Driving License Group/s

[Crumpeteer]

Hi

I'm very new to the hobby and have another question:

I passed my driving test in 1968 (manual car) but in 1978 I received a new licence as I had a change of address. This new licence stated that I was permitted to drive vehicles in groups 'A' & ‘E’. I never bothered to check the full details of these two groups as I was only then really interested in driving a car.

Now, I've read the term; 'Grandfather Rights' which I understand to mean that whatever group/s one was covered to drive when first passing their test would be honoured even if legislation was to change later on. I am now wondering if the fact that I passed my test all those years ago (1968) I may have different rules regarding towing a caravan or whatever.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

You appear to have posted the same question here that you posted in another thread. You may end up getting different answers in both threads and not have continuity.

 

[Damian]

Looking at my driving licence (test passed1967) there is no Group E.

The groups are AM, A1, A2, B1, B, C1,C,D1,D,BE,C1E,CE,D1E,D, fklnpq.

My licence covers ALL groups except A1,A2,C,D,CE,DE.

So, the question is : What does your licence actually say?????????

Note: Post edited to fix wrongly posted category, my mistake , should have double checked before posting.
Thanks to swpostie for pointing that out.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I passed my bike and car tests back in the late 1960s and my licence is the same as Damian's

licence covers ALL groups except A1, A2, C, D, CE, DE.

E is a trailer.

 

[swpostie]

Looking at my driving licence (test passed1967) there is no Group E.

The groups are AM, A1, A2, B1, B, C1,C,D1,D,BE,E,CE,D1E,D, fklnpq.

My licence covers ALL groups except A1,A2,C,D,CE,DE.

So, the question is : What does your licence actually say?????????

What's that then?

 

[Damian]

Looking at my driving licence (test passed1967) there is no Group E.

The groups are AM, A1, A2, B1, B, C1,C,D1,D,BE,E,CE,D1E,D, fklnpq.

My licence covers ALL groups except A1,A2,C,D,CE,DE.

So, the question is : What does your licence actually say?????????

What's that then?

That's a mistake, it should be C1E but my computer missed putting the C1 in,,,,sorry !!

 

[tenpole]

Its for just a trailer when it comes unhitched like in a Benny Hill sketch with you still on it.

 

[Crumpeteer]

WoodlandsCamper
You are correct and very observant.
After my first posting I realized that my second question in regards to a driving licence was a different topic, and therefore should be treated as such.
I did look to see if I could delete one of them but could not find the means to do so.

 

[Crumpeteer]

I've mislaid my licence but do have a photocopy of its front and all it states is groups A, E.

I hope the A & E groups are not some kind of passport to hospital.

Thank you to all

 

[Gafferbill]

New and Old driving license groups

A .......was an very large group of vehicles that has now been sub divided.
E ......was mopeds.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi, all those with sub-divided licences must at some point have renewed their licence since passing the test and had the groups changed accordingly,
if memory serves, mine [passed test in 1966] comprised of groups A,D,E, and fghklm, "I think"
A, any vehicle, with or without trailer, [manual transmission]
B, any vehicle, with or without trailer, [automatic transmission]
C, not applicable was commercial vehicle, only applied after 21, [I was 17]
D, motorcycle,
E, electrically driven vehicle,
the other groups fghklm ect, referred other groups one could drive or use while displaying "L" plates like road rollers mowing machines pedestrian controlled vehicles, and tracked vehicles [steered by tracks] .

if you passed the test in a manual you got a "A" group [which also covers "B"] but if you passed in an automatic you got a "B" group, and not "A" but could still drive a manual if displaying "L" plates and was accompanied by a driver with a "A" licence,

note' if you still have one of these licences you can drive any vehicle of any weight with or without trailer, provided it is not a HGV, [heavy goods vehicle] or PSV [public service vehicle] and is only taxed for private use, in other words you cannot drive a bus with paying passengers, but you could drive a double decker, if it was converted into a motor home for private use,
oh and if you still have one of the old licences everyone will hate you, :woohoo:

 

[Crumpeteer]

"oh and if you still have one of the old licences everyone will hate you"

Well yes, I do have an old green one...Ha Ha!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Does that mean you've never moved house nor had the postcode amended for you? We've been in the same house for 35 years and had 3 different postcodes in that time. :evil:

 

[colin-yorkshire]

"oh and if you still have one of the old licences everyone will hate you"

