A number of exemptions exist to assist British and visiting members of the armed forces in carrying out their duties. The majority of these exemptions cover large vehicles enabling them to be driven by drivers of a younger age, often, without the necessary additional large vehicle driving entitlement. The exemptions apply to British full time military personnel and the Territorial Army.
The minimum ages for driving most vehicles are lower for the military than they are for civilians provided the vehicles are being driven subject to the orders of a member of the armed forces of the Crown for either army, navy or airforce purposes. They do not apply to visiting forces (see visiting forces section). n.b lower ages for driving do not apply when either full-time or part- time troops are off duty.
Large motor bikes (category A) - 17 instead of 21 years
Medium vehicles (category C1/C1+E) -17 instead of 21 years
Large Goods Vehicles (category C/C+E) -17 instead of 21 years
Passenger Carrying (category D1/D) Vehicles -17 instead of 21 years
Military drivers are subject to staging in as much as they must pass tests in the prescribed order, e.g. category B then C followed by C+E. However, there is a concession for full time serving members of the armed forces (not the Territorial Army) who can apply for both ordinary and vocational provisional entitlements in one application on the D1 form and then claim all the tests in one go.
A supervisor must be a member of the armed forces of the Crown, acting in the course of his duties, who holds a full valid British, NI or EC licence for the class of vehicle which is being driven by the learner driver. The qualified driver does not have to be 21 years of age or have held a relevant licence for an aggregate period of 3 years or more.
These permits are not recognised for exchange purposes and must be used in conjunction with a civilian driving licence when the holder is driving both military or civilian vehicles on public roads.
To enable visiting forces (including military personnel, dependants - means the wife or husband of a member of a visiting force and any person wholly or mainly maintained by him or in his custody or charge. and any associated civilian workers) to carry out their duties, a legislative agreement exists for large vehicles to be driven in this country by the holder of a driving permit issued in the country which sends the force, or permit issued by the Service Authorities. These agreements also extend to the minimum age requirements.
All non-EC visiting forces (including military personnel, dependants and associated civilian workers) may drive British registered and temporarily imported vehicles on the strength of a domestic driving permit issued in a country outside the UK or a British Forces (BFG) driving licence.
All member states visiting forces (including military personnel, dependants and associated civilian workers) may drive any British registered and temporarily imported vehicles on the strength of a domestic driving permit issued in a country outside the UK or a British Forces (BFG) driving licence.
Members of visiting forces who may not drive include any driver who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence in this country. This includes military personnel, dependants, associated civilian workers, whether they are from EC or non-EC member states and British residents.
