The photocard driving licence explained
When did DVA introduce the photocard driving licence?
DVA started issuing photocard licences on 1 April 1999
Why Photocard Licences?
Photocard licences were introduced as a result of an EU Directive requiring all member states to issue driving licences in a card format which contains the licence holder's image and signature. There are numerous benefits that photocard driving licences offer:
- A more secure format which reduces the opportunity for mis-representation
- Ensuring that the person obtaining a provisional licence, taking the test and obtaining a full driving licence is one and the same
- A reduction in impersonation at driving tests
- Ensuring that the person obtaining the licence is old enough to do so
- To minimise the chances of a person holding more than one licence, either by accident or design
- Increased accuracy of the DVA database, which will in turn provide better information to the police and courts
The Photocard driving licence
The photocard driving licence has a number of differences from the old black and white photocard version, the main one being that the plastic card part of the new licence is your driving licence, and it shows your full driving entitlements on the reverse.
Description
Flexible plastic credit-card style European Communities model photocard. "DRIVING LICENCE, " translated into the languages of EC member states, appears in white in curved lines; line pattern varies based on number of member states at time of issue. Back has key to numbered items and table, with pictograms, of license categories with space for "valid from," and "valid until" and information codes for the different categories. DVLNI logo repeats on the entire back. Paper "Counterpart Driving Licence" (not shown) completes the document; it displays "DVLNI" key logo at top left of heading and must be carried with the photocard. Paper counterpart is made of multicoloured peach and pale blue paper with small DVLNI key pattern repeating at top and large key logos on right.
Term
10 years, in most cases.
Validation/Security features
Gold overlay, which covers 60 percent of front and 100 percent of back, displays "DVLNI" when license is tilted. Agency logo links photo and ghost image; colour intensity of logo may vary. UV feature shows royal coat of arms on front; inverted triangles enclosing DVLNI logo fluorescent green under UV light on back.
The detail on your licence explained
Your personal details (1,2 and 3)
Fields 1, 2 and 3 of your photocard licence record your surname, first names, date and place of birth.
Date of licence issue, photo expiry, issuing authority (4)
The date shown in 4a is the date of issue of the licence. 4b shows the expiry date of the licence. The authority that issued the licence is shown in 4c i.e. DVLNI.
Driver number (5)
Holder's photograph (6)
Holder's signature (7)
This is digitally reproduced and burned into the photocard from the signature you provided on the application form.
Holder's address (8)
This shows the driver's permanent address in Northern Ireland.
Note: You must inform DVA at once of any change of address - It is an offence not to do so.
Entitlement categories (9)
The letters in capitals show the categories of entitlement covered by the European Community Directive. National categories are shown in smaller letters. Only categories where full entitlement is held will be shown here.
Valid from (10)
This is the date of earliest entitlement, when the symbol < precedes the date this means the date shown is the earliest date held on our computer records. Categories may have different start dates.
Valid to 11
Categories may have different expiry dates.
Information codes (12)
Code(s) will be shown here if thee are any restrictions on the related category. If a code appears on the bottom line of the table then the restriction applies to all categories held.
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