Driving categories 2025: Descriptions, requirements, notes

Driving categories

There are a total of 16 different categories of driving licenses, which we review below.

AM category

The AM category includes mopeds and light quadricycles .

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 15 years .

Category AM is the only category that does not require passing a practical driving test.

Category A1

Category A1 includes motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50–125 cm3, a power not exceeding 11 kW, and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kW/kg, as well as tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kW.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 16 years .

Category A2 

Category A2 includes motorcycles with a power not exceeding 35 kW, a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg and which are not derived from a vehicle with more than twice the power.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 18 years .

Category A 

Category A includes tricycles with a power of more than 15 kW and motorcycles .

The minimum age for obtaining a driving license is 20 years , except for the right to drive tricycles. In order to obtain the right to drive category A motorcycles, you must have two years of driving experience in category A2 vehicles. The requirement to have two years of driving experience in category A2 vehicles does not apply to persons who have reached the age of 24. The right to drive tricycles with a power exceeding 15 kW is granted from the age of 21.

Category B1

Category B1 includes quadricycles, vehicles of lower capacity than category B , with a maximum design speed exceeding 45 km/h and/or an engine capacity exceeding 50 cm3 and an unladen mass not exceeding 400 kg. The mass of a vehicle intended for the carriage of goods does not exceed 550 kg.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 16 years . Upon reaching the age of 18, category B1 holders must retake exams to obtain category B.

Category B

Category B includes motor vehicles with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg and designed and built to carry no more than 8 passengers , excluding the driver. These motor vehicles may be coupled to a trailer with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 750 kg or to a trailer with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg, but the maximum permissible mass of the combined vehicle does not exceed 3,500 kg.

Driving category B vehicles coupled to a trailer with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg and a maximum permissible mass of the combination of 3,501–4,250 kg is possible with the code “96” entered on the driving licence . This code is entered after passing the relevant practical driving test.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 18 years .

Category BE

Category BE includes combinations of a category B car and a trailer with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 18 years .

Category C1

Category C1 includes cars not classified in categories D1 and D and with a maximum authorised mass of 3,501 to 7,500 kg , and which are designed and constructed to carry no more than 8 passengers, excluding the driver. These cars may be coupled to trailers with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg.  

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 18 years .

Category C1E

Category C1E includes combinations of category C1 vehicles and trailers with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg, as well as combinations consisting of a category B tractor and a trailer with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 3,500 kg. The maximum permissible mass of these combinations is not more than 12,000 kg.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 18 years .

Category C

Category C includes motor vehicles ( lorries ) not classified in categories D1 and D and having a maximum permissible mass exceeding 3,500 kg and designed and built to carry no more than 8 passengers , excluding the driver. Motor vehicles in this category may be coupled to trailers with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age for obtaining a driving license is 21 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification for transporting goods in accordance with the established procedure.

CE category

Category CE includes combinations of category C cars and trailers with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age for obtaining a driving license is 21 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification for transporting goods in accordance with the established procedure.

Category D1

Category D1 includes cars designed to carry no more than 16 passengers , excluding the driver, and which are no longer than 8 metres. These cars may be coupled to trailers with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age for obtaining a driving license is 21 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification to transport passengers in accordance with the established procedure.

Category D1E

Category D1E includes combinations of category D1 cars and trailers with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age for obtaining a driving license is 21 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification to transport passengers in accordance with the established procedure.

Category D

Category D includes cars ( buses ) designed to carry more than 8 passengers , excluding the driver. These cars may be coupled to a trailer with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age from which it is permitted to obtain the right to drive is 24 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification to transport passengers in accordance with the established procedure.

DE category

Category DE includes combinations of category D cars and trailers with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 750 kg.

The minimum age from which it is permitted to obtain the right to drive is 24 years , except for persons who have acquired the initial professional qualification to transport passengers in accordance with the established procedure.

Category T

Category T includes trolleybuses – non-rail vehicles connected to an external power source.

The minimum age to obtain a driving license is 21 years .

Important notes

• AM category vehicles can be driven with any category of license;

• With categories A and B you can drive powerful quadricycles;

• With category A2 you can also drive category A1 vehicles;

• With category A you can also drive vehicles of categories A1, A2;

• With categories B, C or D you can drive categories B1, C1, D1 respectively;

• With categories C1E, CE, D1E, DE you can also drive category BE; 

• With CE, DE categories you can drive C1E, D1E categories respectively;

• With a CE category, you can also drive a DE category if you have a category D driving license.