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There are certain legal requirements which must be met before you can take a vehicle on a public road. One of these is holding a driving licence. In the UK the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) a branch of the Department for Transport (DFT) is responsible for the testing and accreditation of leaner drivers.

Once the DSA has accredited you with a passed theory and practical test you will be issued with a driving licence from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

Your licence will have a photo card and a paper counterpart.

If you have passed your test then your licence will be pink however if you are using a provisional licence (learner driver licence) then your licence will be green.

> Your photo card will show:

-Name, address and date of birth

-Driver number and driving entitlement (the vehicles you’re allowed to drive)

-Photograph and signature

> Your Counterpart licence will show:

-Different vehicles you can learn to drive

-Driving entitlement history

-Details of driving offences

-No photograph

-Signature

> Automatic Cars

An automatic car is a car with out a clutch. Automatic cars only have a brake and accelerator pedal. If you pass in an automatic car your licence will only permit you to drive in an automatic car and not in a manual car. The licence will only act as a provisional licence for driving a manual car.

> Using a Licence from overseas

If you have a driving licence from over seas and wish to use it in the UK then you will be permitted to drive on that licence for a 12 month period without exchanging it for a British licence. However you must be at least 17 years of age to drive.

All EC countries and all of the following are permitted licences for driving on roads in the UK:

Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

To exchange your licence for a full GB Driving Licence, you should complete a D1 application form and return it to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BT with your licence and the correct fee (see D1 for details).

> For Further information

The DVLA provides a leaflet D100 which has further information on GB Driving Licences. Leaflet INF38 covers driving in Great Britain as a visitor or a new resident. Both these leaflets are available at most post offices.