Licence code
Code 78
Restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission
78
Harmonised
Column 12
Checked on 20 December 2024.DVLA, Driving licence codes (as of 20 December 2024)
What does licence code 78 mean?
Restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission. You passed in an automatic, so you may only drive automatics in that category. To lift it you take another test in a manual. This is the code that surprises people who bought a manual after passing in an electric car, because every electric car counts as an automatic.
The wording above is DVLA's own. The explanation is what it means in practice for somebody holding the licence.
Where this code sits
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 71 | Duplicate of licence |
| 78 | Restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission |
| 79 | Restricted to vehicles in conformity with the specifications stated in brackets on your licence |
Common questions
- What does code 78 mean on a driving licence?
- Restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission. You passed in an automatic, so you may only drive automatics in that category. To lift it you take another test in a manual. This is the code that surprises people who bought a manual after passing in an electric car, because every electric car counts as an automatic.
- Where is code 78 printed?
- Column 12 on the back of the photocard, on the same row as the category it applies to. A code against one category does not apply to the others, so you can be restricted on a car and unrestricted on a motorbike.
- Is code 78 a UK code or a European one?
- It is from the harmonised European set, so it reads the same on a licence issued anywhere that set applied. DVLA publishes it in one flat list with the UK codes and does not label which is which.
- What happens if I drive outside a code?
- It is driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, endorsement code LC20, which carries 3 to 6 penalty points. It can also affect an insurance claim, because the policy assumes you were entitled to be driving.