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The vehicle you use for your driving test

If your vehicle doesn't meet the rules, you can't use it for your test. If you take a vehicle that doesn't meet the rules:

• your test will be cancelled
• you may lose your fee
  

Rules for lorries used for driving tests

All vehicles used for category C1, C1+E, C and C+E tests must be capable of 50 miles per hour (mph) - 80 kilometres per hour (km/h).

It must be fitted with:

• externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors
• seatbelts fitted to seats used by the examiner or any person supervising the test
• a tachograph
• an anti-lock braking system (ABS) - please note that trailers don't need to be fitted with ABS

A tractor unit is not a suitable vehicle for category C or C1 test.

All trailer cargo compartments must be:

• of a closed box construction
• at least as high and wide as the towing vehicle

In the case C1+E the trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle, but the view to the rear must be by the use of external mirrors only.

Medium sized lorries: sub-category C1

Sub-category C1 vehicles are medium sized lorries.

Sub-category C1

A sub-category C1 vehicle is a medium sized lorry:

• with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least four tonnes
• at least five metres in length
• with a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab

MAM is the maximum weight of the vehicle including the maximum load that can be carried safely while used on the road. This is also known as 'gross vehicle weight'.

Sub-category C1+E

There are two types of test vehicle in the C1+E category:

• a drawbar combination of a category C1 vehicle towing a trailer of at least two tonnes MAM with a combined length of at least eight metres
• a medium sized articulated lorry with a MAM of at least six tonnes with a combined length of at least eight metres

• Vehicle weights explained

Large goods lorries: category C

Category C vehicles are large goods lorries.

Category C

A category C vehicle is a rigid goods vehicle:

• with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes
• at least eight metres in length
• at east 2.4 metres in width

The vehicle must have:

• at least eight forward ratios
• a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab

Category C+E

Category C+E vehicles must:

• have at least eight forward ratios
• be at least 2.4 metres in width

There are two types of test vehicle in the C+E category:

• a drawbar combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of 20 tonnes and a length of at least 7.5 metres from coupling eye to extreme rear and a combined length of at least 14 metres
• an articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, a minimum length of 14 metres with a maximum length of 16.5 metres

• Vehicle weights explained

Rules for buses and coaches used for driving tests

All the vehicles used for categories D1, D1+E, D and D+E tests must be capable of 50 mph (80 km/h).

The vehicle must be fitted with:

• externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors
• a seatbelt for the examiner or any person supervising the test
• a tachograph
• ABS

Stretched limousines and prison vans based on a lorry chassis are not suitable vehicles for a category D test.

Minibuses: sub-category D1

Sub-category D1 vehicles are minibuses.

Sub-category D1

A sub-category D1 vehicle is a passenger carrying vehicle (PCV):

• with between nine and 16 passenger seats
• with a MAM of at least four tonnes
• at least five metres in length

Sub-category D1+E

Sub-category D1 is a D1 vehicle towing a closed box trailer:

• with a MAM of at least 1.25 tonnes
• at least two metres high
• at least two metres wide

• Vehicle weights explained

Buses and coaches: category D

Category D vehicles are buses and coaches.

Category D

A category D vehicle is a PCV:

• with more than eight passenger seats
• at least 10 metres in length
• at least 2.4 metres in width

Category D+E

Category D+E is a category D vehicle towing a closed box trailer:

• with a MAM of at least 1.25 tonnes
• at least two metres high
• at least two metres wide

• Vehicle weights explained

More useful links

• Becoming a lorry or bus driver

• The vehicles you can drive or ride and minimum ages