The Driver & The Law
The Driving Licence
If you are wanting to drive a vehicle in the UK you must have either a valid provisional driving licence or a full driving licence.
The Provisional Licence
The DVLA or Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency are the department that issue driving licenses. You must be at least 17 years old to drive a car in the UK and for you to receive a provisional licence you must complete and return form D1 to the DVLA. When you receive your provisional licence you must display L-plates on the front and rear of your vehicle and you must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 21 years old and who is in possession of a full licence. As a holder of a provisional licence tou are not permitted to drive on a motorway.
The Full Licence
There are two parts to the driving licence, one is a theory test and the other is a practical test, this will then enable you to drive on your own and also on a motorway. Your licence consists of two parts, one is a photo licence and the other is a paper licence.
The Vehicle Registration Certificate
The V5C or Vehicle Registration Certificate shows who is the registered keeper of the vehicle, the registered keeper of the vehicle is the person who keeps the vehicle on the public road, it does not necessarily mean that they are the legal owner of the vehicle. Therefore a registration certificate is not proof of ownership. Every time the DVLA updates the record of the vehicle it will issue a new Registration certificate. It is your legal responsibility to keep the details of your vehicle registration certificate up to date, so if you move house, change your name you must let the DVLA know
The Vehicle Car Tax
Car tax or excise duty can be bought for either 6 or 12 months and must be displayed on the vehicle.The registered keeper is the person responsible for ensuring the vehicle is taxed, the keeper must also inform the DVLA when the vehicle has been scrapped or is off the road.
The MOT
All vehicles over three years old are subject to the MOT test, the purpose of the MOT is to make sure that your vehicle is roadworthy and that the legal standards required for environmental systems are reached. Whoever carries out you MOT must be a recognized Vehicle testing station that has been appointed by the VOSA or Vehicle Operator Services Agency.
If your vehicle fails it’s MOT then you must arrange for the repairs to be done as soon as possible, you are only allowed to drive the vehicle on the road if you are driving to a repair shop
Car Insurance
Driving without insurance is an extremely irresponsible thing to do and it is also illegal, you are likely to be prosecuted and fined heavily if you are not correctly insured. You could be fined up to £5000, receive between 6-8 penalty points and possibly be disqualified from driving altogether.
What types of insurance are there?
There is Comprehensive insurance, this, as it’s name suggests, is the most comprehensive and covers other people for injury and it also covers damage to your vehicle. There is third party, fire and theft, this does not cover damage to your vehicle or yourself but protects damage or injury to a third party and covers you against your vehicle being stolen or damaged by fire. Then the cheapest option which is third party cover, this basically covers anyone or their property from damaged or injury by you.
Insurance Costs
When completing your insurance form you must be fully truthful with your answers, if you neglect to inform your insurance company about any previous claims or accidents then if you do have to make a claim and your history comes to light then your policy will be invalid,m you could potentially leave yourself open to prosecution for being uninsured.
The cost of insurance varies base on the following
-
How long you have been driving
-
Where you live and where your car is parked overnight
-
The make, model and engine size of your vehicle
-
Court convictions or fixed penalty offences
-
No claims discount that you may have earned
-
Most importantly – your age, the younger you are, the more expensive the policy especially for those under the age of 25
The insurance certificate will show who is insured, the vehicle that’s covered and the time period of the cover. It will tell you also what the vehicle can and cannot be used for and whether you have cover to drive other vehicles. Whilst awaiting the aarival of the actual certificate you will normally be issued with a cover note which normally covers a month’s period. You need to keep your insurance document both safe and also at hand in case you have an accident as the police will want to see proof that you are covered.
The Driver and the Law
The Driving Licence
If you are wanting to drive a vehicle in the UK you must have either a valid provisional driving licence or a full driving licence.
The Provisional Licence
The DVLA or Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency are the department that issue driving licenses. You must be at least 17 years old to drive a car in the UK and for you to receive a provisional licence you must complete and return form D1 to the DVLA. When you receive your provisional licence you must display L-plates on the front and rear of your vehicle and you must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 21 years old and who is in possession of a full licence. As a holder of a provisional licence tou are not permitted to drive on a motorway.
The Full Licence
There are two parts to the driving licence, one is a theory test and the other is a practical test, this will then enable you to drive on your own and also on a motorway. Your licence consists of two parts, one is a photo licence and the other is a paper licence
The Vehicle Registration Certificate
The V5C or Vehicle Registration Certificate shows who is the registered keeper of the vehicle, the registered keeper of the vehicle is the person who keeps the vehicle on the public road, it does not necessarily mean that they are the legal owner of the vehicle. Therefore a registration certificate is not proof of ownership. Every time the DVLA updates the record of the vehicle it will issue a new Registration certificate. It is your legal responsibility to keep the details of your vehicle registration certificate up to date, so if you move house, change your name you must let the DVLA know
The Vehicle Car Tax
Car tax or excise duty can be bought for either 6 or 12 months and must be displayed on the vehicle.The registered keeper is the person responsible for ensuring the vehicle is taxed, the keeper must also inform the DVLA when the vehicle has been scrapped or is off the road.
The MOT
All vehicles over three years old are subject to the MOT test, the purpose of the MOT is to make sure that your vehicle is roadworthy and that the legal standards required for environmental systems are reached. Whoever carries out you MOT must be a recognized Vehicle testing station that has been appointed by the VOSA or Vehicle Operator Services Agency.
If your vehicle fails it’s MOT then you must arrange for the repairs to be done as soon as possible, you are only allowed to drive the vehicle on the road if you are driving to a repair shop
Car Insurance
Driving without insurance is an extremely irresponsible thing to do and it is also illegal, you are likely to be prosecuted and fined heavily if you are not correctly insured. You could be fined up to £5000, receive between 6-8 penalty points and possibly be disqualified from driving altogether.
What types of insurance are there?
There is Comprehensive insurance, this, as it’s name suggests, is the most comprehensive and covers other people for injury and it also covers damage to your vehicle. There is third party, fire and theft, this does not cover damage to your vehicle or yourself but protects damage or injury to a third party and covers you against your vehicle being stolen or damaged by fire. Then the cheapest option which is third party cover, this basically covers anyone or their property from damaged or injury by you.
Insurance Costs
When completing your insurance form you must be fully truthful with your answers, if you neglect to inform your insurance company about any previous claims or accidents then if you do have to make a claim and your history comes to light then your policy will be invalid,m you could potentially leave yourself open to prosecution for being uninsured.
The cost of insurance varies base on the following
-
How long you have been driving
-
Where you live and where your car is parked overnight
-
The make, model and engine size of your vehicle
-
Court convictions or fixed penalty offences
-
No claims discount that you may have earned
-
Most importantly – your age, the younger you are, the more expensive the policy especially for those under the age of 25
The insurance certificate will show who is insured, the vehicle that’s covered and the time period of the cover. It will tell you also what the vehicle can and cannot be used for and whether you have cover to drive other vehicles. Whilst awaiting the aarival of the actual certificate you will normally be issued with a cover note which normally covers a month’s period. You need to keep your insurance document both safe and also at hand in case you have an accident as the police will want to see proof that you are covered.
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