1999 No. 72

ROAD TRAFFIC

Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1999

Made14th January 1999

Laid before Parliament19th January 1999

Coming into force

for the purposes of regulation 2 (partially) and regulation 41st April 1999

for the purposes of regulation 2 (partially) and regulation 36th April 1999

for all other purposes10th February 1999

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 89(4)(b), 94(5)(b), 97(1), 105(1), (2) and (3) and 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 19881, after consulting with representative organisations in accordance with section 195(2) of that Act and with the approval of the Treasury2, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 and shall come into force—

a

for the purposes of regulation 4 and regulation 2 to the extent that it refers to that regulation, on 1st April 1999;

b

for the purposes of regulation 3 and regulation 2 to the extent that it refers to that regulation, on 6th April 1999;

c

for all other purposes, on 10th February 1999.

Amendment of Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996

2

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 19963 (“the Principal Regulations”) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 6 below.

3

In regulation 31(1)(b) for “£15” there shall be substituted “£15.50”.

4

For the table in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Table of licence fees) there shall be substituted the table in Schedule 1 below.

5

Subject to regulation 7 below, for the table in Schedule 5 (Fees for tests) there shall be substituted the table in Schedule 2 below.

6

After regulation 69 there shall be inserted—

Examination by an officer of the Secretary of State69A
1
There are prescribed for the purposes of section 94(5)(b)(ii) of the Traffic Act4 (examination of a licence applicant or holder by an officer of the Secretary of State) the following disabilities—
a
impairment of visual acuity or of the central or peripheral visual field;
b
a disability consisting of any one or more of the following—
i
the absence of one or more limbs,
ii
the deformity of one or more limbs,
iii
the loss of use of one or more limbs whether or not progressive in nature, and
iv
impairment of co-ordination of movement of the limbs or of co-ordination between a limb and the eye;
c
impairment of cognitive functions or behaviour.
2
In paragraph (1)(b), a reference to a limb includes a reference to part of a limb, and the reference to loss of use in relation to a limb includes a reference to impairment of limb movement, power or sensation.

Transitional provision7

Regulation 5 shall not apply in the case of an application for an appointment for a practical or unitary test (as defined in the Principal Regulations) to be conducted on or before 3rd May 1999, in respect of which the provisions of the table in Schedule 5 to the Principal Regulations in force immediately before the making of these Regulations shall apply.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Larry WhittyParliamentary Under Secretary,Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions11th January 1999

We approve the making of these Regulations

Bob AinsworthJim DowdTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury14th January 1999

SCHEDULE 1PROVISIONS INSERTED IN SUBSTITUTION FOR PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 3

Regulation 4

TABLE OF FEES
Description of Licence and circumstances of application
Fee payable
1
A first licence.
£23.50
2
A provisional licence granted following the revocation of a licence under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 19955.
£23.50
3
A full licence granted in exchange for a full Northern Ireland licence or to a person who has held a full Northern Ireland licence which was granted on or after 1st January 1976.
£13.50
4
A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category A except—
a
a first licence,
b
a licence granted following the revocation of a licence under section 93(1) or (2) of the Traffic Act or the delivery of a Community licence to the Secretary of State under section 99C(1), (2) or (3) of the Traffic Act6, or
c
a licence falling within paragraph 8, 12 or 13.
£13.50
5
A licence which is the applicant’s first full Group 1 licence, first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles in category C or first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles in category D.
£8.50
6
A licence granted in exchange for a licence still in force or in place of a licence which has been revoked or a Community licence which is required to be delivered to the Secretary of State, except—
a
a licence granted pursuant to section 118(4) of the Traffic Act,
b
a licence granted following the revocation of a licence under section 93(1) of the Traffic Act or the delivery of a Community licence to the Secretary of State under section 99C(1) or (3) of the Traffic Act,
c
a licence which the licensing authority is required to grant free of charge under section 93(2), 99(7) or 99C(2) of the Traffic Act,
d
a short Group 2 licence, or
e
a licence falling within any other paragraph of this Part.
£13.50
7
A Group 1 licence granted upon the expiry of a previous Group 1 licence, except—
a
a licence falling within paragraph 4, or
b
a licence granted under section 99(1)(b) of the Traffic Act.
£8.50
8
A licence granted by way of replacement of a lost or defaced licence.
£13.50
9
A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category C.
£23.50
10
A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category D.
£23.50
11
A full Group 2 licence granted upon the expiry of a previous full Group 2 licence, other than a licence granted under section 99(1)(b) or (1A) (c) of the Traffic Act7
£28.50
12
A licence, other than a short Group 2 licence, granted upon the expiry of a period of disqualification ordered by a court under section 34 or 35 of the Offenders Act8—
a
in the circumstances prescribed under section 94(4) of the Traffic Act9 irrespective of the date when the court order was made;
£33.50
b
otherwise than in those circumstances.
£24.50
13
A provisional licence, other than a first licence, granted following disqualification ordered by a court under section 36 of the Offenders Act, whether or not the court also made an order under section 34 or 35 of that Act—
a
in the circumstances prescribed under section 94(4) of the Traffic Act irrespective of the date when the court order was made;
£33.50
b
otherwise than in those circumstances.
£24.50
14
A provisional Group 2 licence granted first to a person who has been ordered to take a driving test under section 117 or 117A of the Traffic Act10.
£24.50

