UK driving licence categories explained
A UK driving licence lists the vehicle categories you are entitled to drive on the back of the card. Passing the standard car test gives you Category B plus several lighter entitlements automatically. Other categories - motorcycles, lorries, buses - require separate tests. Here is what each main category covers and what you can drive on a provisional licence.
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What is a driving licence category?
Driving licence categories define the class of vehicle the holder is legally permitted to drive. Each category is listed on the back of your photocard with a start date (when the entitlement began) and an end date (when it expires). End dates vary - some categories run until age 70, others have shorter cycles.
When you pass the standard Category B car test, a number of lighter categories are added to your full licence automatically without any further test. Beyond these inclusions, each additional category requires its own theory test (unless already held) and a separate practical test.
You can confirm which categories you currently hold at any time using the DVLA's online licence check service, which lists all entitlements alongside any endorsements.
Category B - the standard car licence
Category B is the standard licence for driving a car - vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass with no more than eight passenger seats. Towing is limited to trailers up to 750kg MAM; towing above that requires passing the separate Category B+E test. This is the licence almost all UK drivers aim for.
Passing Category B also gives you automatic entitlement to:
- AM - mopeds and light quadricycles (maximum 45km/h), valid from age 16 but usually shown on the licence from the B test date
- B1 - light quadricycles above the AM speed threshold
Passing Category B in an automatic vehicle applies code 78 to your licence, restricting you to automatics only. To remove that restriction, you must pass a separate test in a manual vehicle.
Your category entitlements carry over when you renew - our guide to renewing a driving licence explains when renewal is due, what the portal requires, and how to update any newly acquired categories.
Motorcycle categories
Motorcycle licences follow a progressive access system tied to age and engine size:
- AM - mopeds (maximum 45km/h, 50cc equivalent) from age 16
- A1 - light motorcycles up to 11kW from age 17
- A2 - motorcycles up to 35kW from age 19, or with two years of riding on A1
- A - unrestricted motorcycles from age 24, or from age 21 if already holding A2 for two years
Each step requires passing the theory test (if not already held) and the relevant practical test.
Larger vehicle categories
- C1 - medium goods vehicles from 3,500kg to 7,500kg. Automatically included in full Category B licences issued before January 1997 to people who held it at that date; new drivers must pass a separate test.
- C - large goods vehicles (lorries) over 3,500kg. Requires a separate theory test, practical test, and a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for commercial use.
- D1 - minibuses with 9 to 16 passenger seats. Same automatic inclusion rule as C1 for pre-1997 B licences.
- D - full bus and coach licence. Separate theory, practical, and CPC required.
Provisional licence entitlements
A provisional licence allows you to drive under supervision or in specified conditions while learning. A Category B provisional holder can drive a manual or automatic car on public roads with a qualified supervisor who is aged 21 or over and has held a full licence for at least three years. L plates must be displayed front and rear.
Provisional holders cannot drive unaccompanied and cannot drive on motorways except with a qualified driving instructor. Driving with a provisional licence covers the full rules around what you can and cannot do before passing your test.
How the automatic-only restriction works
Passing the Category B test in an automatic vehicle results in code 78 being added to your full licence. This restriction means you may only drive vehicles with automatic transmission - you are not permitted to drive a manual car on your full licence. The restriction applies to any vehicle in the Category B class, not just the model you passed your test in.
To remove the automatic restriction, you must pass a separate practical test in a manual vehicle. The theory test does not need to be retaken. Once you pass, DVLA removes code 78 from your licence and issues a new unrestricted photocard. Most driving instructors can provide manual driving lessons specifically aimed at automatic-to-manual conversion.
Adding new licence categories
To gain entitlement to drive a vehicle in a new category, you first need to apply for a provisional entitlement for that category at gov.uk. For most categories, you then need to pass a theory test for that category (unless you already hold a theory test pass that covers it) and a separate practical test. Some categories - C1 and D1 for older licence holders - may already be shown on your licence from the pre-1997 automatic inclusion.
If you are unsure which categories are already on your licence, the DVLA online check at gov.uk shows all current entitlements, their start dates, and expiry dates, so you can see at a glance what you hold and what you would need to apply and test for. Categories shown with an end date in the past have expired and would need to be reapplied for - this commonly affects older C1 and D1 entitlements that required medical renewal and were allowed to lapse.
Frequently asked questions
What is Category B on a UK driving licence?
Category B covers standard cars up to 3,500kg and up to 8 passenger seats. It is the licence gained by passing the standard UK practical car test.
What licence categories do I get automatically when I pass my car test?
Passing Category B gives you AM (mopeds) and B1 automatically. Full B licences issued before January 1997 also included C1 (medium lorry) and D1 (minibus) entitlements.
Can I drive a van on a Category B licence?
Yes, provided the van is within the 3,500kg limit for Category B. Most standard panel vans and small pickups fall within this limit.
What does code 78 on my driving licence mean?
Code 78 is an automatic-only restriction. It means you passed your test in an automatic vehicle and may only drive automatics on your full licence. To remove it, you must pass a test in a manual vehicle.
How do I add a new category to my licence?
Most categories require a provisional entitlement application, a theory test (if not already held for that category), and a separate practical test.
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