Belgian driving licence categories explained
Home › Belgian driving licence categories explained
The Belgian driving licence has around fifteen categories: AM for mopeds, A1, A2 and A for motorcycles, B for cars, BE and code 96 for trailers, C and D for lorries and buses. Each category sets a minimum age, the vehicles you may drive and its own tests. Category B, the most common, starts at 17 with the theory test.
Test yourself: 5 questions on this topic
- What is the maximum authorised mass of a vehicle you may drive with a category B licence? 7,500 kg / 4,250 kg / 3,500 kg. Correct answer: 3,500 kg. Category B covers vehicles whose maximum authorised mass does not exceed 3,500 kg.
- With a category B licence, how many passengers at most may the vehicle carry besides the driver? 8 / 9 / 12. Correct answer: 8. The vehicle must be designed for no more than 8 passengers besides the driver. Beyond that, you need D1 or D.
- Without code 96 or BE, which trailer may you always tow with a category B licence? Up to 3,500 kg / Up to 750 kg / Up to 1,500 kg. Correct answer: Up to 750 kg. A trailer up to 750 kg is always allowed. Heavier is only allowed if the combination stays under 3,500 kg.
- What is the maximum design speed of a class B moped (AM licence)? 45 km/h / 25 km/h / 60 km/h. Correct answer: 45 km/h. A class B moped is limited by design to 45 km/h and requires an AM licence.
- Which motorcycle does an A1 licence cover? Any motorcycle / Up to 35 kW / Up to 125 cc and 11 kW. Correct answer: Up to 125 cc and 11 kW. A1 covers light motorcycles: 125 cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg at most.
Key points
Category B: 3,500 kg
Cars up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, with no more than 8 passengers besides the driver.
Trailers: 750 kg
With B alone, a trailer up to 750 kg, or heavier if the whole combination stays under 3,500 kg.
Motorcycle A: age 24
Direct access at 24, or at 22 after two years on an A2 licence.
All Belgian driving licence categories in one table
Categories are harmonised across the EU, but ages and tests are set by Belgian law and driver training is run by each Region. The table shows the age to obtain the licence (practical test); the theory test can often be taken a few months earlier.
| Category | Vehicles | Minimum age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM | Moped up to 45 km/h, speed pedelec | 16 | Theory + practical |
| A1 | Motorcycle up to 125 cc and 11 kW (0.1 kW/kg) | 18 | Motorcycle theory + practical |
| A2 | Motorcycle up to 35 kW (under 0.2 kW/kg) | 20 | Motorcycle theory + practical |
| A | Any motorcycle | 24, or 22 after 2 years of A2 | Practical (theory unless progressive access) |
| B | Car up to 3,500 kg, max. 8 passengers | 18 (theory from 17) | Theory + hazard perception + practical |
| B + code 96 | Car + trailer, combination up to 4,250 kg | 18 | Practical only |
| BE | Car + trailer up to 3,500 kg | 18 | Practical only |
| C1 | Lorry from 3,500 to 7,500 kg | 18 | Theory + practical + medical |
| C | Lorry over 3,500 kg | 21 (18 with a CPC) | Theory + practical + medical |
| D1 | Minibus, 9 to 16 passengers, max. 8 m | 21 (18 with a CPC) | Theory + practical + medical |
| D | Bus and coach | 24 (18 with a CPC) | Theory + practical + medical |
The CPC (certificate of professional competence) is the professional qualification for lorry and bus drivers. The lower ages it unlocks come with conditions: check your case with the exam centre.
Category B: what you can drive
A category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, built for no more than 8 passengers besides the driver: cars, people carriers and most vans. Heavier, or more passengers? You need C1 or D1.
You get it in three steps: pass the theory test (50 questions, 41/50 to pass, a serious mistake costs 5 points), learn with a provisional licence and a guide or a driving school, then pass the practical test with hazard perception. The theory test costs €19 in Flanders and Brussels and €17 in Wallonia; the practical test €51 in Flanders, €46 in Brussels and €42 in Wallonia. See also the Belgian theory test.
