Pages: [1] 2 :: one page |
|
Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 09:43:00 -
[1]
(This post contains lots of explanations of things for those who aren't familiar with how driver licencing works in the UK - I've moved some of the really long explainy-bits to foot notes with little "*"'s in the right places.)
I thought that a big important organisation like the DVLA would be quite strict and word-perfect with everything they do, concidering how important a driving licence is: It can mean having a job and a livelyhood and NOT having a job and livelyhood, the licence is also a good form of photo-ID. It's quite an important document, don't you think? So you'd expect the DVLA to make correct and accurate changes to it when changes are needed...
I passed a category D test last year (Category D in the UK is basically full-size buses and coaches), in an automatic bus. So I had my normal car (Cat B) licence, and cat D with the code '78' (which means restricted to automatic transmission buses/coaches).
I then passed a cat C (big rigid (NOT articulated) trucks) test in a manual truck. Not only should this have given me the full cat C on my licence, but it should also have 'upgraded' my cat D*, so that the code 78 was dropped and I could drive manual buses/coaches.
When my licence came back, the code 78 was still there. Even though I knew I was technically licenced to drive manual buses/coaches, but I couldn't legally do so because it wasn't shown like that on my licence! So I phoned up and had it confirmed that I should have gotten the upgrade, and they gave me a special address to send it back to and suggested a cover note to explain what I wanted doing to my licence.
It came back again and this time - VOILA! I had the right licence!
I then passed a category CE** test, and the fun started again.
My category CE allowed me to drive pretty much any large goods vehicle, articulated or not, towing a big ass trailer or not etc etc. It should also have upgraded my cat D and B to DE and BE***, but when my licence came back, they'd given me the CE, the C1E AND the BE, but NOT the DE or D1E! So they got it wrong again! I phoned up, got that address again, and sent it off, and FINALLY, it's come back, and I have every category on there that I should (but they've run out of room, so they omitted lower cateogories to make room.
Anyhoo, now that I've run out of characters in this post, here's the final part, the final 'finished' licence that I'm in love with...
YAY!
Well if anyone read all that, I salute you. I have 50 characters left, no wait... 14 characters le
* Category C is the 'highest' category and can 'upgrade' the other categories. So getting manual entitlement here will give you manual entitlement on your cat D. Getting trailer entitlement with your cat C will give you trailer entitlement with your cat D and cat B. C1 will upgrade your D1 and your B, I believe, but not a D. See the official DVLA website for full explanation of stuffs.
**The 'E' basically means big ass trailer. If you passed your car driving test before 1997ish, you automatically got things on your licence like C1/C1E (light goods vehicles and light goods vehicles with trailers, D1/D1E minbuses/minibuses with trailers - and you could drive those category vehicles as long as you weren't getting paid for it, basically. You also used to get BE automatically - which is Car+Trailer. However today, you don't automatically get these entitlements, so you can't pull a trailer more than 750kg with your car without taking another driving test - so no caravanning with big caravans! You also can't drive any vehicle combination that weighs more than something like 3250kg or something like that. ALSO also, nothing with more than 8 seats!
***Passing a cat B test automatically gives you cat B1, the same for D/D1 and C/C1 - higher categories give you the sub-categories automatically, ie if you can drive a BIG ass truck, you get the licence to drive small ones too, which makes sense -------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 09:43:00 -
[2]
(This post contains lots of explanations of things for those who aren't familiar with how driver licencing works in the UK - I've moved some of the really long explainy-bits to foot notes with little "*"'s in the right places.)
I thought that a big important organisation like the DVLA would be quite strict and word-perfect with everything they do, concidering how important a driving licence is: It can mean having a job and a livelyhood and NOT having a job and livelyhood, the licence is also a good form of photo-ID. It's quite an important document, don't you think? So you'd expect the DVLA to make correct and accurate changes to it when changes are needed...
I passed a category D test last year (Category D in the UK is basically full-size buses and coaches), in an automatic bus. So I had my normal car (Cat B) licence, and cat D with the code '78' (which means restricted to automatic transmission buses/coaches).
