DVLA Driving licence categories form a legal part of a driving licence status and are a requirement of driving licence check to entitle you to drive. Some of the vehicle types are listed below (as guidance only – please refer to DVLA for all driving licence categories https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories ). When these driving licence checks are carried out it is important to ensure your driver or the said vehicle has the correct categories on their driving licence to drive the vehicle.
E-Scooters – Driving Licence Categories
You must have the category Q entitlement on your driving licence to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter.
If you have a provisional licence, you do not need to show L plates when using an e-scooter
If you have an overseas driving licence, you can use an e-scooter if you
have a valid full licence from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country (so long as this does not prohibit you from driving low-speed mopeds and motorcycles)
have a valid full licence from another country that entitles you to drive a small vehicle (for example, cars, mopeds or motorcycles) and you entered the UK within the last 12 months
Use our online tool to check if you can drive in Great Britain with your non-GB licence
If you have been resident in the UK for more than 12 months, you must exchange your licence if you wish to continue driving in the UK
You cannot use an e-scooter if you have an overseas provisional licence, learner permit or equivalent
Mopeds – DVLA Driving Licence Categories
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:
unladen mass of not more than 350kg (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 – DVLA Driving Licence Categories
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– DVLA Driving Licence Categories
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 MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg)
You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg
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 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– DVLA Driving Licence Categories
Category C1
You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg MAM (with a trailer up to 750kg)
Category C1E
You can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg
Large vehicles– Driving Licence Category
Category C
You can drive vehicles over 3,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg MAM)
Category CE
You can drive category C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
Minibuses– DVLA Driving Licence Category
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 MAM
The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg
Buses– DVLA Driving Licence Category
Category D
You can drive any bus with more than 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg MAM)
Category DE
You can drive D category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
All information is only as accurate as the DVLA source information please click here for any updates to the driving licence categories