Vehicle Categories and Licensing
Why categories matter
Licence categories define which vehicles you may legally drive, and exam questions often present a vehicle description and ask which category is required. The core European categories are AM (mopeds up to 45 km/h and 50 cc), A1, A2 and A (motorcycles by power and age), B (passenger cars up to 3,500 kg with up to eight seats besides the driver), BE (car with heavy trailer), C1 and C (lorries), CE (lorry with trailer), D1 and D (buses), and their trailer variants. Tractor and working-machine categories also exist.
The traps
Three confusions recur. First, mass versus seats: a large van under 3,500 kg remains category B even if it looks like a small lorry. Second, trailer mass: category B covers a trailer up to 750 kg, and in many cases a heavier trailer provided the combined mass stays within limits - a question may hinge on whether the combined figure is respected. Third, age and experience conditions: novice drivers face lower alcohol tolerance, speed and power restrictions, and probationary plates.
Documents to carry
When driving you must hold a valid licence for the category, the vehicle registration document, proof of compulsory third-party insurance, and proof of technical inspection. These are separate documents; a question may ask which one proves the vehicle is roadworthy - that is the technical inspection certificate, not the insurance policy.
Worked example
A van has a permissible maximum mass of 3,200 kg and nine seats including the driver. Nine seats means more than eight passenger seats, so category B does not cover it; a D1-type category is needed despite the modest mass.
Rule of thumb
Check three numbers in order - permissible maximum mass, number of passenger seats, and trailer mass - before naming a category.