I then passed a cat C (big rigid (NOT articulated) trucks) test in a manual truck. Not only should this have given me the full cat C on my licence, but it should also have 'upgraded' my cat D*, so that the code 78 was dropped and I could drive manual buses/coaches.
When my licence came back, the code 78 was still there. Even though I knew I was technically licenced to drive manual buses/coaches, but I couldn't legally do so because it wasn't shown like that on my licence! So I phoned up and had it confirmed that I should have gotten the upgrade, and they gave me a special address to send it back to and suggested a cover note to explain what I wanted doing to my licence.
It came back again and this time - VOILA! I had the right licence!
I then passed a category CE** test, and the fun started again.
My category CE allowed me to drive pretty much any large goods vehicle, articulated or not, towing a big ass trailer or not etc etc. It should also have upgraded my cat D and B to DE and BE***, but when my licence came back, they'd given me the CE, the C1E AND the BE, but NOT the DE or D1E! So they got it wrong again! I phoned up, got that address again, and sent it off, and FINALLY, it's come back, and I have every category on there that I should (but they've run out of room, so they omitted lower cateogories to make room.
Anyhoo, now that I've run out of characters in this post, here's the final part, the final 'finished' licence that I'm in love with...
YAY!
Well if anyone read all that, I salute you. I have 50 characters left, no wait... 14 characters le
* Category C is the 'highest' category and can 'upgrade' the other categories. So getting manual entitlement here will give you manual entitlement on your cat D. Getting trailer entitlement with your cat C will give you trailer entitlement with your cat D and cat B. C1 will upgrade your D1 and your B, I believe, but not a D. See the official DVLA website for full explanation of stuffs.
**The 'E' basically means big ass trailer. If you passed your car driving test before 1997ish, you automatically got things on your licence like C1/C1E (light goods vehicles and light goods vehicles with trailers, D1/D1E minbuses/minibuses with trailers - and you could drive those category vehicles as long as you weren't getting paid for it, basically. You also used to get BE automatically - which is Car+Trailer. However today, you don't automatically get these entitlements, so you can't pull a trailer more than 750kg with your car without taking another driving test - so no caravanning with big caravans! You also can't drive any vehicle combination that weighs more than something like 3250kg or something like that. ALSO also, nothing with more than 8 seats!
***Passing a cat B test automatically gives you cat B1, the same for D/D1 and C/C1 - higher categories give you the sub-categories automatically, ie if you can drive a BIG ass truck, you get the licence to drive small ones too, which makes sense -------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
Jenny Spitfire
Caldari LoneStar Industries Veritas Immortalis
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 10:24:00 -
[3]
Gratz. --------- Technica impendi Caldari generis. Pax Caldaria!
Go vote! Put voice for silent majority. LOVE PVP, HATE grief |
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 10:26:00 -
[4]
Thanks Jen -------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
Mangala Solaris
Caldari Ma'adim Logistics
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 10:50:00 -
[5]
So is there anything left - on the ground that is - that you CANNOT drive?
Thats quite the license there :D -------
|
Xrak
Black Eclipse Corp Band of Brothers
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 10:52:00 -
[6]
Wow that must have cost a fair bit, I know the old HGV tests were not cheap.
|
Jenny Spitfire
Caldari LoneStar Industries Veritas Immortalis
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 10:59:00 -
[7]
Originally by: Mangala Solaris So is there anything left - on the ground that is - that you CANNOT drive?
Thats quite the license there :D
2 tires. --------- Technica impendi Caldari generis. Pax Caldaria!
Go vote! Put voice for silent majority. LOVE PVP, HATE grief |
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 11:09:00 -
[8]
Originally by: Mangala Solaris So is there anything left - on the ground that is - that you CANNOT drive?
Thats quite the license there :D
Dangerous goods and/or petrol tankers - they need extra qualifications. As does HIABs (crane things on the back of trucks), Forklifts, Motorbikes - need the cat A for that.
