The photocard driving licence explained
The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is issuing a new style photocard driving licence. This driving licence has a number of enhanced security features that weren't available on the older version. One of the main differences between the two is the current photocard has a black and white photo while the older version had a colour one. In most cases the term of the licence is 10 years.
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, including:
- a more secure format which reduces the opportunity for misrepresentation
- 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.
Front of the new licence
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 the photocard was issued; 4b shows the date the photocard must be renewed. The authority that issued the licence is shown in 4c (in Northern Ireland this is the DVA).
Driver number (5)
Your unique eight digit NI driver number.
Holder’s photograph (6)
The new photocard licence has a black and white photo. This is because the laser technology used to burn the image onto the card producing a black and white photo is more secure. A colour photo will still need to be provided with your application to be stored on your driver record.
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.
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.
Holographic feature (10)
This feature is similar to a hologram but clearer as it has definite lines and brilliant colours. It contains a steering wheel that appears to turn as you tilt the card in different directions.
Changing images (11a and 11b)
The security feature in 11a is an image that changes both shape and colour depending on how you tilt the licence. On full (pink) licences it's a blue road sign changing to a black triangle; on a provisional (green) it's a red road sign changing to a black triangle.
The security feature in 11b is personalised according to the data on the card. It contains the last five characters of the driver number changing to the month and year of the photo expiry which appear and disappear depending on how you tilt the licence.
Back of new licence
Unique identifier (12)
Cards are to be pre numbered by the card manufacturer. This number is laser engraved onto the card prior to delivery to DVA and is unique on every card.
Not used (13 and 14)
Pictograms (15)
These illustrations are representations of types of vehicles in those categories shown.
Category validity periods (16)
These are the dates when entitlement to drive each category begins and ends.
Information codes (17)
The code numbers printed in this area indicate what (if any) restrictions the entitlement is subject to.
Steering wheel security feature (18)
This is a security feature in the shape of a steering wheel. The colour of the wheel changes from green to gold depending on how you tilt the licence.
Other security features
The driving licence also has tactile (raised) surfaces, tactile engraved text, changing colours, as well as complex background designs.
Paper counterpart driving licence
The most obvious difference in the paper counterpart is the colour; it has changed from multicoloured peach and pale blue to green and pink. The paper counterpart will show the vehicles you are entitled to drive as a learner, driving offences and other relevant information. It will also have a section where you can notify DVA of a change of address.
The previous NI photocard driving licence explained
The previous photocard driving licence issued from 1 April 1999 until 30 June 2011 has a number of differences from new version and will remain valid until the date of expiry shown at section 4b.
Photocard
- the photocard driving licence is a flexible plastic credit-card style European Communities model photocard
- 'driving licence' is translated into the languages of EC member states, appears in white in curved lines, and the line pattern varies based on number of member states at time of issue
- on the back there is a key on the left to explain the numbered items on the photocard and a table, with pictograms (9) of licence categories with space for 'valid from' (10) and 'valid until' (11) and information codes for the different categories (12)
- the DVLNI logo repeats on the entire back of the card
Paper counterpart
- the paper counterpart driving licence completes the document. The counterpart displays the DVLNI key logo at top left of heading and must be carried with the photocard
- the paper counterpart is made of multicolored peach and pale blue paper with small DVLNI key pattern repeating at the top and large key logos on right
Validation/ security features
- the card has a gold overlay, which covers 60 per cent of front and 100 per cent of back; this displays 'DVLNI' when the licence is tilted
- the Agency logo links the photo and ghost image; color intensity of the logo may vary
- microprinting surrounds the four sides of the UK flag on the top left
- a UV feature shows royal coat of arms on the front of the card
- on the back of the card, inverted triangles enclose the DVLNI logo and shows as fluorescent green under UV light
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