Hazard perception is part of category B. In Flanders and Brussels it is part of the practical test; in Wallonia it is a separate test that must be passed in Wallonia. Knowing this early helps you plan the steps in your Region before you can drive without a guide.
A licence obtained in an automatic car carries a restriction: see automatic driving licence. For light motorcycles on a car licence, read riding a 125cc with a car licence.
Trailers: B alone, code 96 or BE
- Category B: a trailer up to 750 kg, or heavier if the maximum authorised mass of the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg.
- Code 96: a trailer over 750 kg, with a combination over 3,500 kg but not above 4,250 kg.
- BE: a trailer up to 3,500 kg; heavier requires C1E.
- Code 96 and BE need no theory test, only a practical test after driving-school lessons or practice on a provisional licence.
Mopeds and motorcycles: AM, A1, A2, A
An AM licence covers class B mopeds (up to 45 km/h) and speed pedelecs from age 16, after a theory and a practical test. See our AM moped licence guide.
Motorcycle access is progressive: A1 at 18, A2 at 20, A at 24 directly or at 22 after two years of A2. Holders of an A1 licence for two years can move to A2 without retaking the theory test. The motorcycle theory has its own exam: see the motorcycle theory test.
Professional licences: C1, C, D1, D
Categories C (lorry) and D (bus) require a medical examination, including an eye test, valid for five years at most. You can sit the theory test from 17 years and 9 months and the practical test from 18, but without a CPC the full licence is only issued at 21 for C and D1, and at 24 for D. Heavy combinations (C1E, CE, D1E, DE) have their own rules. More on our truck driving licence page and on the Brussels Region website.
The codes printed on your licence
On the back of the licence, next to the categories, you may find harmonised EU codes. They restrict or extend what you may drive, and a police check treats them exactly like the category itself.
- Code 01: eyesight correction required (glasses or contact lenses).
- Code 78: restricted to vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
- Code 95: professional driver holding a CPC, with its expiry date.
- Code 96: car and trailer combination up to 4,250 kg (see above).
Licence validity and category G
The Belgian credit-card licence is issued for 10 years for categories AM, A and B; renewing it is an administrative step at the commune, with no test. For C and D, validity is tied to the medical examination, renewed at least every five years.
Belgium also has a national category G for agricultural and forestry tractors, available from 16, with its own theory and practical tests.
Ages, validity and foreign licences
A theory pass stays valid for three years, so starting at 17 leaves plenty of time to learn. The full process is on getting a driving licence in Belgium.
Moving from abroad? An exchange does not always keep every category of your foreign licence: see exchanging a driving licence in Belgium. To test your category B knowledge, take a free theory test in exam conditions.
Practise this topic with real exam questions
Reading a rule is not enough: in the Belgian theory exam every question is asked on a photo of a real traffic situation, with answers that look deliberately alike. On PermisBelges, every topic of the highway code is practised with questions in the GOCA exam format, each one corrected and explained.
A free account gives access to the lessons, the free mock exams and progress tracking. Premium unlocks every exam simulation, detailed statistics per topic and targeted revision of your mistakes until exam day.
Ready to test yourself? Create your free account in thirty seconds, or discover Premium to practise without limits.
Frequently asked questions
What are the driving licence categories in Belgium?
AM (moped), A1, A2 and A (motorcycle), B (car), B with code 96 and BE (trailers), C1 and C (lorry), D1 and D (bus), plus their heavy-trailer versions.
What can I drive with a Belgian category B licence?
A vehicle up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass with no more than 8 passengers besides the driver, with a trailer up to 750 kg, or heavier if the combination stays under 3,500 kg.
At what age can I get a car licence in Belgium?
The theory test from 17, the full licence from 18 after the practical test.
What is the difference between code 96 and BE?
Code 96 covers a combination up to 4,250 kg, BE a trailer up to 3,500 kg. Both require a practical test only, with no theory.
At what age can I ride a large motorcycle in Belgium?
At 24 with direct access to category A, or at 22 after two years on an A2 licence.