Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 UK driving licence changes

These are the current driving rules in the UK
http://tinyurl.com/2gb5hl

But I tripped over this:
http://tinyurl.com/bup4z5c

So I downloaded this
http://tinyurl.com/cbnbqyl

Now I’m conscious that the new rule page says this:
<If you already have a driving licence, you'll keep your entitlements to drive the different types of vehicles shown on your driving licence.>

But the driving licence does not explain the makeup of the groups other than in the most cursory fashion.

An older Morgan three wheeler is a B1 under the old rules and the definition has changed. It’s now four wheelers only, and a three wheeler needs a full bike licence.

Two things come from this, am I now going to be unable to drive my three wheeler?. I don’t have, nor could I get a bike licence as I have no sense of balance. Plus you can’t get a bike licence that easily any more. I'm using the B1 part that is included in a full B category (B=car basically)

I did ask a local DVLA office what you’d get if you took a driving test in a Morgan three wheeler at the time I was sorting out the registration in 1998 and was told a B1 under the old definition.

If I’m still ok, consider someone who passes a car test in 2013? My reading of this is they won’t be able to drive a Morgan, old or new and will need have passed all bike tests and be 24 or two years from an A2 pass (so perhaps at 21).

Maybe I’m missing something, it is late and I’m tired!

Bad form to answer one's own post I know, but a bit of trawling around suggests all is ok, for existing drivers, although in the nature of things from DVLA, the changes complicates things.

If you are in my situation, a full B licence, when you renew, the licence will also show group A (motorbikes) but with the comment - limited to tricycles.

The information is here, and if affected as I am, I strongly suggest you print it out and stick it with your trike documentation.
New driving licence rules for mopeds, motorcycles and tricycles

The page suggests that for new drivers/riders a three wheeler will be treated as a motorbike, and they'll need a full class A entitlement, so as my earlier post. I strongly suggest to Morgan, that they look into this as it takes the minimum age to 21 for your new product - if my reading of the rules is correct.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Martyn.

Whilst I know all about the history of why three wheelers are treated as motorbikes, I feel that it is about time that the authorities got their heads out of the sand and treated them as a car AND a motorcycle, after all, driving a three wheeler is almost identical to driving a car, a motorcycle and sidecar on the other hand is totaly unique and is not like a car or a motorbike, apart from hand controls and bars, of course.

Can anyone shed light on why three wheelers are still treated as a motorcylce, you are pretty well involved in all this Martyn, can you explain?

Paul - not really

Historically the three wheeler came to prominence as a result of cheaper road tax than a four wheeler in the UK. Marketing stressed the attracting to the 'sporting man' who either wanted something a bit more, or who now had a family. Whilst they are the least well surviving model, the various versions of family Morgans were produced in large numbers.

There have been oddities in the legislative approach since the dawn of motoring.

But that's history, no real idea as to the present.

I did post this elsewhere and an MP in the Department of transport is going to seek clarificaction

slightly leaning to one side on the subject, i read an article a while back, (have tried to find it through the net, but can't sorry) regarding the new plastic type license, when renewing from the old paper license apparently the Motor Cycle catagory was deleted at D.V.L.A

Post this, Motor cyclists were been pulled by the and informed they were not eligible to ride such cycles as they were not on the PNC as having a valid license to cover such vehicle (cat A)

Prosecutions were in abundance until someone realised that something was wrong, it turned out that class A (motor cycles) had been deleted whilst the paper to Plastic license were been produced, there was a court case, where in all who applied had there points removed from there license and there fines refunded, but DVLA had no proof (due to computer error) that the people involved had passed there test, so all had to re-sit.

Luckily i wasn't one of them, my license clearly states i can drive all vehicles upto 7ton.

So you could drive a train of 13 three wheelers... this I want to see.

See:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/04/dvla_removing_license_entitlem.html

Something is niggling at the back of my mind that one of the main differences is the addition of a reverse gear for a "car" as opposed to a "bike".....but could be very wrong.

That's rings a bell with me. I have a feeling that at one time if a three wheeler didn't have a reverse gear you could drive it on a bike licence. This was when bike licences were easier to come by.