Driving Licence Codes & Categories
And their meanings.
And their meanings.
The codes printed on the back of your driving licence tell you what conditions you must meet to drive.
Some codes may be different in Northern Ireland.
This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
The codes and their meanings are as follows:
01 - eyesight correction, for example glasses or contact lenses
02 - hearing/communication aid
10 - modified transmission
15 - modified clutch
20 - modified braking systems
25 - modified accelerator systems
30 - combined braking and accelerator systems (for licences issued before 28 November 2016)
31 - pedal adaptations and pedal safeguards
32 - combined service brake and accelerator systems
33 - combined service brake, accelerator and steering systems
35 - modified control layouts
40 - modified steering
42 - modified rear-view mirror(s)
43 - modified driving seats
44 - modifications to motorbikes
44 (1) - single operated brake
44 (2) - adapted front wheel brake
44 (3) - adapted rear wheel brake
44 (4) - adapted accelerator
44 (5) - (adjusted) manual transmission and manual clutch
44 (6) - (adjusted) rear-view mirror(s)
44 (7) - (adjusted) commands (direction indicators, braking light, etc)
44 (8) - seat height allowing the driver, in sitting position, to have two feet on the surface at the same time and balance the motorcycle during stopping and standing
44 (11) - adapted foot rest
44 (12) - adapted hand grip
45 - motorbikes only with sidecar
46 - tricycles only (for licences issued before 29 June 2014)
70 - exchange of licence
71 - duplicate of licence
78 - restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission
79 - restricted to vehicles in conformity with the specifications stated in brackets on your licence
79 (2) - restricted to category AM vehicles of the 3-wheel or light quadricycle type
79 (3) - restricted to tricycles
96 - allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer where the trailer weighs at least 750kg, and the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is between 3,500kg and 4,250kg
97 - not allowed to drive category C1 vehicles which are required to have a tachograph fitted
101 - not for hire or reward (that is, not to make a profit)
102 - drawbar trailers only
103 - subject to certificate of competence
105 - vehicle not more than 5.5 metres long
106 - restricted to vehicles with automatic transmissions
107 - not more than 8,250 kilograms
108 - subject to minimum age requirements
110 - limited to transporting persons with restricted mobility
111 - limited to 16 passenger seats
113 - limited to 16 passenger seats except for automatics
114 - with any special controls required for safe driving
115 - organ donor
118 - start date is for earliest entitlement
119 - weight limit for vehicle does not apply
121 - restricted to conditions specified in the Secretary of State’s notice
122 - valid on successful completion: Basic Moped Training Course. This does not apply to trial e-scooters
125 - tricycles only (for licences issued before 29 June 2014)
To drive a particular type of vehicle, you need an ‘entitlement’ for that category on your driving licence.
You can check online to see what vehicles you can drive.
Your entitlements may have additional restrictions. Check the restriction codes for your driving licence.
Driving licence categories are different in Northern Ireland.
You can check the definitions of vehicle weights to determine your driving licence category.
This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Mopeds
Category AM
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).
This category also includes light quad bikes with:
mass in running order of not more than 425kg (not including batteries if it’s an electric vehicle)
maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph)
Category P
You can drive 2-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 45km/h (28mph) but not more than 50km/h (31mph).
Its engine size must not be more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine.
Category Q
You can drive 2-wheeled and 3-wheeled vehicles without pedals with:
an engine size not more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine
a maximum design speed of no more than 25km/h (15.5mph)
This category also includes trial e-scooters.
Motorcycles
Category A1
You can drive light motorbikes with:
an engine size up to 125cc
a power output of up to 11kW
a power to weight ratio not more than 0.1kW/kg
This category also includes motor tricycles with power output up to 15kW.
Category A2
You can drive motorbikes with a:
power output up to 35kW
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.
You can also drive motorbikes in category A1.
Category A
You can drive:
motorbikes with a power output more than 35kW or a power to weight ratio more than 0.2kW/kg
motor tricycles with a power output more than 15kW
You can also drive motorbikes in categories A1 and A2.
Light vehicles and quad bikes
Category B1
You can drive motor vehicles with 4 wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if they’re designed for carrying goods.
Cars
Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997
You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.
You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.
Category B - if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997
You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats.
You can tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM.
You can 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.
Non-disabled drivers can no longer ride motor tricycles with a provisional category B licence.
Category B auto
You can drive a category B vehicle - but only an automatic one.
Category BE
You can drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg with a trailer.
