The UK driving licence categories - what car can you drive on your licence?
We explain all of the UK driving licence categories, describe what car can you drive with your licence and tell you how to upgrade your licence so you can do more with it...
To drive a particular vehicle, you must have the entitlement on your licence.
The latest government information is available here.
At the time of writing vehicles are split into the following categories:
Mopeds - Category AMTwo-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph).
This category also includes light quad bikes with an unladen mass of not more than 350kg (not including batteries if it’s an electric vehicle) or a maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph)
Mopeds - Category PTwo-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 45km/h (28mph) but not more than 50km/h (31mph). The engine size must not be more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine.
Mopeds - Category QTwo-wheeled vehicles with an engine size not more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine or a maximum design speed of no more than 25km/h (15.5mph)
Motorcycles - Category A1Light motorbikes with an engine size up to 125cc or a power output of up to 11kW or a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1kW/kg. This category also includes motor tricycles with power output up to 15kW.
Motorcycles - Category A2Motorbikes with a power output up to 35kW or power to weight ratio not more than 0.2kW/kg. The motorbike must also not be derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. Category A2 licence holders can also drive motorbikes in category A1.
Motorcycles - Category AMotorbikes with a power output more than 35kW or a power to weight ratio more than 0.2kW/kg or motor tricycles with a power output more than 15kW. Category A2 licence holders can also drive motorbikes in categories A1 and A2.
Light vehicles and quad bikes - Category B1Motor vehicles with four wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if they’re designed for carrying goods.
Cars - Category BVehicles up to 3500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to eight passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).
You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3500kg.
You can also drive motor tricycles with a power output higher than 15kW if you are over 21 years old.
Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement will also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles.
Able-bodied drivers can no longer ride motor tricycles with a provisional category B licence.
Cars - Category B autoA category B vehicle - but only an automatic one.
Cars - Category B+EA vehicle with a MAM of 3500kg with a trailer.
The size of the trailer depends on when you passed your test. If you passed your test before 19 January 2013 you can tow any size trailer, but if you passed it on or after 19 January 2013 you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3500kg
Medium-sized vehicles - Category C1Vehicles weighing between 3500 and 7500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg).
Medium-sized vehicles - Category C1+ECategory C1 vehicles with a trailer over 750kg, but the trailer - when fully loaded - can’t weigh more than the vehicle. The combined weight of both can’t exceed 12,000kg.
Large vehicles - Category CVehicles over 3500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg).
Large vehicles - Category C+ECategory C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.
Minibuses - Category D1Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats or a maximum length of eight metres or a trailer up to 750kg.
Minibuses - Category D1+ED1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg, but the trailer - when fully loaded - can’t weigh more than the vehicle. The combined weight of both can’t exceed 12,000kg.
Buses - Category DAny bus with more than eight passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).
Buses - Category D+ECategory D vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.