Description of Licence and circumstances of application	Fee payable
1 A first licence.	£23.50
2 A provisional licence granted following the revocation of a licence under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 19955.	£23.50
3 A full licence granted in exchange for a full Northern Ireland licence or to a person who has held a full Northern Ireland licence which was granted on or after 1st January 1976.	£13.50
4 A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category A except— a a first licence, b a licence granted following the revocation of a licence under section 93(1) or (2) of the Traffic Act or the delivery of a Community licence to the Secretary of State under section 99C(1), (2) or (3) of the Traffic Act6, or c a licence falling within paragraph 8, 12 or 13.	£13.50
5 A licence which is the applicant’s first full Group 1 licence, first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles in category C or first full licence authorising the driving of vehicles in category D.	£8.50
6 A licence granted in exchange for a licence still in force or in place of a licence which has been revoked or a Community licence which is required to be delivered to the Secretary of State, except— a a licence granted pursuant to section 118(4) of the Traffic Act, b a licence granted following the revocation of a licence under section 93(1) of the Traffic Act or the delivery of a Community licence to the Secretary of State under section 99C(1) or (3) of the Traffic Act, c a licence which the licensing authority is required to grant free of charge under section 93(2), 99(7) or 99C(2) of the Traffic Act, d a short Group 2 licence, or e a licence falling within any other paragraph of this Part.	£13.50
7 A Group 1 licence granted upon the expiry of a previous Group 1 licence, except— a a licence falling within paragraph 4, or b a licence granted under section 99(1)(b) of the Traffic Act.	£8.50
8 A licence granted by way of replacement of a lost or defaced licence.	£13.50
9 A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category C.	£23.50
10 A provisional licence authorising the driving of vehicles of a class included in category D.	£23.50
11 A full Group 2 licence granted upon the expiry of a previous full Group 2 licence, other than a licence granted under section 99(1)(b) or (1A) (c) of the Traffic Act7	£28.50
12 A licence, other than a short Group 2 licence, granted upon the expiry of a period of disqualification ordered by a court under section 34 or 35 of the Offenders Act8— a in the circumstances prescribed under section 94(4) of the Traffic Act9 irrespective of the date when the court order was made;	£33.50
b otherwise than in those circumstances.	£24.50
13 A provisional licence, other than a first licence, granted following disqualification ordered by a court under section 36 of the Offenders Act, whether or not the court also made an order under section 34 or 35 of that Act— a in the circumstances prescribed under section 94(4) of the Traffic Act irrespective of the date when the court order was made;	£33.50
b otherwise than in those circumstances.	£24.50
14 A provisional Group 2 licence granted first to a person who has been ordered to take a driving test under section 117 or 117A of the Traffic Act10.	£24.50

SCHEDULE 2PROVISIONS INSERTED IN SUBSTITUTION FOR SCHEDULE 5

Regulation 5

(1) Category or sub-category of vehicle
(2) Test, other than an extended driving test, commencing:
(3) Extended driving test commencing
(a) During normal hours
(b) Out of hours
(a) During normal hours
(b) Out of hours
1
A and P
£45.00
£55.00
£90.00
£110.00
2
B1, B, F, G, H, and K
£36.75
£46.00
£73.50
£92.00
3
B1 (invalid carriages)
No fee
No fee
No fee
No fee
4
B+E, C1, C1+E, D1, D1+E, C, C+E, D and D+E
£73.50
£92.00
—
—

(1) Category or sub-category of vehicle	(2) Test, other than an extended driving test, commencing:	(3) Extended driving test commencing
	(a) During normal hours	(b) Out of hours	(a) During normal hours	(b) Out of hours
1 A and P	£45.00	£55.00	£90.00	£110.00
2 B1, B, F, G, H, and K	£36.75	£46.00	£73.50	£92.00
3 B1 (invalid carriages)	No fee	No fee	No fee	No fee
4 B+E, C1, C1+E, D1, D1+E, C, C+E, D and D+E	£73.50	£92.00	—	—

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 as follows.

1

Regulation 4 and Schedule 1 amend the fees payable upon an application for a driving licence made on or after 1st April 1999.

Driving licence fees were last increased on 1st July 1998. Save for the exception mentioned below, the following table shows that where an existing fee is that specified in column 1 the new fee will be that shown in column 2. The percentage increase is shown in column 3:
1. Existing fee
2. New fee
3. Percentage increase
£6
£8.50
41.7%
£11
£13.50
22.7%
£17
£24.50
30.6%
£21
£23.50
11.9%
£26
£33.50
28.8%
The exception is the fee payable on the renewal of a Group 2 licence, which is altered from £26 to £28.50, an increase of 9.6%.

1. Existing fee	2. New fee	3. Percentage increase
£6	£8.50	41.7%
£11	£13.50	22.7%
£17	£24.50	30.6%
£21	£23.50	11.9%
£26	£33.50	28.8%

2

Regulation 5 and Schedule 2 amend the fees payable upon an application for a practical driving test where the test is to be conducted on or after 4th May 1999.

Practical driving test fees were last increased for tests booked on or after 1st April 1998.

The following tables show the new fees with the percentage change in brackets:

ORDINARY TESTS

Type of vehicle	Test commenced during normal hours	Tests commenced during evenings and weekends
Motor cycles and mopeds	£45 (15.4%)	£55 (5.8%)
Motor cars, tractors and minor categories	£36.75 (12.2%)	£46 (7%)
Cars with trailers, goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles	£73.50 (no change)	£92 (no change)

EXTENDED TESTS

Type of vehicle	Test commenced during normal hours	Tests commenced during evenings and weekends
Motor cars	£73.50 (12.2%)	£92 (7%)
Motor cycles	£90 (15.4%)	£110 (5.8%)

3

Regulation 3 increases the theory test fee, which has remained unchanged since July 1996, from £15 to £15.50 for tests booked on or after 6th April 1999.

4

Regulation 6 enables the Secretary of State to serve notice on a person whom he believes to be suffering from specified types of relevant disability (namely certain visual defects and limb disabilities and the impairment of cognitive function) requiring that person to be examined by one of his own officers rather than a registered medical practitioner.