The truck driving licence (C and C1) in Belgium

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A category C licence opens the door to a job that is always hiring: lorry driver. In Belgium you get it after your car licence (B), with a medical examination, a specific theory test and a demanding practical test. Here are the categories, minimum ages and steps, in order.

Key points

C1 up to 7.5 tonnes

Category C1 covers lorries from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes; category C covers all lorries over 3.5 tonnes.

Licence B first

You must hold a category B licence before starting C or C1 training.

Code 95 for professionals

To drive for a living, the driver qualification (code 95) is compulsory.

Lorry licence categories

Category C licences in Belgium
Category	Vehicles	Minimum age
C1	Lorries from 3.5 to 7.5 t, max. 8 passengers	18
C	Lorries over 3.5 t, max. 8 passengers	21 (18 with the professional qualification)
C1E / CE	With a trailer over 750 kg	As for the base category

Steps to get a category C licence

Hold a valid category B licence.
Pass a medical examination with an approved doctor: eyesight, hearing, general fitness. The certificate is time-limited and must be renewed.
Pass the category C theory test at an approved exam centre: specific rules on driving hours, loads, dimensions, braking and the tachograph.
Complete practical training with a provisional licence and a driving school or professional course.
Pass the practical test: vehicle checks, manoeuvres on a closed area and driving on public roads.

The driver qualification (code 95)

To carry goods professionally you also need the initial driver qualification, followed by 35 hours of periodic training every five years. It appears on your licence as code 95. Without it, a C licence lets you drive a lorry but not make a living from it.

Category C builds on category B: solid highway code basics (priority, distances, motorways) save time at every later step.

Preparing for the category C theory test

Category C questions follow the same logic as category B: photo, situation, answer options. Lorry-specific topics are added: blind spots, the 50-metre gap on motorways for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes or longer than 7 metres, the 90 km/h motorway limit, overtaking bans, maximum height and weight.

Review the general rules first with the Belgian highway code and the stopping distance formula, as stopping distance grows sharply with weight.

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

How old do you have to be for a truck licence in Belgium?

21 for category C, or 18 with the professional qualification. Category C1 is available from 18.

Do I need a car licence before a truck licence?

Yes. Category B is a compulsory prerequisite for C1 and C.

What is code 95?

The mark showing a driver's professional qualification. It is compulsory to drive a lorry for a living and is renewed with 35 hours of training every five years.

What is the lorry speed limit on Belgian motorways?

90 km/h for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, unless a sign shows a lower limit.

Is the medical examination compulsory?

Yes. It is required before training and must be renewed periodically to keep the licence valid.