Driving Licence Codes and Disability Vehicles

Driving Licence Codes and Disability Vehicles

For an able-bodied person to drive there does not need to be any special driving awareness course or qualification. When you reach the age of 70 you will need to renew you driving licence every three year. If however, your ability to drive changes then you may need to look into some alterations to your car or change it altogether.

You may have noticed on the back of your photocard driving licence that you have various codes which refer to the vehicles that you are able to drive. There are also codes which relate to specific mobility or physical issues and the subsequent modifications that are needed on the disability vehicles for you to be able to drive. These driving mobility codes must be met so that you can safely operate your vehicle.

DVLA have a list of codes available for you to view​.

Some examples of these codes includes

40 - this indicates a modified steering is required

15 – this indicates a modified clutch is required

31 – this indicates pedal adaptions are required

If you have suffered from long term effects of illness, accident or had an amputation that has resulted in you being unable to drive a standard car or vehicle. Even those individuals with MS, Parkinson's or Cerebral Palsy can be assessed for their driving ability. You may request a driving assessment at one of the many centres across the UK. They have a number of vehicles and training pods with various adaptions for you to try out. They can determine what is the safest way for you to drive and what adaptions are required for you to achieve this. The assessment centres are supported by the transport department of the UK Government. Here is the link for their web site​ Driving Mobility​.

It is important for DVLA to be updated and informed of any changes in your physical ability to drive and it is also important that you ensure you are driving with the restrictions in place on your chosen disabled vehicle as this can also have an impact on your insurance which can have allsorts of legal implications.

It's important to note that these codes can vary depending on the specific needs of the driver, and the DVLA may require additional information or medical clearance before adding these codes to a license. Drivers with disabilities should consult with the DVLA to determine the appropriate mobility code for their situation.