Driver's license

A license from Spain, in the format of the European driving licence

A driver's license (US English), driver license (US English) or driving licence (UK English) is an official document permitting a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles, such as a motorcycle, car, truck, or bus on a public road. The laws relating to the licensing of drivers vary between jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, a license is issued after the recipient has passed a driving test, while in others, a person acquires a license before beginning to drive. Different categories of license often exist for different types of motor vehicles, particularly large trucks and passenger vehicles. The difficulty of the driving test varies considerably between jurisdictions, as do factors such as age and the required level of practice.

History

The world's first license to drive a motor vehicle, issued to Karl Benz upon his request.

Karl Benz, inventor of the modern automobile, had to receive written permission from the Grand Ducal authorities to operate his car on public roads in 1888 after residents complained about the noise and smell of his Motorwagen.^[1] Up until the start of the 20th century, European authorities issued licenses to drive motor vehicles similarly ad hoc, if at all.^[1]

The first mandatory license requirement for driving was introduced in the Motor Car Act 1903 in the United Kingdom. Every car owner had to register his automobile with his local government authority and be able to prove registration of his vehicle on request. The minimum qualifying age was set at 17. The license gave its holder 'freedom of the road' with a maximum 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limit.^[2] Compulsory testing was introduced in 1934, with the passing of the Road Traffic Act.^[3]

Prussia, then one region of the German Empire, introduced compulsory licensing on September 29, 1903. A test on mechanical aptitude had to be passed and the Dampfkesselüberwachungsverein ("steam boiler supervision association") was charged with conducting these tests.^[1] In 1910, the German imperial government mandated the licensing of drivers on a national scale, establishing a system of tests and driver's education requirements that was adopted in other countries.^[1]

Other countries in Europe also introduced driving tests during the twentieth century, the last of them being Belgium where, until 1977, it was possible to purchase and hold a license without having to undergo a driving test.^[4]

As automobile-related fatalities soared in North America, public outcry provoked legislators to begin studying the French and German statutes as models.^[5] On August 1, 1910, North America's first licensing law for motor vehicles went into effect in the US state of New York, though it initially applied only to professional chauffeurs.^[6] In July 1913, the state of New Jersey became the first to require all drivers to pass a mandatory examination before receiving a license.^[7]

Driver's licenses used for identification purposes

Many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have no national identification cards. As many people have driver's licenses, they are often accepted as de facto proof of identity. Most identity cards and driver's licenses are credit card size—the "ID-1" size and shape defined in ISO/IEC 7810.

Europe

Many European countries require drivers to produce their license on demand when driving. Some European countries require adults to carry proof of identity at all times, but a driving license is not valid for identification in every European country.

In the United Kingdom drivers are not required to carry their licence. A driver may be required by a constable or vehicle examiner to produce their licence, but may provide it in a specified police station within seven days;^[8] the police issue a form for this purpose.^[9]

In Spain, Sweden and Finland, the driver's license number is the same as the citizen's ID number.

In Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Spain, a special vehicle registration card and proof of obligatory insurance is also a driving requirement.

Asia

In Hong Kong, a driving license in Hong Kong carries the same number as the holder's ID card, but has no photograph. Upon inspection both must be presented. Plans to make the newly phased in Smart ID contain driving license information have been shelved.

Similarly, the Saudi Arabian government require all drivers to carry an ID card in addition to a license and present them whenever requested. In Saudi Arabia using a license instead is only permitted if the request is made for on-site inspection/identification purposes, especially at checkpoints. Expatriates may be requested to present their visas as well. Women, however, are not allowed to drive at all.

In Japan, South Korea, and Singapore driving license cards are widely used as identification.^[10]

Japan

Japanese driver's licenses bear one of the following 3 colors on the expiration date.

Green: New Drivers (First license in Japan) Valid for 2 to 3 years. Drivers with under one year of driving experience are required to display a "New Driver Tag" (Young Leaf Mark) on their vehicle. This holds true if the driver acquires a license for a different class of vehicle, regardless of the length of driving experience on their previous license. However, such a mark does not indicate necessarily the color on the driver's license. A driver with a young leaf mark on their car could very well be a gold driver. This is because the gold status does not disappear with a change in vehicle class.

