Photo: Ruben Boekeloo / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
An Irish driving licence or learner permit covers only the categories printed on it, and each category has its own minimum age for a first learner permit. A category B car licence starts at 17. This guide sets out every category from AM to DE, what B lets you drive and tow, the conditions attached to categories, and a short note on Driver CPC for bus and truck drivers.
Key facts
- Category B (car): minimum age 17 for a first learner permit.
- AM (moped), A1 (light motorcycle) and W (work vehicles and land tractors): minimum age 16.
- Under 16 you must not use any vehicle in a public place.
- B lets you tow a trailer up to 750 kg MAM, or a heavier one if the car and trailer together are no more than 3,500 kg.
- Learners in categories B, C, C1, D and D1 must not tow a trailer at all.
Irish driving licence categories and minimum ages
The Rules of the Road uses the categories in place since 19 January 2013. Older licences may show the previous names (EB, EC, EC1, ED, ED1).
| Category | Minimum age | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| AM | 16 | Mopeds |
| A1 | 16 | Motorcycles up to 125 cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg; motor tricycles up to 15 kW |
| A2 | 18 | Motorcycles up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power |
| A | 24, or 20 with progressive access | Any motorcycle; motor tricycles (not under 21) |
| B | 17 | Cars and light vans up to 3,500 kg MAM with no more than 8 passenger seats; quadricycles not in AM |
| BE | 17 | Category B vehicle with a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM |
| W | 16 | Work vehicles and land tractors |
| C1 | 18 | Trucks over 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg, up to 8 passengers; trailer up to 750 kg |
| C1E | 18 | C1 with a trailer over 750 kg, combination up to 12,000 kg (also B with a trailer over 3,500 kg, up to 12,000 kg combined) |
| C | 21, or 18 with CPC | Trucks over 3,500 kg, up to 8 passengers; trailer up to 750 kg |
| CE | 21, or 18 with CPC | C with a trailer over 750 kg |
| D1 | 21 | Minibuses up to 16 passengers and 8 m long; trailer up to 750 kg |
| D1E | 21 | D1 with a trailer |
| D | 24, or 21 with CPC | Buses with more than 8 passenger seats; trailer up to 750 kg |
| DE | 24, or 21 with CPC | D with a trailer over 750 kg |
What does a category B licence cover?
- Cars, 4x4s and vans with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500 kg or less and no more than 8 passenger seats.
- A trailer of 750 kg MAM or less.
- A heavier trailer only if the car and trailer MAMs together come to 3,500 kg or less.
MAM is the weight of the vehicle plus the most it is designed to carry. It is usually on a metal plate fixed by the manufacturer, sometimes called the design gross vehicle weight.
When you need BE
To tow a heavier trailer with a car you need category BE. BE covers a car and trailer combination over 3,500 kg and under 7,000 kg. There is no six month wait before a BE test. Towing rules: reversing, U turns and towing in Ireland.
Conditions attached to categories
- Automatic only (code 78): pass the test in an automatic and your licence is restricted to automatics.
- Motorcycles: A2 is limited to 35 kW or less. Category A has no power limit. Progressive access lets you move up from A1 or A2 after holding the lower category for 2 years.
- Learner conditions: L plates, accompanying driver (B, C, D categories), no motorways, no towing. See the six month rule and L plates.
- Medical reports: required for C and D categories and for some medical conditions. See medical and eyesight requirements.
Driver CPC in brief
Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is for professional bus drivers (D1, D1E, D, DE) and truck drivers (C1, C1E, C, CE). New professional drivers pass a theory test, get a learner permit, pass a case study test, and pass practical tests. To keep CPC, drivers complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years (42 hours to keep both bus and truck). It is not needed for private, non-business use or for vehicles limited to 45 km/h.
Common questions
What age can I start driving a car in Ireland?
17, for a category B learner permit. You must pass the theory test first.
Can I drive a tractor at 16?
Yes, on a category W learner permit or licence. W learners do not need L plates but must not carry a passenger unless the vehicle is built for one and the passenger is a qualified driver.
Can I tow a caravan on a B licence?
Only if the caravan is 750 kg MAM or less, or the car and caravan MAMs together are 3,500 kg or less. Otherwise you need BE.
Can I drive a minibus on a car licence?
Not if it has more than 8 passenger seats. That needs D1 or D.
Does a car licence let me ride a moped?
Not automatically. Check the categories shown on your licence. Each category you want to ride or drive must appear on it.
How long is a car licence valid?
Normally 10 years for cars and motorcycles, and 5 years for trucks and buses.
Back to learning to drive in Ireland. Related: getting a learner permit, after you pass.
Sources
- Road Safety Authority, “Rules of the Road”, Section 1 Driving licences and categories of vehicles, and Section 2 Conditions for learner permit holders (Revision 5, hosted on garda.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “S.I. No. 719/2007, Road Traffic (Licensing of Learner Drivers) Regulations 2007” (irishstatutebook.ie)