When you get pulled over in UK by police and they look at your licence what are they looking for?

[Friedcheese]

I have a full licence and so does my friend but hers is for an automatic. We were comparing our licences and they're exactly the same except for the paper which lists cat b in her provisional entitlements still. When the police pull you over what is it they look for and how do they do it? I think it's really silly is they can't tell but my friend said that they probably don't check because people who drive autos usually don't want to or know how to drive a manual and it probably happens so rarely they wouldn't look. I've asked this question elsewhere with mixed answers and I really want to clear up our debate. Some say they just check your photo and address and that you're not banned or what points you have, others say they check everything inc checking restrictions like an automatic.

My friend does only drive an auto to be clear. We were just debating this.

[tamborine]

The police wont check too deeply into the rights or wrongs of driving restrictions till there is a serious/fatal accident or such - then they throw the book at you!

If you only have an auto licence and drive a manual car you would seriously jeopardise your insurance.

[cherrychapstick]

They usually do a pnc check on the car before they pull you over ,so if you are the owner of the vehicle they will already know what type of license you have ,not sure if pnc is the correct name sorry

[cazzz1975]

you can tell the difference on the card, look under catagory number 9, the police know all the codes, plus they will also radio your details which if you are driving a manual on an auto license you are not insured to drive the car, thus being done for no insurance and driving with a provisional license.

not worth the risk

[cazzz1975]

there should be a restriction on the photocard rear, if the person has an auto license the restriction code should be 78 under section 12 (codes)