K or P or a motor vehicle in sub-category B1 which has no seat other than the driver’s seat, allow to travel in the vehicle—

(i) the person authorised to conduct the test; and

(ii) any person authorised by the Secretary of State to attend the test for the purpose of supervising it or otherwise;

(b) where the test is for a licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of a class included in category A, G, H or P or a motor vehicle in sub-category B1 which has no seat other than the driver’s seat, allow the attendance of—

(i) the person authorised to conduct the test; and

(ii) any person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purpose of supervising the test or otherwise.

(10) In this regulation and regulation 39—

• “appropriate licence" means a licence, other than an excepted provisional licence, which—

  (a)

  is valid at the date of the test,

  (b)

  bears the signature of the person who has submitted himself for the test, and

  (c)

  is either—

  (i)

  a provisional licence authorising the person submitting himself for the test to drive motor vehicles of the same class as the vehicle which he has provided for the test, or

  (ii)

  a full licence which by virtue of section 98 of the Traffic Act and regulation 19, authorises that person to drive motor vehicles of that class subject to the same conditions as if he were so authorised by a provisional licence, or

  (iii)

  a Northern Ireland licence corresponding to either of those licences, or

  (iv)

  a Community licence which, by virtue of section 99A of the Traffic Act and regulation 19, authorises that person to drive motor vehicles of that class subject to the same conditions as if he were so authorised by a provisional licence;

• “excepted provisional licence" means a licence which—

  (a)

  was in force at a time before 1st January 1997, and

  (b)

  is issued as a provisional licence in respect of motor vehicles of a class included (by virtue of these Regulations) in category C+E or D+E or sub-categories C1 and D1 (not for hire or reward),

  but does not include a licence which was granted to a full-time member of the armed forces of the Crown to whom the provisions of regulation 11(1) do not apply by virtue of paragraph (2) of that regulation.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 38(4) substituted (7.7.2008) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1435), regs. 1(1), 12(a) (with reg. 22)

F2 Words in reg. 38(4) substituted (7.7.2008) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1435), regs. 1(1), 12(b) (with reg. 22)

F3 Reg. 38(5)(c) substituted (1.11.2005) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2717), regs. 1, 8

F4 Reg. 38(5A) inserted (2.4.2007) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/698), regs. 1(1), 8

F5 Reg. 38(6) substituted (1.11.2005) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2717), regs. 1, 9