Help understanding my UK driving licence

[Cheese1000]

I originally passed my driving test in an automatic but then less than a year later took my test again in a manual. I think I was told that my 2 years probation period runs from when I first took my driving test and that the manual test just counted as an upgrade of catagories.

Then I looked on the direct.gov website to see what details were held on my driving licence and it said Full Substansive (I guess meaning I'm still in my first two years) but it had the date my licence was valid from as the date I passed my second test.

Does this mean my probation period actually runs from when I passed my test in a manual or is the valid from date simply the date my latest licence was issued (as I got a new one when I passed my second test). It doesn't make any sense as surely any points I get would be for any car and not defined as being for an auto or a manual.

[R1Geezer]

No, the date of the original test is when you start your 2 years probation. The overall licence "from" always takes the date of the last added category. You'll see on the back it will have the from and too dates of each category. It makes sense if you think about it, ie the particular licence you have showing your current entitlement is valid from the dat of the last category update. Eh if you passed your bike test tomorrow then the licence to get back would run from tomorrow.