Vehicle category descriptions for driving tests passed after 1 January 1997
These pages include extracts from the DVLA's D100 leaflet called "What you need to know about driving licences". You can download the
original document by following this link.
This leaflet and these pages
gives general information. It is not a statement of law.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information reproduced is correct, Select All cannot not be held responsible for any
inaccuracies. All weights refer to Maximum Authorised Mass [MAM] unless stated otherwise.
| Description |
Category |
Min. age |
Notes |
Motorcycles
Light motorcycles with a cubic capacity not exceeding 125cc
and of a power output not exceding 11kW(14.6bhp)
Motorcycles up to 25kW(33bhp) and a power to weight ratio not
exceeding 0.16kW/kg. Motorcycle combination with a power to
weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg
Any size motorcycle without a sidecar |
Al
A
A |
17
17
21
|
1
|
3 or 4 wheeled light vehicles
Motor tricycles/quadricycles, 3 or 4 wheeled vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 550kg |
B1 |
17 |
2 |
|
Cars
Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more
than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations
of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the
combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.
A car with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a maximum authorised mass of 2 tonnes towing a trailer with a
maximum authorised mass
of 1.25 tonnes could be driven under category B entitlement as the maximum authorised mass of both is not more than 3.5 tonnes
and the maximum authorised mass of the trailer is not more than the unladen
weight of the car.
Auomatic cars
As cars, but with automatic transmission
Cars with trailers
Combinations of vehicles consisiting of a vehicle in category
B and a trailer, where the combination does not come within
category B
|
B
B Automatic
B+E
|
17
17
17
|
2
2
|
Medium sized vehicles
Lorries between 3500kg and
7500kg with a trailer up to 750kg
Medium sized vehicles with trailers
Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in category C1
and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750kg as long as the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle and trailer is not
more than 12000kg and the maximum authorised mass of the trailer is not more than the unladen weight of the towing
vehicle |
C1
C1+E |
18
21 |
3,8 & 10
|
Large vehicles
Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer up to 750kg
Large vehicles with trailers
Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer over 750kg |
C
C+E |
21
21 |
4 |
Minibuses
Vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats with a trailer up to
750kg
Minibuses with trailers
Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in category D1
and its trailer has a MAM of over 750kg, provided that the MAM of
the combination thus formed does not exceed 12000kg, and the MAM
of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle |
D1
D1+E |
21
21 |
5
5 |
Buses
Any bus with more than 8 passengers seats with a trailer of up to 750kg
Buses with trailers
Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg |
D
D+E |
21
21 |
5 |
|
Agricultural tractors
|
F
|
17
|
6
|
|
Road rollers
|
G
|
21
|
7
|
|
Tracked vehicles
|
H
|
21
|
4 & 11
|
|
Mowing machine or vehicle controlled by a pedestrian
|
K
|
16
|
|
|
Mopeds
|
P
|
16
|
|
Note 1
You must be 21 or over or have passed a standard A test (see above) at least two years ago.
Note 2
At age 16 you can get a licence if you receive higher-rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance.
However, if you stop getting the higher rate, the normal minimum age for driving a car (17) applies.
Note 3
You can drive at 18 if the combination weight is under 7500kg.
Note 4
You can drive at 17 if you are a member of the armed forces. You can drive at 18 if you are a member of the young
drivers’ scheme.
Note 5
You can drive at 17 if you are a member of the armed forces. You can drive at 18 while learning to drive a passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV) or
after passing a PCV test when:
• you are driving on a regular service where the route is not more than 50km, or driving a PCV built to carry no more than 16 passengers, and the
vehicle is driven under a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence
or permit; or
• not carrying passengers.
Note 6
At 16 you can drive tractors less than 2.45m wide. It must only pull trailers less than 2.45m wide with
two wheels, or four wheels that are close together.
Note 7
At 17 you can drive small road rollers with metal or hard rollers. They must not be steam powered, weigh more
than 11.69 tonnes or be made for carrying loads.
Note 8
You cannot drive until you are 21 if the combined weight is over 7500kg.
Note 9
You need category D entitlement to drive an articulated bus. (An example of this is the ‘bendibus’.) You can get
more details from us.
Note 10
If you passed you test for category B or B automatic before 1 January 1997 your licence will already show C1, C1E (8.25 tonnes), D1, D1E (not for
hire or reward) as entitlement.
• If you want entitlement to drive medium or large vehicles, minibuses or buses in the EC or EEA, you must apply for the appropriate provisional
entitlement.
• You must not apply for theory or practical tests until the entitlement is shown on your licence.
Note 11
You can drive at 17 if the maximum authorised mass of the tracked vehicle is not more than 3500kg.
| 