What category codes do I have on my driving licence?

When you view a driving licence on DAVIS or through the Gov.uk ‘View/Share My Licence‘ service, a list of category codes will appear. The information provided will tell you which vehicles the licence holder is entitled to drive.

The list below contains the latest driving licence category codes and descriptions issued by the DVLA. These codes are provided for information only, for further details about your driving licence, visit https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

A business is required, by law, to carry out checks on its drivers if they’re driving on behalf of the company. The checks extend to the vehicles the employees are driving too, even if those vehicles are employee owned. This is known as ‘Grey Fleet’ – employee owned vehicles that are driven for work purposes.

Motorcycles
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Light motorcycles with a cubic capacity not exceeding 125cc and a power output not exceeding 11kW (14.6bhp). A1 17
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. A 17
Any size motorcycle with or without a sidecar. A 21 1
3 or 4 wheeled light vehicles
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Motor tricycles / quad cycles, 3 or 4 wheeled vehicles with an un-laden weight not exceeding 550kg. B1 17 2
Cars
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
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. B 17 2
Automatic cars
As cars, but with automatic transmission. B Automatic 17 2
Cars with trailers
Combinations of vehicles consisting of a vehicle in category B and a trailer, where the combination does not come within category B. B+E 17
Medium Sized Vehicles
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Lorries between 3500kg and 7500kg with a trailerup to 750kg. C1 18 3
Medium Sized vehicles with trailers
Lorries between 3500kg and 7500kg with a trailer over 750kg – total weight not more than 12000kg (if you passed your category B test prior to 1.1.1997 you will be restricted to a total weight not more than 8250kg). C1+E 21 3
Large Vehicles
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer up to 750kg. C 21 4
Large Vehicles with trailers
Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer over 750kg. C+E 21 4
Minibuses
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. D1 21 5
Minibuses with trailers
Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory 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+E 21 5
Buses
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. D 21 5
Buses with trailers
Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg. D+E; 21
Other Categories
Description Category Minimum Age See Note
Agricultural tractors F 17 6
Road Rollers G 21 7
Tracked Vehicles H 21
Mowing machine or vehicle controlled by a pedestrian K 16
Electric vehicles L 17
Vehicles used for very short distances on public roads N
Mopeds P 16
Notes
Note 1
Age 21 or 2 years from the date of standard A test pass.
Note 2
Age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component).
Note 3
Age 18 if combination weight is under 7500kg.
Note 4
Age 17 if member of armed forces.
Age 18 if member of the Young Drivers Scheme.
Note 5
Age 17 if member of armed forces.
Age 18(i) while learning to drive or taking passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) test; or (ii) after passing a PC V test when:
driving on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50km, or
driving a PCV constructed to carry no more than 16 passengers, and
the vehicle is operated under a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence or permit.
(iii) not engaged in the carriage of passengers
Note 6
Age 16 for tractors less than 2.45m wide. It must only pull trailers less than 2.45m wide with two wheels, or four close coupled.
Note 7
Age 17 for 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.

 

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If you’re an individual looking for information about your driving licence for personal use, please visit https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

If you’re looking for licence checking, grey fleet management, e-learning or driver audit services for a business, please get in touch

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