The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996

Vehicles suitable for test

33.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a practical or unitary test prescribed in respect of a category or sub-category shown in column (1) of the table at the end of this regulation shall be conducted in a vehicle having a specification equivalent to or (other than in the case of a test in respect of category F, G, H, K or P) higher than that shown in relation to that category or sub-category in column (2) of the table.

(2) Where an application for a practical test prescribed in respect of category A contains a declaration that the applicant is suffering from a relevant disability of such a nature that he is unable to ride a motor bicycle without a side-car, the applicant shall take the test on a motor bicycle and side-car combination having the following specification—

(a) in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a large motor bicycle and side-car combination, a combination in which the bicycle has a maximum net power output of not less than 35 kilowatts, and

(b) in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a standard motor bicycle and side-car combination, a combination which has a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kw/kg.

(3) A person submitting himself for a practical or unitary test shall provide a vehicle which—

(a) corresponds to the specification referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be;

(b) is not fitted with a device designed to permit a person other than the driver to operate the accelerator, unless any pedal or lever by which the device is operated and any other parts which it may be necessary to remove to make the device inoperable by such a person during the test have been removed;

(c) in the case of a test prescribed in respect of category B + E, C, C + E, D or D + E—

(i) is not carrying goods or burden other than fixed items which are characteristic of the class to which it belongs, and

(ii) is fitted with a seat which is firmly secured to the vehicle and in such a position that the examiner can properly conduct the test and is protected from bad weather during the test;

(d) in the case of a test prescribed in respect of category D, is so constructed that the examiner can, from the deck of the vehicle on which the driver is seated, clearly observe the road to the rear of the vehicle without the use of any optical device, unless—

(i) the construction of the vehicle makes it impossible to fulfil that requirement, and

(ii) the examiner consents to the requirement not being complied with in consequence of an arrangement to conduct part of the test elsewhere than on a road;

(e) in the case of a test prescribed in respect of category B + E, C + E, or D + E, is fitted with linkage and braking mechanisms which are designed for use when the trailer is fully laden; and

(f) is reasonably representative of the class to which it belongs and is otherwise suitable for the purposes of the test.

(4) In the table at the end of this regulation, “minimum test vehicle” means, in relation to any category or sub-category, a vehicle of a specification shown in relation to the category or sub-category in column (2) of the table.

TABLE

(1) Category or sub-category	(2) Specification
A in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of large motor bicycles	A motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a maximum net power output of 35 kilowatts.
A in the case of any other test	A learner motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a cylinder capacity of 121 cubic centimetres and capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
A1	A learner motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a cylinder capacity of 75 cubic centimetres.
B	Any four-wheeled vehicle in category B capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
B1 (invalid carriages)	An invalid carriage.
B1, in the case of any other test	Any vehicle in sub-category B1 capable of a speed of 60 kilometres per hour.
B + E	A combination of a minimum test vehicle for category B and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,000 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
C1	Any vehicle in sub-category C1 having a maximum authorised mass of 4,000 kilograms and capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
C1 + E	A combination of a minimum test vehicle for sub-category C1 and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 2,000 kilograms, the overall length of which is 8 metres and which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
D1	Any vehicle in sub-category D1 capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
D1 + E	A combination of a minimum test vehicle for sub-category D1 and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,250 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
C	Any vehicle in category C, other than an articulated goods vehicle, having a maximum authorised mass of 10,000 kilograms and a length of 7 metres which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
C + E	Either– (a) an articulated goods vehicle combination having a maximum authorised mass of 18,000 kilograms and a length of 12 metres which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour, or (b) a combination of a minimum test vehicle for category C and a trailer having a length of 4 metres and a maximum authorised mass of 4 tonnes, which has, in aggregate, a maximum authorised mass of 18,000 kilograms and an overall length of 12 metres and which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
D	Any vehicle in category D having a length of 9 metres and capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
D + E	A combination of a minimum test vehicle for category D and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,250 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
F	Any vehicle in category F.
G	Any vehicle in category G.
H	Any vehicle in category H.
K	Any vehicle in category K.
P	Any vehicle in category P.