-------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 11:13:00 -
[9]
Originally by: Xrak Wow that must have cost a fair bit, I know the old HGV tests were not cheap.
I trained for my category D licence with the company I still work for - and instead of paying them to get cat D, they PAY YOU to train, because you then work for them for long time after. The cat C cost me ú850 ish in total, the added 'E' for CE cost another ú550 ish.
To get the ADR training to drive tankers, I'm looking at ú500ish again. But then I could earn up to ú40k instead of the ú18k im on at the moment, LOL! -------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
Grimpak
Gallente Trinity Nova Trinity Nova Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 11:39:00 -
[10]
Originally by: The TX
Originally by: Mangala Solaris So is there anything left - on the ground that is - that you CANNOT drive?
Thats quite the license there :D
Dangerous goods and/or petrol tankers - they need extra qualifications. As does HIABs (crane things on the back of trucks), Forklifts, Motorbikes - need the cat A for that.
special vehicles too? those extra-large ones that transport whole bridge sections and self-propelled cranes? (I have a weird dream of grabbing one of those 8-wheelers, remove the crane, and mount a ****in' howitzer in it) |
|
Kazuo Ishiguro
House of Marbles Zzz
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 11:46:00 -
[11]
Originally by: Grimpak special vehicles too? those extra-large ones that transport whole bridge sections and self-propelled cranes? (I have a weird dream of grabbing one of those 8-wheelers, remove the crane, and mount a ****in' howitzer in it)
You need more than just a licence to drive one of those... |
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 12:43:00 -
[12]
Originally by: Kazuo Ishiguro
Originally by: Grimpak special vehicles too? those extra-large ones that transport whole bridge sections and self-propelled cranes? (I have a weird dream of grabbing one of those 8-wheelers, remove the crane, and mount a ****in' howitzer in it)
You need more than just a licence to drive one of those...
Yeah, for really abnormal sized stuff you need to fill in lots of paperwork and get lots of permissions, but the basic licence is still gonna be C or CE depending on whether your truck is rigid or articulated/with trailer.
-------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
KingsGambit
Caldari Knights
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 12:46:00 -
[13]
*caresses his Category A license* Hehe, I think I did my test back when you passed in a car they gave you cat C (vans and small lorries n'est ce pas?) for free as well That's a pretty tricked out license you got there though, good job. My motorbike will still go faster than you though :D Or it would if I had one Would really like to do a PPL myself, just afraid of how much the lessons cost. -------------
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 12:49:00 -
[14]
Edited by: The TX on 28/06/2008 12:51:58
Originally by: KingsGambit *caresses his Category A license* Hehe, I think I did my test back when you passed in a car they gave you cat C (vans and small lorries n'est ce pas?) for free as well That's a pretty tricked out license you got there though, good job. My motorbike will still go faster than you though :D Or it would if I had one Would really like to do a PPL myself, just afraid of how much the lessons cost.
Depends on the aircraft, I'm doing PPL as well! lol.
At the moment, I'm getting an aircraft for ú85 per hour, plus ú30 an hour paid directly to the instructor, plus any landing/touch+go/other airport fees. landing fee is ú16.50 at Shoreham Airport (link for the flying school not the airport).
Shoreham Airport was used in the Da Vinci code - when they land in the jet in 'London' or wherever, I can't really remember the film - they're actually in Shoreham, LOL
Edit: With reference to this link, I'm supposed to be in the PA28, but it's been broken for MONTHS so they've allowed me to fly in the 172 instead, for the same price. The 172 is the most fuel hungry and therefore most expensive single engine plane they have afaik, so I'm making a killing atm. I can't use their DA40s cuz they're too small for me! |
vanBuskirk
Caldari
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 12:51:00 -
[15]
Do tracked vehicles have their own section on a licence?
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 12:52:00 -
[16]
Originally by: vanBuskirk Do tracked vehicles have their own section on a licence?
yeah - tracked vehicles are different too.
|
Gaylord Demian
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 13:54:00 -
[17]
you could have saved yourself a whole lot of money by joining the TA and getting the Army to pay for all that.
