{"id":4602,"date":"2023-04-27T05:43:31","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T05:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/?page_id=4602"},"modified":"2023-09-12T05:59:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T05:59:43","slug":"categories-and-codes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/rules\/driving\/licences\/categories-and-codes\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving Licence Categories UK | Codes and Restrictions Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"
The DVLA also places codes on a driving licence with conditions that the holder must meet. The explanations will help you understand what the different driving licence codes mean.<\/p>\n
So, how exactly do licence categories work on a driver’s licence? Well, you need to have the correct ‘entitlement’ on your licence that corresponds to the type of vehicle that you want to drive.<\/p>\n
There is a way to check online by inspecting your driving licence<\/a> information. The service permits you to see what vehicles your licence allows you to drive.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Note<\/strong>: The entitlements might also have extra restrictions and conditions attached. Check the section explaining what driving licence restriction codes<\/a> mean on drivers licences.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Having the category AM on your licence means you can drive 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25km\/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km\/h (28mph).<\/p>\n The same class also includes light quad bikes with:<\/p>\n With licence category P you are allowed to drive 2-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 45km\/h (28mph) but not more than 50km\/h (31mph). But, the engine size must not be over 50cc if it is powered by an internal combustion engine.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you see category Q on your licence you can drive 2-wheeled and 3-wheeled vehicles without pedals:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The class A1 means you can drive light motorbikes with:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: The same category also includes motor tricycles with power output up to 15kW.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Class A2 means you can drive motorbikes in category A1 and drive motorbikes with a:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: The motorbike must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Seeing category A on your driving licence means you can drive motorbikes in categories A1 and A2 and drive:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Driving licence category B1 means you can drive motor vehicles with four (4) wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if designed for carrying goods.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a rule, you can drive a vehicle and a trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass<\/a> (MAM). The information on driving licences<\/a> will confirm it.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: You can also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This class means you can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to eight (8) passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg). You can also tow heavier trailers providing the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not over 3,500kg.<\/p>\n If you are over 21 years old you can drive motor tricycles with a power output higher than 15kW.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Note<\/strong>: Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles. But, able-bodied drivers can no longer ride motor tricycles with a provisional category B licence.<\/p>\n It entitles you to drive a vehicle with a MAM of 3,500kg with a trailer. The size of the trailer would depend on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on the licence. If the date is:<\/p>\n Providing it is an automatic one, you can drive a category B vehicle.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Category C1 means you can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg MAM (with a trailer up to 750kg).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n C1E entitlement means you can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg. But, the combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You have entitlement to drive vehicles over 3,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg MAM).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The class CE means you can drive category C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The D1 driving licence category means you can drive vehicles with:<\/p>\n You can drive D1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg MAM. But, the combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can drive any bus with more than eight (8) passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg MAM).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n You would be allowed to drive D category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: There is no requirement to have a driving licence for electric bikes<\/a>, mobility scooters<\/a>, or powered wheelchairs. Some of the driving licence categories and what they mean differ in Northern Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You will find a number of codes printed on the back of your driving licence. The purpose is to inform you what conditions you need to meet to drive particular types of vehicles.<\/p>\n The list of driving licence codes and their meanings, include:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: You can compare old and new driving licence categories<\/a> in a different section. Some descriptions of the information codes appearing on a driving licence will be different in Northern Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nMopeds<\/h2>\n
Category AM<\/h5>\n
\n
Category P<\/h5>\n
Category Q<\/h5>\n
\n
\nMotorcycles<\/h2>\n
Category A1<\/h5>\n
\n
Category A2<\/h5>\n
\n
Category A<\/h5>\n
\n
\nLight Vehicles and Quad Bikes<\/h2>\n
Category B1<\/h4>\n
\nCars<\/h2>\n
Category B (passed the test before 1 January 1997)<\/h5>\n
Category B (passed the test since 1 January 1997)<\/h5>\n
Category BE<\/h5>\n
\n
Category B Auto<\/h5>\n
\nMedium-sized Vehicles<\/h2>\n
Category C1<\/h5>\n
Category C1E<\/h5>\n
\nLarge Vehicles<\/h2>\n
Category C<\/h5>\n
Category CE<\/h5>\n
\nMinibuses<\/h2>\n
Category D1<\/h5>\n
\n
Category D1E<\/h5>\n
\nBuses<\/h2>\n
Category D<\/h5>\n
Category DE<\/h5>\n
\nOther Driving Licence Categories<\/h3>\n
\n
\nDriving Licence Codes<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
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