What do the driving licence categories mean?

For drivers who want to know what vehicles their licence lets them drive.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Driving licence categories are letters on your licence that show which types of vehicle you are allowed to drive.

AM, P and Q cover mopeds.
A1, A2 and A cover motorbikes, by power.
B covers cars with up to 8 passenger seats, usually up to 3,500kg.
C1 and C cover lorries, and D1 and D cover minibuses and buses.
An 'E' added (like BE or CE) means you can tow a bigger trailer.
You can check your categories online.

Different in Northern Ireland

Licences are issued by DVA, so check nidirect.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

B: cars, up to 8 passenger seats
A1, A2, A: motorbikes
C1, C: lorries
D1, D: minibuses and buses
E: bigger trailers

What licence categories are

Your driving licence lists letters and codes called categories. Each one is a type of vehicle you are allowed to drive. If a category is not on your licence, you cannot drive that type of vehicle. MAM means maximum authorised mass. This is the most a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded.

Mopeds and motorbikes

Category	What it covers
AM	2 or 3-wheeled vehicles with a top design speed over 25km/h but not more than 45km/h
P	2-wheeled vehicles with a top design speed over 45km/h but not more than 50km/h
Q	2 and 3-wheeled vehicles without pedals, engine up to 50cc, top speed 25km/h
A1	Light motorbikes up to 125cc and up to 11kW
A2	Motorbikes up to 35kW, power to weight ratio not more than 0.2kW per kg
A	Motorbikes over 35kW or over 0.2kW per kg

Cars and light vehicles

Category	What it covers
B1	4-wheeled motor vehicles up to 400kg unladen, or 550kg if built for goods
B	Vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats, up to 3,500kg MAM (petrol or diesel, including hybrids) or 4,250kg (zero emission electric or hydrogen)
B auto	Category B vehicles, but only automatic ones
BE	A vehicle up to 3,500kg MAM with a trailer

Towing with a car licence

If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, category B lets you tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM. The vehicle and trailer together must not be over 7,000kg MAM.

If you passed before 1 January 1997, you can usually drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM.

With BE, the trailer limit depends on when you got it. Before 19 January 2013, any size of trailer. From 19 January 2013, up to 3,500kg MAM.

Lorries, minibuses and buses

Category	What it covers
C1	Vehicles from 3,500kg to 7,500kg MAM, trailer up to 750kg
C1E	C1 vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
C	Vehicles over 3,500kg, trailer up to 750kg
CE	C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
D1	Minibuses with up to 16 passenger seats, up to 8 metres long
D1E	D1 vehicles with a trailer over 750kg
D	Buses with more than 8 passenger seats, trailer up to 750kg
DE	D vehicles with a trailer over 750kg

The letter E always means you can tow a heavier trailer than the main category allows.

Other categories

Category	What it covers
f	Agricultural tractor
g	Road roller
h	Tracked vehicles
k	Mowing machine or pedestrian-controlled vehicle
l	Electrically-propelled vehicle
n	Exempt from duty

How to check your categories

Use the GOV.UK view your driving licence service. You need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode on your licence. It also shows penalty points. This service covers licences from England, Scotland and Wales.

If you live in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland licences are issued by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). Check nidirect for vehicle categories and how to add higher categories.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check what you can drive

Common questions

What can I drive with a category B licence?

Vehicles up to 3,500kg (4,250kg for some zero emission vehicles) with up to 8 passenger seats, and you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg.

What does B auto mean?

You can drive category B vehicles, but only automatic ones.

How do I check my licence categories?

Use the GOV.UK view your driving licence service with your licence number, National Insurance number and postcode.

Official sources

1.Driving licence categorieswww.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories
2.View or share your driving licence informationwww.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
3.Vehicle categories and driving on a foreign licence (Northern Ireland)www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/driving-licences/vehicle-categories-and-driving-foreign-licence

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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