Before you choose which course is right for you is necessary to have an appropriate European driving licence to drive a large goods vehicle in the European Union. There are four categories:
This allows the holder to drive a large goods vehicle with a maximum authorized mass (gross vehicle weight) of up to 7,500 kilograms (16,535 lb) with a trailer up a maximum authorized mass of up to 750 kilograms (1,653 lb). This licence can be obtained at 18 years of age and is the replacement for the HGV Class 3 in the UK, the old HGV Class 3 being any two-axle-goods vehicle over 7,500 kilograms (16,535 lb).
This allows the holder to drive a large goods vehicle with a maximum authorized mass (gross vehicle weight) of up to 7,500 kilograms (16,535 lb) with a trailer over 750 kilograms (1,653 lb) maximum authorized mass, provided that the maximum authorized mass of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the vehicle being driven and that the combined maximum authorized mass of both the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 12,000 kilograms (26,455 lb).
This allows the holder to drive any large goods vehicle with a trailer with a maximum authorized mass of up to 750 kilograms (1,653 lb). This is effectively the new HGV Class 2 in the UK, the old HGV Class 2 being any rigid goods vehicle with more than two axles.
This allows the holder to drive any large goods vehicle with a trailer with an maximum authorized mass of over 750 kilograms (1,653 lb). This licence can only be obtained after passing class 2 , i.e. Category C first then C+E the following week. This is the new Class 1 licence
UK-Drivers who passed a Category B (car) test before 1 January 1997, will have received Categories C1 and C1+E (Restriction Code 107: not more than 8,250 kilograms (18,188 lb)) through the Implied Rights issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) (more commonly known as Grandfather Rights).
Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats.
Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.
Vehicles with a minimum of nine and a maximum of 16 passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg
Any bus with more than eight passenger seats, with a trailer up to 750 kg