The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend the 1999 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations.
Specifically, they revise the rules concerning the types of zero-emission vehicles that can be driven under certain licence categories in Great Britain.
The changes primarily relax restrictions on the maximum authorized mass of zero-emission vehicles that category B licence holders (standard car licence) can operate, allowing for larger vehicles and trailer combinations, with some stipulations on age and experience in certain cases.
The regulations also address the age restrictions for driving some medium-sized goods vehicles specified within the updated regulations, setting a single legal age of 17.
This legislation revokes and replaces previous regulations largely based on assimilated EU law.
Arguments For
Promoting sustainable transport: The regulations aim to encourage the adoption of zero-emission vehicles by expanding the categories of vehicles that can be driven with a standard driving licence.
Simplification of licensing: By clarifying the rules around driving zero-emission vehicles, the regulations aim to simplify the licensing system and reduce potential confusion for drivers.
Alignment with EU law (prior to revocation): The regulations replace equivalent provisions from retained EU law which were considered unnecessary and overly complex in a post-Brexit context.
Addressing technological advancements: The previous regulations were outdated. These amendments better reflect the changing landscape regarding electric and zero-emission vehicles.
Improved accessibility for disabled passengers: Allows vehicles fitted with specialized equipment for disabled passengers to have higher weight limits without impacting the driving licences required.
Arguments Against
Potential for increased congestion: Increased access to larger zero-emission vehicles might lead to greater congestion in certain areas unless properly managed.
Safety concerns: Allowing drivers with less experience to operate heavier vehicles could potentially lead to an increase in road accidents.
Implementation challenges: Ensuring clear communication and understanding of the new regulations amongst drivers and enforcement agencies will be crucial for effective implementation.
Unforeseen consequences: The long-term impacts of these amendments on traffic flow, accident rates, and the uptake of zero-emission vehicles are currently unknown and need observation.
Alternative approaches: Other regulatory options might have been considered in order to achieve similar environmental goals without potentially impacting access to certain vehicle classes.
Citation, commencement and extent1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.
(2)
These Regulations come into force on the twenty-first day after the day on which they are made.
(3)
These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
This section details the title, effective date, and geographical scope of the regulations.
The regulations are officially titled 'Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025' and will take effect 21 days after their signing.
Their application is limited to England, Wales, and Scotland.
Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 19992.
In the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 19994, in regulation 7 (competence to drive classes of vehicle: special cases), for paragraphs (11) and (12) substitute—
**(11)** A person who holds a relevant full licence authorising the driving of vehicles included in category B, other than vehicles in former sub-category B1, sub-category B1 or sub-category B1 (invalid carriages), may drive—(a) a zero-emission vehicle of a class that would be included within category B but for its maximum authorised mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes, provided that it is not a mobile project vehicle and has a maximum authorised mass—
(i) not exceeding 4.25 tonnes, excluding any part of that weight which is attributable to specialised equipment intended for the carriage of disabled passengers, and
(ii) not exceeding 5 tonnes otherwise;
(b) a zero-emission vehicle and trailer combination which has a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 7 tonnes, comprising—
(i) a zero-emission vehicle referred to in sub-paragraph (a), and
(ii) a trailer which has a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes;
(c) a zero-emission vehicle of a class included in sub-category D1 and which has a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 4.25 tonnes, excluding any part of that weight which is attributable to specialised equipment intended for the carriage of disabled passengers, and not exceeding 5 tonnes otherwise, provided—
(i) that person has held that licence for an aggregate period of not less than 2 years,
(ii) that person is aged 21 or over,
(iii) that person, if aged 70 or over, is not suffering from a relevant disability in respect of which the Secretary of State would be bound to refuse to grant them a Group 2 licence,
(iv) that person is driving the zero-emission vehicle on behalf of a non-commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward,
(v) that person receives no consideration for so doing, other than out-of-pocket expenses,
(vi) that the zero-emission vehicle has no trailer attached, and
(vii) if the person is by that licence authorised to drive only vehicles having automatic transmission, that person shall be deemed competent to drive only such zero-emission vehicles in sub-category D1 as conform to the above specification and have automatic transmission.
(12) For the purposes of this regulation—
(a) when a person drives a zero-emission vehicle of a kind specified in paragraph (11)(a) or (b) which is a “medium-sized goods vehicle” or “other motor vehicle” for the purposes of section 101 of the Traffic Act (disqualification of persons under age), that section has effect as if, for the ages specified in the Table in that section in respect of “medium sized goods vehicle” and “other motor vehicle”, there were substituted the age
“17”, and(b) “zero-emission vehicle” means a vehicle without an internal combustion engine, or with an internal combustion engine that has emissions of CO2 of zero grams per kilometre.”
This section amends regulation 7 of the 1999 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations.
It replaces paragraphs (11) and (12) to update the rules on driving certain vehicles.
Specifically, it modifies the permissible weight and type of zero-emission vehicles that can be driven with a category B driving licence (standard car licence).
The changes allow drivers with a category B license to drive heavier zero-emission vehicles and combinations including trailers, subject to conditions such as age, driving experience, and purpose of use.
It also sets minimum age at 17 for driving certain zero-emission vehicles applicable to traffic act regulations.