Vehicle Fitness, Documentation and Licensing Requirements
Vehicle fitness
A vehicle must be roadworthy: brakes, tyres, lights, steering, suspension, and exhaust must be in good condition. Tyres need adequate tread depth and correct pressure; worn tyres increase stopping distance and the risk of aquaplaning. Lights and indicators must work. Windscreens must be clear. A valid certificate of fitness (roadworthiness) is required where the law demands it, and vehicles must be insured as required.
Documentation
Carry the required documents: driving licence, vehicle registration, certificate of fitness, and proof of insurance. The licence must be valid for the class of vehicle you drive; driving outside your class is an offence. Learner drivers must display L-plates and be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver where required.
Licensing
Understand the provisional/licence stages, the conditions attached (such as displaying plates, supervision, and passenger restrictions), and the penalties for driving unlicensed or uninsured. Keep documents current; expired documents are treated as absent.
Traps in questions
A common trap is assuming a valid licence covers all vehicles; it covers only the classes endorsed. Another is treating insurance as optional. Questions may also test that a certificate of fitness is about vehicle condition, not driver competence, and that driving with expired documents is an offence even if the vehicle is mechanically sound.
Rule of thumb
"Right vehicle, right documents, right condition" - check all three before every journey.
Worked example
A driver holds a licence for light motor vehicles but drives a heavy truck. Even with valid insurance and a roadworthy truck, this is an offence because the licence class does not cover the vehicle.