Which license for the trailer?

Which driving licence category do I require for my trailer?

B96, BE or just B - that is the question. The exact driving licence required for people driving with a trailer can vary greatly. It is important to inform yourselves about this in advance, as anyone towing a trailer that exceeds the limits of their driving licence can be prosecuted.

Driving licence category B - the classic

Anyone who drives a car today usually has a category B driving licence. This allows them to drive a car with a maximum permissible mass of up to 3.5 tonnes. It concerns the combination of car and trailer, each loaded. Here’s an example: If the passenger car weighs 2 tonnes, the trailer may only weigh 1.5 tonnes in the case of a category B licence. The maximum authorised mass of a vehicle/trailer combination is stated in the car registration certificate part I, i.e. In the vehicle documents. The corresponding code number is F2.

For people with a category B driving licence, trailers with a maximum total mass of 750 kilograms may be towed. If a heavier trailer needs to be driven by someone with a B category licence, then it is important to take a look at the overall vehicle-trailer combination: Cars plus trailers must not exceed the maximum permissible mass of 3.5 tonnes.

B96 – the upgrade

If the vehicle and trailer together exceed the permissible total mass of 3.5 tonnes, then the B category licence must be upgraded to the B96 category licence. This means that the trailer may then have a permissible total mass of 4.25 tonnes. In order to have the suffix "96" entered on your B category driving licence, you must first successfully complete the theoretical and practical training courses. This entails seven hours of "driving lessons".

BE - when you need more

If the B96 category licence is not sufficient, a category BE driving licence must then be obtained. This allows you to drive a vehicle-trailer combination with a permissible total mass of up to 7 tonnes. The loaded car may weigh up to a maximum of 3.5 tonnes, the trailer the same amount. Five driving lessons and a practical and theory test must be successfully completed in order to obtain this driving licence.

Practical tip: Using the BE category licence you can drive everything that is possible with the B96 licence and much more besides. It is therefore important to check exactly where your own needs lie in advance - and whether these needs may increase in the future. If in doubt, it is worthwhile switching to the BE category licence straight away.

What about the "old" driving licence?

Category 3 driving licences, which were common until 1999, are still valid. This is also referred to as the continued application of the old licences. Anyone who has obtained this type of driving licence is also permitted to tow car and trailer combinations using heavy trailers. When switching to a current driving licence, the driver automatically receives a category BE driving licence, i.e. does not have to complete any additional driving lessons or tests.

What you need to bear in mind

Why is it so important to make sure you have the right driving licence where trailers are involved? If you are driving with a trailer that you are not authorised for on your driving licence, you can be prosecuted for driving without a driving licence. This offence shall be punishable by a fine or a prison sentence of up to one year. However, it's not just the right driving licence category that counts when driving a trailer. Attention must also be paid to the maximum permissible trailer load of the car. This is stated in the vehicle documents, as is the maximum authorised mass. The corresponding figures here are O.1 for trailers with a brake and O.2 for trailers without a brake.

Incidentally: You can obtain more information on this topic and a practical driving licence guide for driving with trailers on the website of the Trailer Industrie Verband e. V. - STEMA is a member and co-founder of the association.

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Of course, you can also obtain practical tips and information on car trailers and driving licence categories from our experts. Please contact us at any time if you have any questions.