The following information is a general overview of the entitlements and obligations required when driving vehicles in the UK, they are by no means a substitute for your own study of the official Government website. We will not take any responsibility for the decisions you make using the information published below.

The first question to ask is whether you passed your test before or after 1997? According to the drivers act 1995, drivers passing their driving test after 1997 will only qualify the category B1 and B entitlements. The category B license is for all vehicles with a MAM less than 3.5t and carrying less than 8 passengers. The cat B1 license is for vehicles with less than 550Kg and covers vehicles like trikes, quadbikes and milkfloats.

Picture of a none-car deried Van requiring a B license. Using a Category B license, the driver can drive any vehicle (with trailer if MAM of trailer is less than the MAM of the car) with a combined MAM of 3.5t. This includes Ford Transit type vans (see picture to the left), usually distinguished from cat C1 vehicles by the fact they are smaller and have a single pair of wheels on the back axle.

Exemplifying the cat. B towing scenario, a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes can be coupled to a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes, as the MAM of the combination does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. This same principle does not apply to cat C1 and D1 licence as vehicles driven under these categories can only be coupled to a trailer of 750Kg MAM. This is also applies if the MAM of the towing vehicle driven under a cat. B licence approaches 3.5t, e.g. 2.88t transit van can only be used to tow a 750Kg trailer under a cat B. licence. If the driver has a cat. B+E entitlemet then the the transit van can be used to tow a 3.5t trailer.

National Speed Limit sign. This is a cautionary note for van drivers driving along single and dual carriageways under the national speed limit. Even though a transit like van has a MAM less than 7.5T - usually with a MAM of 2.88Tonnes - they are still restricted to the goods vehicles speed limits, i.e. 50, 60 and 60*/70 mph for single carriageway, dual carriage way and motorways (*if towing). They have a MAM over 2T and are NOT car derived vans - e.g. Ford Escort Vans - and are subject to the lower speed limits. Even the new Ford Connect vans are subject to the lower speed limits as they are not car-derived vans and they have a MAM of 2025Kg. If you go through a speed trap using the speed limits for a car, you can expect a speeding ticket in the post.

Also be aware what is considered a dual carriage way and how it is distinguished from as single carriage. A central reservation has to be present for it to be a dual carriageway. There may be two lanes travelling in opposite directions but if there is not physical barrier between the two directions of moving traffic then it is classified as a single carriageway and the lower speed limits apply (see http://www.abd.org.uk/know_your_speed_limits.htm)!

Drivers passing their test before 1997 have so called grandfather entitlements and will also carry on their license the D1 and C1 category which are discussed below. They will also have a towing entitlement indicated for each of these categories by the letter E which allows the driver to tow a 3.5T trailer, e.g. D1+E allows the driver of a minibus to tow a 3.5t trailer. Vehicles driven under the cat. D1 and C1 licence are usually fitted with a tachograph and EU driving hours apply.

Category D1 Licence: 17 seat Minibus

Picture of a Minibus requiring a D1 license.

The category D license is the passenger carrying vehicle license (PSV). The cat D license is for buses and coaches whereas the cat D1 license the minimum licence requirement for driving minibuses. The cat D1 is limited to 16 passenger minibuses which are subject to speed limts lower than cars speed limits, i.e. 50, 60 and 60*/70 mph for single carriageway, dual carriage way and motorways (*if towing). Although, minibuses are allowed to travel up to 70mph they are usually fitted with a speed limiter, limiting the vehicles to 100kph (62mph).

Since 2008 all new PCV drivers are required to have a Certificate of Professional Competence if they are driving from hire or reward. This requires two addional tests to be passed to be maintained over a period of 5 years with 35 hours of class room training.

Under some circumstances you can drive a minibus under a Cat B licence, but this is a grey area depending on whether it you are a volunteer driver and whether the vehicle is less than 3.5t. A 17 seat (including the driver) minibus fully laden with passengers and luggage (c.a. 4.1t) can be expected to exceed 3.5t.

A cautionary note for all passengers in a minibus. They are required by law to wear a seat belt or be subject to an on the spot fine of anything upto £1000, payable by the passenger, NOT the driver. This applies for all passengers not wearing a seat belt in a car too!

Category C1 Licence: Good Vehicles (up to 7.5t)

Picture of a Light Goods Vehicle requiring a C1 license.

The cat. C1 is a licence for good vehicles with a MAM less than 7.5t. They can be recognised by their exceptional length and height for a panel van and have 4 wheels on the back axle to take the extra weith. Again these 7.5t vehicles are subject to speed limts lower than cars speed limits, i.e. 50, 60 and 60*/70 mph for single carriageway, dual carriage way and motorways (*if towing). These vehicles are normally fitted with a speed limiter, limiting the vehicles 90kph (56mph). Tachometers are to be used with these vehicles, and in fact should be fitted to all goods vehicles with an MAM greater than 3.5t. Drivers passing their test before 1995 are limited to a van-plus-trailer MAM of 8.5t, where as drivers passing the C1+E test after 1995 are entitled to driver a van plus trailer with a MAM of upto 12t.

As with PCV drivers, since 2009 all new Goods Vehicle drivers are required to have a Certificate of Professional Competence This requires two addional tests to be passed to be maintained over a period of 5 years with 35 hours of class room training.

For completeness, the C and D category are entitlements for heavy goods vehicles greater than 7.5t and passenger carrying vehicles carrying more than 16 passenger. The C+E entitlement is required for drivers of articulated lorries and the D+E would be used by coach divers towing a luggage trailer.

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