Theory online - What categories of vehicle are shown on licences?

The interactive website that partners The Car and Motorcycle Theory Test book

Buy a Copy Now Car Learners Marking Sheets Your road to a full licence Getting Started Before you go out on the road Starting to Drive The Car Theory Test Applying for the Theory Test Sitting the Theory Test Sitting the Hazard Perception Section of the Theory Test Are Your Ready for the Practical Driving Test Applying for the Practical Driving Test The Day of the Driving Test Car Drivers Show me Tell Me Questions and Answers Show Me questions for Car Drivers Tell Me questions for Car Drivers Now You're on the Road Motorcycle Learners Your road to a full Motorcycle licence Getting Started Before you go out on the road Compulsory Basic Training The Theory Test Applying for the theory test Sitting the Theory Test Sitting the Hazard Perception Section of the Theory Test Training for your practical motorcycle test Applying for the Practical Motorcycle Test The Day of the Motorcycle Test FAQs FAQS for Learner Car Drivers FAQs for Learner Motorcyclists Hazard Perception Forms and Downloads Information Licences INF28 - Driving a Minibus INF29 - Minimum Test Vehicles INF30 - Requirements for Towing Trailers in Great Britian INF32 - Wheelclamping and removal of vehicles without tax INF34 - Exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty for Historic Vehicles INF38 - Driving in Great Britain (GB) as a visitor or a new resident Licences from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man INF46 - Registration Numbers and You INF55 - SORN Statutory Off Road Notification - A guide for motor traders INF94 - Customer service guide for drivers with Medical Conditions INF95 - A general guide to Driving Licences

What categories of vehicle are shown on licences?

The categories are as follows.

A1 Light motorcycles with an engine size of up to 125cc and a power of no more than 11kw (14.6 horsepower)

A Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) up to 25kw or 33 horsepower and a power-to-weight ratio of up to 0.16kw/kg

B1 Motor tricycles and quadricycles weighing up to 550kg when unladen (not loaded)

B Motor cars or light vans with up to eight passenger seats and weighing up to 3500kg (allowed to tow a trailer weighing up to 750kg)

C1 Vehicles weighing between 3500kg and 7500kg (allowed to tow a trailer weighing up to 750kg)

C Vehicles weighing over 3500kg and with a trailer of up to 750kg

D1 Small passenger-carrying vehicles with nine to 16 passenger seats and a trailer weighing up to 750kg

D Any bus with more than eight passenger seats and a trailer weighing up to 750kg

B+E Motor cars or light vans with up to eight passenger seats, with a trailer of more than 750kg

C1+E Vehicles over 3500kg and a trailer of more than 750kg

C+E Vehicles over 3500kg and a trailer of more than 750kg

D1+E Small passenger-carrying vehicles with nine to 16 passenger seats with a trailer of more than 750kg

D+E Any bus with more than eight passenger seats and a trailer of more than 750kg

f Agricultural tractors

g Roadrollers

h Tracked vehicles

k Pedestrian-controlled vehicles (those powered by a person)

p Mopeds

You can get more information on driving licences from the D100 booklet. You can get this from us, from Post Office® branches, and from the website at www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

Driver Customer ServicesCorrespondence TeamDVLASwanseaSA6 7JL

Customer Enquiries (Drivers)0870 240 0009

Customer Enquiries (Vehicles)0870 240 0010

The lines are open between 8am and 8.30pm Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 5.30pm on Saturdays. Your call may be answered by an interactive voice system but you will be able to speak to an operator during office hours. We monitor or record some calls for quality-control purposes.

Our e-mail address is drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk

Our fax number is 0870 240 1651.

The following information leaflets or booklets are also available from us or to download from www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

INF28 – Driving a minibus

INF29 – Minimum Test Vehicles

INF30 – Towing Trailers in Great Britain

INF31 – Motorcycles

INF38 – Driving in GB as Visitors or New Resident

INF40 – Renewing your Car Driving Licence

INF52 – Special Licensing Arrangements for Drivers of Large Vehicles

This booklet only gives general information. It is not a complete guide to the law. The information in this booklet was correct at the time it was printed. Visit the website at www.direct.gov.uk/motoring or contact us for the latest information.