The size of the trailer depends on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence. If the date is:
before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle
on or after 19 January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg within the towing limits of the vehicle
Medium-sized vehicles
Category C1
You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) (with a trailer up to 750kg).
Category C1E
You can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.
The combined maximum authorised mass (MAM) of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.
Large vehicles
Category C
You can drive vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer up to 750kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).
Category CE
You can drive category C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.
Minibuses
Category D1
You can drive vehicles with:
no more than 16 passenger seats
a maximum length of 8 metres
a trailer up to 750kg
Category D1E
You can drive D1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).
The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.
Buses
Category D
You can drive any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).
Category DE
You can drive D category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.
Other categories
Category Vehicle you can drive
f Agricultural tractor
G Road roller
H Tracked vehicles
k Mowing machine or pedestrian-controlled vehicle
l Electrically-propelled vehicle
M Trolley vehicles
n Exempt from duty
You do not need a driving licence for electric bikes, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs.
Get a ‘provisional entitlement’ and then take a test to get higher categories added to your licence. You may also be automatically entitled to lower categories if you pass a higher category driving test.
Check online to see which vehicles you can drive at the moment.
Adding higher category entitlements to your licence
To add higher category entitlements to your driving licence, you need to:
1. Pass your car (B) driving test.
2. Have provisional entitlement for the category of vehicle you want to drive.
3. Pass the driving test for the new category to get full entitlement.
You do not need to do a test for a lower category first. For example, you do not need to pass a test in a medium-sized lorry (category C1) before you can take a test in a medium-sized lorry with a trailer (category C1E).
If you pass the test to get a full car licence (B), you will automatically get full BE entitlement. Find out what these categories mean.
Get provisional entitlement
The provisional entitlements you can apply for are C, C1, C1+E, D and D1. Find out what these categories mean.
For example, if you have a full car licence you can apply for provisional entitlement to drive a lorry or a bus.
If you apply for one of these provisional entitlements, you’ll get additional entitlements to the one you apply for.
Provisional entitlements you apply for Additional provisional entitlements you’ll get
C C1, C1+E, C, C+E
C1 C1
C1+E C1, C1+E, C, C+E
D C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
D1 C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
You automatically get provisional entitlement to G and H categories - you do not need to apply.
If you got your bus or lorry entitlement before 15 November 2021
You may be able to get additional provisional entitlements to the ones you were issued with.
If you got full bus or lorry entitlement after 15 November, you’ll have these extra provisional entitlements added to your licence automatically.
Entitlement you were issued Provisional entitlements you’ll get
C1 C1
C1+E C1, C1+E, C, C+E
C C1, C1+E, C, C+E
C+E C1, C1+E, C, C+E
D1 C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
D1+E C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
D C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
D+E C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D, D+E
To get the additional provisional entitlements added to your licence, order form D2 from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
You may also need to send form D4 – this has to be filled out by a doctor. Check form D2 to find out if you need to do this.
Send the form and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.
If you have a paper driving licence you must include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents.
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BR
You should get your new driving licence within 3 weeks of DVLA getting your application. It can take longer if your health or personal details need to be checked.
If you’ve developed a medical condition or disability, changed your address or got new driving offences since your original application, you’ll need to apply for provisional entitlement again.
Check online to see which vehicles you can drive at the moment.
Getting categories added automatically when you pass a trailer driving test (upgrading)
If you pass the driving test for trailer entitlement, sometimes you’ll have lower categories upgraded automatically.
Example
If you have a licence with entitlements for vehicle category D, and then pass the C+E test, you not only get entitlement to C+E vehicles but will also be upgraded to drive D+E vehicles.
If you get the trailer entitlement for larger vehicles, sometimes you’ll automatically get the full trailer entitlement for smaller vehicles.
Check online to see which vehicles you can drive at the moment.
As a guideline:
lorry entitlements can upgrade bus entitlements.
Bus entitlements cannot upgrade lorry entitlements.
Both lorry and bus entitlements can upgrade car entitlements.
The table shows the original vehicle categories held, the higher vehicle category test that’s been passed and the additional vehicle categories that will be upgraded automatically.
Full entitlement held New test passed Automatic upgrade
B No test needed B+E
B, C1 C1+E No upgrade
B, D1 D1+E No upgrade
B, C1, D1 C1+E No upgrade
B, C1, D1 D1+E No upgrade
B, C, C1, D1 C+E C1+E
B, C1, C, D1, D D+E D1+E
B, C1, C, D1, D C+E C1+E, D1+E, D+E
Further information
For further information about getting categories automatically added to your licence contact DVLA.