Blue: Drivers who have fewer than 5 years of clean driving history or who do not have a clean driving record but more than 5 years of driving history. Valid for 3 to 5 years depending on age, violation history, etc.

Gold: In addition to the regular license, the Gold Driver's License (ゴールド免許, Gōrudo Menkyo^?), or Superior Drivers License (優良運転者免許証, Yūryō Untensha Menkyoshō^?), is a special designation of license given to "superior drivers" (優良運転者^?) in Japan. Holders of such licenses can be identified by the gold band printed over the expiration date of their driver's license.

Superior Driver's License, (Gold License)

The Gold License is granted to any driver who, at the point of license renewal, has at least five years of clean driving history (no driving infractions).^[11]^[12] According to implications in the Road Traffic Laws Reforms that took place on May 10, 1995, all such licenses are marked with a gold band over the license's expiration date as well as the word 優良 printed in black, below.

Those who hold a gold license have the added benefit of qualifying for the Superior Drivers Course at the time of renewal, a significantly shorter and less-expensive renewal process. In some cases, they can bypass the main license center and have their license renewed at a separate Superior Drivers License Renewal Center.^[13]

Moreover, because such license holders are proven to have been free of accidents and moving violations for at least five years, they are deemed low-risk and qualify for optional car insurance discounts. To qualify, drivers must be accident and violation-free for 5 years and 41 days prior to their birthday on their license's expiration. The period in which the license holder's driving history is reviewed begins on the 40th day prior to their birthday of that year. Should the license holder be deemed to qualify, they will receive a decision in the mail with the word 優良 printed on it.

Even the so-called "Paper Drivers" who hold licenses but never drive, who technically are without violation or accident, can lose their eligibility to obtain a gold license for several reasons including if their car is used by a drunk driver or to support drunk driving in any way.

North America

In the United States and Canada, driver's licenses are issued by the states or provinces, respectively, and do not look the same nationwide. They are also used as a de facto identification document. For persons not fit, not eligible, or who otherwise choose not to acquire a driver's license, state (United States) or provincial (Canada) agencies – usually the same as the issuer of driver licenses – will issue an identification card with similar attributes to a driver's license. Identification cards do not enable a person to operate a motor vehicle, a fact typically noted on the ID via the phrase 'Not a driver's license' or similar wording.

South America

In Venezuela, the driver's license number is the same as the citizen's ID number.

The number of a driving license issued by the Dominican Republic has the same number as the holder's Dominican Republic ID card.

Licenses for different categories of vehicles

In a number of countries (including the United States, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Ireland and sometimes Canada as well) people who drive commercially are required to have special licenses. The cost of taking the series of tests and examinations to obtain these licenses usually means that an employer would subsidize his or her drivers.

Africa

Morocco

The legal driving age of Moroccan citizens is 18.^{[citation needed]}

South Africa

The minimum driving age in South Africa is 17, when you may drive with an adult whom holds a valid driving license, after passing your learners license theory test. At 18 you can obtain a driving license after passing the road test. Small motorcycles may be driven from the age of 16. To obtain a license, applicants must pass a written or computer-based test to obtain a learner's license, and then pass a road test to obtain the driving license. Categories for licenses include CODE B (normal vehicles), CODE C1 (LDV), CODE EC (heavy trucks), CODE A (motorcycle). The learners license theory test will contain three sets of questions with multiple answer options; you will have to select the correct answer. Some driving license test centres use computers for the test, whereas other centres require you to complete the test using a test paper and pen.^[14]

Egypt

Egyptian citizens are entitled to a driver's license once they have reached the age of 18. To obtain their licenses, applicants must pass a driving test as well as several computer tests.

In order to pass, all a person had to do was drive six meters forward and then reverse six meters. However, the test was updated to make it more difficult, now the applicant has to answer 8 out of 10 correct answers in a computer test, then pass a forward & reverse S-track test in addition to an assessment of parking skills.

Ghana

Driver's licensing in Ghana is conducted by the nation's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority. The legal driving age is 18.

Kenya

The legal driving age is 18.

