Driver’s License Category

Driver’s License categories:

Different Categories of driving license

There are different types of vehicles on our streets in any country you find yourself. These vehicles vary from simple motor bikes  through cars of different passenger capacities. Also, you have load carrying vehicles which differ greatly in size and how much load they are allowed to carry. Then lastly you equally have all kinds of industrial machines which include road works machines and tractors for farm work. Furthermore, in different countries, there are also different requirements of say age to be eligible to be authorized to drive these different kinds of road vehicles. This brings us to the different driving license categories. We shall look at common driving license categories in Europe which are similar around the world and also US and Canada. We shall equally take a look at some differences.

Categories of driving licenses as per the EU directive:

The following are the recognized driving license categories in the EU directive and a brief description on what they represent:

1. Category AM – for 2-wheel and 3-wheel vehicles with a maximum design speed of not more than 45 km/h, as well as light quadricycles.
2. Category A1 – for light motorcycles with a cylinder capacity not more than 125 cubic centimetres and a power rating less than 11 kW.
3. Category A2 – for motorcycles with a power rating under 35 kW.
4. Category A – for heavy motorcycles without power restrictions.
5. Category B – for passenger vehicles weighing up to 3,500 kg and seating not more than eight passengers.
6. Category BE – for a vehicle of category B towing a heavy trailer of under 3,500 kg.
7. Category B1 (optional) – for quadricycles.
8. Category C1 – for goods vehicles between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg and for up to eight passengers.
9. Category C1E – for a vehicle of category C1 or B towing a heavy trailer; with a combined mass of up to 12,000 kg.
10. category C – for goods vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg and seating not more than eight passengers.
11. category CE – for a vehicle of category C towing a heavy trailer.
12. category D1 – for passenger vehicles built for fewer than 16 passengers and that is no longer than 8 m.
13. category D1E – for a vehicle of category D1 towing a heavy trailer.
14. category D – for passenger vehicles for more than eight passengers.
15. category DE – for a vehicle of category D towing a heavy trailer.
16. light trailers up to 750 kg may be towed with categories B, C1, C, D1 and D.

More on driving licens categories and criteria to Obtain various categories:

When a driving license is made for an adapted vehicle or certain types of vehicles, this is indicated by the code on the driving license. Also, licenses for categories C1, C, D1 and D are only issued to drivers already entitled to drive category B vehicles. In addition to that, licenses for categories BE, C1E, CE, D1E and DE are only issued to drivers already entitled to drive category B, C1, C, D1 and D vehicles, respectively. Moreover, the minimum age of 16 years  is needed for categories AM, A1 (light motorcycles) and B1 (motor-powered tricycles and quadricycles). Furthermore, a minimum age of 18 years is needed for categories A2, B, BE and C1. In addition to this, a minimum age of 21 years is needed for categories C, CE, D1 and D1E. And finally, a minimum age of 24 years for categories D and DE.

Here we have not included theory on the categories of industrial vehicles and also for the countries whose categories are represented in classes. However, you can contact our agent for more information on your specific case.