Oh and you would have a military grade license then.
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 14:01:00 -
[18]
Originally by: ***lord Demian you could have saved yourself a whole lot of money by joining the TA and getting the Army to pay for all that.
Oh and you would have a military grade license then.
But then I'd have to join the Army. Not something on my to do list in life - possibility of death would increase greatly.
|
Blydchyld
Caldari Galactic Extensive Enterprises
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 14:11:00 -
[19]
TA = Part time army!
I LIKE ARK!
The above post is my post and does not represent the views of any entity, If my views have upset you PM me |
pwnedgato
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 18:58:00 -
[20]
Silly Brits and your overly complex licensing laws... Here in America some vestiges of Darwin's Law remain at least.
Originally by: Crumplecorn These is a forum for this.
|
|
Xrak
Black Eclipse Corp Band of Brothers
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 19:13:00 -
[21]
Originally by: pwnedgato Silly Brits and your overly complex licensing laws... Here in America some vestiges of Darwin's Law remain at least.
[Southern USA accent]Who is this darwin you speak of? [/accent]
|
Micheal Dietrich
Caldari Terradyne Networks
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 19:18:00 -
[22]
I wonder what his spaceship command tab looks like? |
brakespear
Minmatar Heaven Up Here
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 19:20:00 -
[23]
Originally by: Micheal Dietrich I wonder what his spaceship command tab looks like?
wins |
FireFoxx80
Caldari E X O D U S Imperial Republic Of the North
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 20:04:00 -
[24]
Wow TX, gratz. |
pwnedgato
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 21:13:00 -
[25]
Originally by: Xrak
Originally by: pwnedgato Silly Brits and your overly complex licensing laws... Here in America some vestiges of Darwin's Law remain at least.
[Southern USA accent]Who is this darwin you speak of? [/accent]
Hey I live in the south! |
Viktor Fyretracker
Caldari Caldari Provisions
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 07:06:00 -
[26]
im just wondering, how many manual busses(coaches are busses in the UK?) still exist in the UK. i know here in the US pretty much all of them from City and school bus up to the big Greyhounds are all automatics.
|
EnslaverOfMinmatar
Yarsk Hunters DeaDSpace Coalition
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 07:23:00 -
[27]
So can you fly a Titan or not? |
Vistilantus
Caldari State Protectorate
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 11:50:00 -
[28]
congrats :) I`m saving up for my tracked vehicle license (class h) then i need to find a tank to drive to work ^_^
Also good to see the organ donor code on there aswell ;) ___________________________________________________ ~Vistilantus |
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 15:11:00 -
[29]
Originally by: Viktor Fyretracker im just wondering, how many manual busses(coaches are busses in the UK?) still exist in the UK. i know here in the US pretty much all of them from City and school bus up to the big Greyhounds are all automatics.
99.9999% seem to be auto these days. Lots of old second/third/fourth-hand vehicles are manual. But these are almost all pre-mid-90's. AFAIK, anything new will be auto - I've not heard of a brand new manual vehicle.
I have a small big dream that I'm gonna get an old knackered bus or coach and go touring with all my mates around the UK/Europe/World, and I thought I'd tow my car on a trailer behind it cuz we'd need to get supplies and not many supermarkets have parking for coaches, so we'd need the car for various bits and pieces- but to do that I knew I also needed the '+E' bits on my licence - which I now have. So I'm actually two or three steps closer to making my little dream a reality- which is unusual for me, I don't normally make any progress with anything.... lol.
-------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
The TX
Gallente Earth Inc. Zeta Tau Epsilon
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 15:11:00 -
[30]
Originally by: EnslaverOfMinmatar So can you fly a Titan or not?
LOL, as long as it isn't fitted with any dangerous goods, sure!
-------------------- [Signature]
[/Signature]
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1] 2 :: one page |
First page | Previous page | Next page | Last page |