Vehicle Categories and Licensing: Who May Drive What
Categories by vehicle and mass
Licensing questions test the link between vehicle category and the licence held. Know the difference between a moped, a motorcycle, a passenger car, and a light truck, and that the decisive factors are mass, power, and number of seats. A candidate should understand that trailer weight and combined mass change the category required. The trap is a question about towing: a trailer may push the combination into a different category even when the towing car alone is within the standard car category.
Age and probationary rules
Minimum ages differ by category, and new drivers are often subject to probationary conditions such as a lower alcohol limit, restrictions on power, or a ban on carrying certain passengers. Know that a probationary period is about experience, not about the type of vehicle alone.
Documents, medical fitness and validity
A licence has an expiry date and may require a medical certificate, especially for professional drivers or older drivers. The trap is assuming that a licence valid for a car automatically covers a light motorcycle: it does not unless the category is endorsed.
Worked example
A driver with a standard car licence wants to tow a heavy trailer. Check the combined mass and the trailer mass against the category limits. If the combination exceeds the permitted mass, a higher category is required. Always check the category code on the licence before answering.