Highway Code: documents, penalties, incidents and breakdowns

Professional drivers must keep their paperwork in order and know what happens when rules are broken. This note brings together the Highway Code annexes on documents, penalties and first aid, together with the rules on mobile phones, drink and drug driving, seat belts, collisions and breakdowns. Council tests often take questions directly from these lists and tables.

Documents you must have (Annex 3)

Document	Main rules
Driving licence	You MUST hold a valid licence for the category of vehicle. You MUST tell DVLA if you change your name or address. Holders of non-European Community licences who become UK residents may drive on that licence for a maximum of 12 months
MOT certificate	Cars and motorcycles MUST normally pass an MOT test three years from first registration, then every year. You MUST NOT drive a vehicle that should have an MOT but does not
Insurance	You MUST have at least third-party cover to use a motor vehicle on the road, and you MUST NOT drive without it
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)	VED MUST be paid on all motor vehicles used or kept on public roads
Registration certificate	Notify DVLA as soon as possible when you buy or sell a vehicle. Buyer and seller complete the certificate; the seller sends it to DVLA
Production	You MUST produce your licence, insurance certificate and, if appropriate, MOT certificate when a police officer asks. If you cannot, you may be asked to take them to a police station within seven days

More points from Annex 3:

• The only exception to the MOT rule is driving to a pre-arranged test appointment, or to a garage for repairs needed for the test. Driving an unroadworthy vehicle may invalidate your insurance.
• Vehicles over 40 years old are exempt from the MOT test unless they have been substantially changed within the previous 30 years.
• Insurance types: third-party is the minimum legal cover and pays for injury or damage you cause to others; third-party, fire and theft adds cover for theft or fire; comprehensive also covers damage to your own vehicle and injury to yourself.
• Uninsured vehicles can be detected by roadside cameras. The police can seize an uninsured vehicle and have it crushed.
• If a vehicle is untaxed and kept off the road, the keeper MUST declare a SORN. The vehicle stays SORN until it is sold, taxed or scrapped.
• Annex 4 reminds drivers that in law a 'road' includes footpaths, bridleways, cycle tracks and many private roadways and driveways, including car parks. Drink-driving offences also apply in all public places, such as public car parks.