Tanzania

Driver's licenses are issued by the Tanzania Revenue Authority. The legal driving age for motor vehicles is 18 and for motorcycles is 16.^[15]

Asia

India

In India, being a state matter, each Indian state has a "Regional Transport Authority or "RTOs" (Regional Transport Offices) that issues licenses. Minimum age is 18 years for all vehicles, however motor cycle having engine capacity below 50 cc (3.1 cu in) may be driven at age of 16. In India, people aged more than 50 years have to undergo strict medical tests in order to obtain a license that has limited validity and requires renewal every five years. In India, a commercial driving license is valid for 3 years and requires to renewed.

Indonesia

Front side of the Indonesian Driving License card "A" class for driving normal 4 wheel car/jeep vehicle

Rear/back side of the Indonesian driving license card

In Indonesia, to drive a motor vehicle, one must own a legal Indonesian Driving License which is called (Surat Izin Mengemudi) or SIM in Indonesian. It is a card which legally permits one to drive a motor vehicle. In Indonesia, there are classes for each driving license for which is allowed to drive a type of motor vehicle:

A – to drive private passenger or cargo vehicle with weight allowed not exceeding 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)
A Public (A UMUM) - to drive commercial vehicles and goods carrier to the amount of weight that is allowed does not exceed 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)
B1 – to drive private passenger or cargo vehicle with weight allowed exceeding 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)
B1 Public (B1 UMUM) - to drive passenger vehicles and general freight allowed amount of weight over 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)
B2 - to drive heavy equipment vehicles, towing vehicles, or motor vehicles with attractive patch or trailer train individuals with severe or patches are allowed to train more than 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) trailer/s
B2 Public (B2 UMUM) - to drive commercial vehicles for towing or pull cart trailer with heavy patch that are allowed to train more than 1,000 kg trailer
C – to drive motorcycles (two-wheeled motor vehicle)
D – special vehicle for disabled person

The classes above are also allowed by the age of the driver according to the class of the driving license. The ages are accordingly issued to the different classes of the driver's choice:

17 years old for issue of Driving License class: A, C, and D
20 years old for issue of Driving License class: B1
21 years old for issue of Driving License class: B2

Israel

Lebanon

Malaysia

The minimum age for obtaining driving license varies between 16 and 21, although there is a concern about teenage driving safety.^[16]

As of November 2011, any drivers could renew their license on his or her birthday, rather than expiry date.^[17]

Pakistan

Pakistan driving license issued by Lahore District Police.

The minimum age for eligibility for learner's permit is 18 years ; as the driver's information is saved against the Computerized National ID Card number which is issued at the age of 18. The License Issuing Authorities vary to each district and work under the relative District Police.

New credit card format driving license has been introduced. The license bears the digital photo, signature and blood group information of card holder. The record of violation is stored automatically in the database. To obtain a driving license one must register for the learner's permit at any of the local District Police's designated license offices and after 42 days can apply for test for a regular full license.

The test phase consists of a theory based test followed by a short practical test. Only the ones who pass the theory test are allowed to take the practical test. The whole test stage is a single day process where both the tests are to be taken the same day. The driving license currently issued holds basic information of the Driver including Name, Father's Name, Date of birth, Address, Authorized Vehicle Types, Emergency Contact, Blood Group, Fingerprint Impression, Driver Photo. The license also has a magnetic strip though its viability is yet to be made public.

Sri Lanka

New E-Smart Card driving licenses are available in Sri Lanka. These cards are intended for the use in the proposed "Point System".

In Sri Lanka, a driving license is the official document which authorizes its holder to operate various types of motor vehicles on public roads. They are administered by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). The minimum age is 18 years for all vehicle types.

European Economic Area

Driver's licenses within the European Union are subdivided into different categories.

The European Union has adopted a common format for driving licenses within all 31 EEA memberstates (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and a common set of driving license categories. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving licenses. The common format with the same information in the same place on all licenses allows the driving license to be understood, even if it is in a different language.

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Iceland

The minimum age for getting a driver's license in Iceland is 17 for a B class license, a B class license will qualify a person to drive low powered motorcycles (50 cc (3.1 cu in) two stroke or equivalent, for more powerful bikes one will have to obtain an A class license), Tractors, ATVs and Automobiles that do not exceed a GVWR of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) or 8 passengers.

The minimum age in Iceland to get a C1 class (vehicles up to 7,500 kg (16,500 lb) GVWR) is 18, for a C class (vehicles exceeding 7,500 kg) one will have to have obtained a 12-point license (obtainable without getting a ticket for a whole year) and have reached the age of 20 years.