Well yes, I do have an old green one...Ha Ha!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: in that case your a King, :woohoo: the authorities do tend to frown upon the privileged few who still have the right to drive almost anything, as they have been busy reducing the range of vehicles that the ordinary driver can use for years and years, I had been stopped a few times driving large unusual vehicles only to be told "you really should get this changed to a new photo licence" to continue driving and using this could lead to prosecution. OH yeah" then give me a ticket and I'll see you in court" :cheer: :cheer: I was very annoyed when mine was lost due to having my wallet stolen in 2014, had to replace it with a photo one and lost 30% of my entitlement overnight. keep it until the very last day while it is valid, just to annoy the Bu**ers, :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Dustydog]

Does that mean you've never moved house nor had the postcode amended for you? We've been in the same house for 35 years and had 3 different postcodes in that time. :evil:

Are you Welsh or English now :woohoo:

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Does that mean you've never moved house nor had the postcode amended for you? We've been in the same house for 35 years and had 3 different postcodes in that time. :evil:

Are you Welsh or English now :woohoo:

English, and always will be. My final request is that I am to be cremated and my ashes scattered in ENGLAND. Location has been agreed with landowner.

 

[Dustydog]

Does that mean you've never moved house nor had the postcode amended for you? We've been in the same house for 35 years and had 3 different postcodes in that time. :evil:

Are you Welsh or English now :woohoo:

English, and always will be. My final request is that I am to be cremated and my ashes scattered in ENGLAND. Location has been agreed with landowner.

B)

 

[Gabsgrandad]

We've lived in the same house for 50+ years, but lived in 3 counties, but never had a post code change!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

As well as the 3 postcode changes we have also been in 3 counties.

 

[Crumpeteer]

WoodlandsCamper

My wife and I have lived in the same house for 42 years and the postcode has never changed. The only thing that has in all that time is our phone number & area code.

 

[Crumpeteer]

colin-yorkshire

I'm not king, as I've just found out that the silly beggers at DVLA reckon I'm not on their system. I phoned them just to clarify what I can drive. All they kept saying was what addresses have you lived at, and I kept telling them that I had lived at the same address as the last time they contacted me when they wanted me to return my licence so they could place an endorsement on it for speeding in 1996.

Now I've got the trouble of writing to them. I won't be sending my actual driving licence but just a photocopy of it. Can you imagine my sending the actual licence and it getting lost in the post, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

If they say I haven't got a licence, then my insurance will be void and I will be driving illegally.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

OH, the DVLA, Erm good luck, they dont know their a*se for their elbows, and wait for all the bulls***t about having to apply for a photo one, as all licences are now digital and no one can be bothered to go into the cellar/vault to go through all the paper files to find it. if it's not on a screen in front of them it does not exist.

had the same issue with a pre-war motorbike, that had the old green log book, and been sat in a shed for 60 years, that did not exist either, it took almost 2 years to get that sorted they kept telling me no such bike was on record, even though I sent in the logbook, [my mistake] and applied for a new document stating engine and frame number, and date of first registration. at one point they wanted a letter from the manufacturer, as proof of authenticity, yeah right. I'll just pop into the time machine and get one, .

 

[chrisn7]

I hope that none of those who fondly retain their old style licences ever have to show them to a gendarme, as I did once during a routine weight check at a peage. I duly whipped out the old green jobbie, and after a minute or so of trying to grasp what it all meant, said gendarme simply gave up in frustration. Fortunately, I had everything else including the CRIS certificate and I was allowed on my way. If he had chosen to make me wait whilst someone who understood the Brit licence was found, we might have been there a while.

I changed to the photo licence as soon as I got home after that episode.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

I hope that none of those who fondly retain their old style licences ever have to show them to a gendarme, as I did once during a routine weight check at a peage. I duly whipped out the old green jobbie, and after a minute or so of trying to grasp what it all meant, said gendarme simply gave up in frustration. Fortunately, I had everything else including the CRIS certificate and I was allowed on my way. If he had chosen to make me wait whilst someone who understood the Brit licence was found, we might have been there a while.

I changed to the photo licence as soon as I got home after that episode.

I would never have given mine up until the last day, [05/19] when I would have to have changed it at 70, the target date for the unlimited licence is before 1st of Jan 1976, when restrictions were starting to appear on the groups list.
there are now very few of these about, if you passed your test before that date and still have the original one. :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: your a winner. if however you had to change it for some reason [change of address ect] the groups and restrictions apply from when the new one was issued.
my mate Mo is a farmer, been helping him at busy times for 50 years, inc driving the grain wagon, after 2014 and the new photo licence I cannot drive any of the heavy stuff as it is over the 8250kg, or the tracked dozer, which I could before,

 

[chrisn7]

I don't have much need, or desire, this week for driving farm machinery and tracked vehicles :huh: