Driving licences

An endorsement must stay on your driving licence for the following periods of time:

11 years from date of conviction if the offence is:

• Drinking or drugs and driving (shown on the licence as DR10, DR20, DR30 and DR80).
• Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs (shown on the licence as CD40, CD50 and CD60).
• Causing death by careless driving, then failing to provide a specimen for analysis (shown on the licence as CD70). 
  Or 4 years from the date of conviction if the offence is for:
• Reckless/dangerous driving (shown on the licence as DD40, DD60 and DD80).
• Offences resulting in disqualification.
• Disqualified from holding a full driving licence until a driving test has been passed. 
  Or 4 years for all other offences.

However, new drivers need to note that:

• Under the New Drivers Act your driving licence will be revoked if you build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing your first driving test.
• You'll need to reapply for your driving licence as a learner driver and re sit your driving test.
• This includes any points accrued whilst still on a provisional licence
• In simple terms it means you will become a Learner Driver again and have to re-sit every part of the driving test including the theory test.

Generally, unless the vehicle is a motor cycle or constructed so as to only carry the driver, all provisional driving licence holders MUST, when driving on the road:

• Be accompanied by a full licence holder who is over 21 years of age, and has held a full British or EC licence for the class of that vehicle for a minimum of 3 years (a provisional licence and 'pass slip' does not count).
• The vehicle must also display "L" plates on both the front and rear.

Driving Licence application forms, together with information concerning relevant fees, are available from Post Offices. Queries concerning Driving Licence applications or lost licences are dealt with by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)

Enquiries about driving tests (theory and practical) should be referred to the Driving Standards Agency.

Information for visitors or new residents

The entitlement is dependent upon where the licence was issued, and the type of licence owned.

The Directgov website provides detailed information on driving in Great Britain as a visitor, or as a new resident. 

Drivers who accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of passing a driving test (probationary period), will have their licences automatically revoked by DVLA. Such drivers will revert to Provisional licence status and have to repass a test (theory and practical) to regain full entitlement.

Please refer to Directgov website for further information.

There are a number of documents a Police Officer can ask the driver of a motor vehicle to produce, these include:

• Driving Licence
• HGV Driving Licence
• Certificate of Insurance
• MOT Certificate

Production can be required when:

• A person is driving a motor vehicle on the road (and in the case of insurance a Public Place).
• The Officer reasonably believes that the person was the driver of a motor vehicle at the time of a road traffic crash.
• The Officer reasonably believes that the person was the driver of a motor vehicle at the time of a moving traffic offence.
• The supervisor of a learner driver can be required to produce their driving licence in the above circumstances (or whom an Officer has reasonable cause to believe was the supervisor).

If a person does not have these documents with them, the Police Officer will issue the person with a form HORT/1 (often referred to as a 'producer', 'seven day ticket', 'horty'). This form requires the person to produce the documents at the police station, nominated by the driver, within seven clear days from the time the officer made the requirement.

It is an offence to not produce the documents as required.

Attending to produce documents when the station is closed

Not all Sussex Front Offices are open 24hours. If calling from a yellow telephone (situated at the front of a police station in Sussex) to produce documents, the driver will usually be advised to return when the station is open, or attend another station, which is open.

Find details about your local police station opening hours.

If you have lost any of the documents you are required to produce, you should produce the documents you are able to, and immediately apply for any duplicates. Please note that photocopies of driving documents in response to a demand for production are not acceptable.

Driving Licence - Duplicate can be obtained from the DVLA, by telephone using a credit card, or by completing a form obtained from the Post Office using cheque payment.

Certificate of Insurance - Contact Insurance Broker or Company for a duplicate.

MOT - Duplicates may be obtained from the Testing Station that issued the Test Certificate. The serial number of the MOT and the date of issue may be required.

Lost HORT/1 - The driver of the vehicle is still under a legal obligation to produce their documents within 7 days of being required to do so. The form HORT/1 is a means of giving a leeway under the understanding that not everyone carries any or all of their driving documents with them when on the road.