LGV Licence Categories & Entitlements Codes

Obtaining an HGV or LGV licence is a route to a rewarding career and more drivers are needed now that the digital economy is growing and more businesses move online. For a driver to upgrade and gain a HGV licence will, without doubt, provide a wealth of experience in the Transport & Logistic sector and open many career opportunities into transport management, enforcement or even becoming an O licence operator running a business.

On 19 January 2013, the DVLA, DVANI updated driving licences categories to meet EU regulations for driving licences issued to drivers of LGV and HGV Trucks, Minibuses, Large Buses and Coaches (PCV) when passing a new driving test, updating or renewing a full driving licence. For vocational drivers, these category entitlements will be valid for a maximum period of 5 years only, before they are renewed by updating CPC skills through completing 35 hrs of training.

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Current Driving Licence Categories & Entitlements  

From 19 January 2013 driving licences changed and now look different to comply with new EU rules. 

Old Category	Vehicles you can drive	New Category from 19th Jan 2013
A	Motorbike with a maximum speed of more than 50km or with an engine over 50cc	A1, A2 and A (depending on the size of a motorbike)
B1	A vehicle with 4 wheels up to 400kg unladen, or 550kg if intended to carry goods	B1
B	Vehicle up to 3,500kg MAM carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer up to 750kg (or with a trailer over 750kg if combined vehicle and trailer weight isn’t more than 3,500kg MAM)	B
BE	Category B vehicle with a trailer, when the combined weight of vehicle and trailer is over 3,500kg	BE
C	Vehicle over 3,500kg MAM carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer up to 750kg	C
CE	Vehicle over 3,500kg MAM carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer over 750kg	C
C1	Vehicle between 3,500kg and 7,500kg carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer up to 750kg	C1
C1E	Vehicle between 3,500kg and 7,500kg carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer over 750kg and a combined weight of no more than 8,250kg	C1E (with restriction code 107)
C1E	Vehicle between 3,500kg and 7,500kg carrying no more than 8 passengers plus driver, with a trailer over 750kg and a combined weight of no more than 12,000kg	C1E
D	Bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg	D
DE	Bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg	DE
D1	A vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with trailer up to 750kg	D1 (with restriction code 101 and 111)
D1	A vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with trailer up to 750kg	D1
D1E	A vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with a trailer over 750kg	D1E (with restriction code 101,111 and 119)
D1E	A vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus driver, with a trailer over 750kg	D1E
f	Agricultural tractor	f
G	Road roller	G
H	Tracked vehicle	H
k	Mowing machine or pedestrian-controlled vehicle	k
l	Electrically propelled vehicle	l
p	Moped up to 50cc (max speed 50km/h)	AM, P and Q
M	Vehicles are limited to trolley vehicles	M
n	Vehicles (exempt from duty)	n

Driving Licence Restriction Codes 

The codes printed on the back of a driving licence show which conditions must be met to drive. Some codes may be different in Northern Ireland. 

The codes and their meanings are as follows:

01 - eyesight correction, for example, glasses or contact lenses

02 - hearing/communication aid 

10 - modified transmission 
15 - modified clutch 
20 - modified braking systems 
25 - modified accelerator systems 
30 - combined braking and accelerator systems (for licences issued before 28 November 2016) 
31 - pedal adaptations and pedal safeguards 
32 - combined service brake and accelerator systems 
33 - combined service brake, accelerator and steering systems 
35 - modified control layouts 
40 - modified steering 
42 - modified rear-view mirror(s) 
43 - modified driving seats 
44 - modifications to motorbikes 
44 (1) - single operated brake 
44 (2) - adapted front wheel brake 
44 (3) - adapted rear wheel brake 
44 (4) - adapted accelerator 
44 (5) - (adjusted) manual transmission and manual clutch 
44 (6) - (adjusted) rear-view mirror(s) 
44 (7) - (adjusted) commands (direction indicators, braking light, etc) 
44 (8) - seat height allowing the driver, in a sitting position, to have two feet on the surface at the same time and balance the motorcycle during stopping and standing 
44 (11) - adapted footrest 
44 (12) - adapted hand grip 
45 - motorbikes only with sidecar 
46 - tricycles only (for licences issued before 29 June 2014) 
70 - exchange of licence 
71 - a duplicate of the licence 
78 - restricted to vehicles with automatic transmission 
79 - restricted to vehicles in conformity with the specifications stated in brackets on your licence 
79 (2) - restricted to category AM vehicles of the 3-wheel or light quadricycle type 
79 (3) - restricted to tricycles 
96 - allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer where the trailer weighs at least 750 kg, and the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is between 3,500 kg and 4,250 kg 
97 - not allowed to drive category C1 vehicles which are required to have a tachograph fitted 
101 - not for hire or reward (that is, not to make a profit) 
102 - drawbar trailers only 
103 - subject to certificate of competence 
105 - vehicle, not more than 5.5 metres long 
106 - restricted to vehicles with automatic transmissions 
107 - not more than 8,250 kilograms 
108 - subject to minimum age requirements 
110 - limited to transporting persons with restricted mobility 
111 - limited to 16 passenger seats 
113 - limited to 16 passenger seats except for automatics 
114 - with any special controls required for safe driving 
115 - organ donor 
118 - start date is for earliest entitlement 
119 - weight limit for the vehicle does not apply 
121 - restricted to conditions specified in the Secretary of State’s notice 
122 - valid on successful completion of Basic Moped Training Course. This does not apply to trial e-scooters 
125 - tricycles only (for licences issued before 29 June 2014) 

Remember, if there is a licence restriction (code) on a driver's licence, such as 01 eyesight correction, for example, glasses or contact lenses, and the driver fails to adhere to it, in the event of an accident, the failure could result in those actions invalidating the driver's insurance which would result in the drier being prosecuted for driving whilst uninsured. 

If a driver passed a car test (category B) before 1 January 1997 he/she is entitled to automatically hold licence categories BE, C1, C1E, D1 and D1E without having to take a modern or additional driving test. These additional categories are more commonly known as 'Acquired Rights' or 'Grandfather Rights'

The following links provide guidance and further information

Driving Licence Categories - https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories 

Check an Employees Driving Licence - https://www.roadriskmanager.com