The minimum age in Iceland for a D class (and DE clas) license is 22 years old, the same rules apply as with a C/CE class license.

Ireland

Italy

The Netherlands

Norway

The minimum age for getting a driver's license in Norway is 16 for A1, T (tractor), 18 for A-C and 21 for D. The driver's licenses are always revoked when he/she has reached an age of 100.

Poland

Romania

The minimum age for obtaining a driver's license in Romania is 18 ("Minimum legal age in Romania")

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

The minimum driving age in the United Kingdom is 16 for mopeds under 50 cc (3.1 cu in), and 17 for cars and motorcycles. Access to motorcycles producing more than 25 kW (34 hp) is restricted to riders with two years experience or aged 21.^[18] The British Overseas Territories and the British Crown dependencies issue their own driving licences. There is no legal requirement to carry a driving license in the UK whilst driving, although it must be produced at a police station within seven days, if required to do so by a police officer.^[19]

In the United Kingdom, one must hold a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) license to drive a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats for hire or reward, or a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) license to drive a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (Maximum Authorized Mass) in excess of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb). Special licenses are required in order to transport hazardous materials.

Rest of Europe

Albania

Macedonia

Russia

Driving licence (front side). 2011

Driving licence (reverse side). 2011

Driving license (old). 2008

The Russian Empire was one of the first countries to create a driving licence. Russia's first licences were issued in 1900 by Saint Petersburg authorities, and Russia joined an international convention in 1909^{[citation needed]}. However, due to relatively small number of cars, the attempts to create a standardised Russian licence were rather sporadic and limited to major urban areas. No comprehensive system of driver licensing was present until 1936, when the Soviet government organised and standardised traffic and driving regulations, with the statewide system regulated by specialised police authorities.

Since March 2011^[20] there are 9 categories that require a driving licence:

A: any type of motorbike
B: motorized vehicle under 3.5 tons (optionally with light trailer)
C: motorized vehicle over 3.5 tons (optionally with light trailer, up to 750 kg)
D: bus (has more than 8 passenger seats) (optionally with light trailer, up to 750 kg)
BE: motorized vehicle under 3.5 tons with heavy trailer
CE: motorized vehicle over 3.5 tons with heavy trailer
DE: bus with heavy trailer
Tram: tram
Trolleybus: trolleybus

Currently Russia employs a system of driver's licenses very similar to the EU standard with two additional categories:^{[citation needed]}

A2 similar to European A limited, as A does not limit the specs of motorbikes
- Bikes with engine displacements lower than 50 cc and speeds lower than 50 km/h are considered mopeds and doesn't require license to drive
B1 for tricycles and quadracycles.

The current licence style, introduced in 1999, is a laminated plastic card similar to the European driving licence card in dimensions and outward appearance, with the bearer's photo and name (in Latin and Cyrillic scripts) to the left, place/date of issue, allowed categories and signature to the right. The reverse of the card features a detailed list of allowed categories in Russian.^[21] Older booklet-style licenses are also occasionally seen although they are no longer issued and are increasingly rare as a result. The Russian driving license is also sometimes supplemented by a special card called "временное разрешение" (temporary permission), which serves for registering offense points and as a temporary licence if the primary licence has been seized by the authorities for serious traffic offences.^[22] This supplement has been abolished and reinstated a countless number of times as the views of the traffic police change.

The legal driving age within the Russian Federation is 18 years (16 for motorcycles and 20 for buses)^[23] and to obtain a licence one must be physically fit to drive (including certificates of mental fitness and no record of substance abuse). One must also pass a test administered at a local traffic police authority and pay a fee. Tests are divided into theory and practice. The theory test is usually a computerized multiple-choice test on various traffic rules. Twenty multiple-choice questions are asked, only two incorrect answers allowed for a passing grade.^[24] A road test is then administered which includes a demonstration of basic driving skills (steering, slope starting for manual transmission vehicles and backing-up), obstacle course as well as a skills examination for road driving. Four minor errors are allowed for the road driving examination—the obstacle course is pass-fail. The number of retries is unlimited.

Turkey

Turkey is an applicant to the European Union. EU-compatible Turkish laws concerning driving licences were implemented on 1 January 2016.^{[citation needed]}