A provisional driving license (vocational) is required to drive vehicles in the following categories:

• Passenger Carrying Vehicle with 9 or more passenger seats (Category D)
• Passenger Carrying Vehicle with 9 to 16 passenger seats (Minibuses) (Category D1)
• Large Goods Vehicle with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes. (Category C)
• Large Goods Vehicle with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes, but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes (Category C1)

Driving license requirements

Drivers who passed their UK Driving Test before 1 January 1997 and possess an old style Driving License showing vehicles in Class A, or possess an EC Style Driving License showing vehicles in Category B, C1 and D1 are not required to take a further Statutory Driving test to drive passenger carrying vehicles (except commercially) in these categories.

Drivers who passed their test after 1 January 1997 are issued with an EC Style Driving License showing vehicles in Category B. They are therefore not permitted to drive vehicles in Category C1 or D1 until they have passed an additional Statutory Driving Test.

All drivers, regardless of when their test was passed, are required to pass an additional Statutory Driving Test before being permitted to drive vehicles in Category C or D.

Applying for a provisional driving license (vocational)

Drivers who wish to take the statutory driving test for vehicles in Categories C/C1 and D/D1 must possess a full EC Style Driving License showing Category B vehicles, issued in the UK by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (or a full old-style Driving License, showing vehicles in Class A).

Foreign nationals must first exchange their own national driving license for an EC style driving license issued in the UK.

The following forms must be completed for an application for a provisional driving license.

• Form D1 Driving License Application (available from Post Offices).
• Form D750 Photo card Application (available from Post Offices). Not required if the driver already possesses a Photocard License.
• Form D4 Medical Report, completed by a Doctor (available from Post Office)

The forms, together with the drivers existing license must be submitted to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR.

Tuition

The county council is unable to provide tuition for the Statutory Driving Test.

Drivers are recommended to apply to a Commercial Vehicle Driving School for tuition.

Driving test

The statutory driving test is conducted by driving examiners of the Driving Standards Agency.

The test is conducted in two parts - a theory test and a practical test. The theory test must be completed successfully before a practical test can be taken.

Drivers that have successfully completed a Statutory Driving Test for vehicles of categories C/C1 or S/D1 which is sponsored by a County Council establishment are not required to take the County Council driving assessment