If you’re a little confused by the categories on the back of your driving licence, what they mean, and what you’re entitled to drive, then you won’t be the only one.
If you hold a full, driving licence with the appropriate categories, then you are entitled to drive the following cars or light vans, with or without trailers, from a minimum age of 17:
- Category B – motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer – weighing no more than 750 kg. (From age 16 if you are currently receiving Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate mobility component).
- Category B – as above, but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle. (From age 16 if you are currently receiving Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate mobility component).
- Category B auto – as above with automatic transmission vehicles. (From age 16 if you are currently receiving Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate mobility component).
- Category B + E – as above but with a heavier trailer that isn’t covered in the descriptions for category B.
For medium-sized vehicles, with or without trailers, the minimum age required is higher. Horse lorries are usually too heavy to qualify under the allowance for category B and B + E, but most are covered by one of the 4 category C licences:
- Category C1 – vehicles weighing between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg, with or without a trailer – weighing no more than 750 kg from age 18 (17 if you are a member of the armed services).
- Category C1 + E – as category C1 but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 12,000 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle from age 21.
(However for category C1 + E, it’s from age 17 if you are a member of the armed services, or age 18 if you got your driving licence before 10 September 2009 and the weight of the vehicle and trailer together is under 7,500 kg – or – if any of the following applies to you:
- You have passed your driving test and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) initial qualification
- You are learning to drive or taking a driving test for this category or Driver CPC initial qualification
- You are taking a national vocational training course to get a Driver CPC initial qualification
- You had your driving licence before 10 September 2009 – you must take the CPC periodic training within five years of this date.)
- Category C – larger profile vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes, with or without accompanying trailers up to 750 kg.
- Category C+E – large profile vehicles, with or without trailers in excess of 750 kg.
But if you’re in any doubt it’s always worth checking for your own peace of mind – if you are in any doubt at all check on the DVLA website
(as at 1/8/2023)
