Category B Licence: What it means and why it matters
A standard UK Category B car licence generally lets you drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg MAM and tow a trailer within published trailer rules. For motorhomes this usually means staying at or below a 3,500kg GVW unless you also hold C1.
Category B is the standard UK car driving licence. For motorhome buyers the headline limit is 3,500kg MAM, so any motorhome with a chassis plate GVW above 3,500kg generally needs C1 entitlement instead. Trailer rules for Category B drivers in Great Britain were updated in late 2021, so anyone who passed their car test from 1 January 1997 onwards is now generally allowed to tow a trailer up to the car and trailer combined limits shown on the V5C and towbar plate, without taking a separate B+E test. Rules can change, and Northern Ireland rules differ, so always check current GOV.UK guidance and your own licence categories before towing or buying.
Why this matters
Buying a motorhome above 3,500kg on a Category B licence means you legally cannot drive it on the road. Checking GVW on the chassis plate, and your own licence categories, before you commit is the cheapest insurance there is.
Common misunderstandings
- Category B is not the same as B+E. B+E is the older car and trailer test, separate from the standard car licence
- Some motorhomes are sold as 3,500kg models but can be plated to a higher GVW. Always read the chassis plate, not just the brochure
- Trailer towing rules for Category B drivers have changed over time and differ between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Always check current GOV.UK guidance
Example
A driver who passed their car test in 2010 holds Category B. They can usually drive a 3,499kg coachbuilt motorhome on that licence, but a 3,650kg version of the same model would require C1 entitlement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Generally only motorhomes with a chassis plate GVW at or below 3,500kg. Anything above that normally requires C1 entitlement, or a pre-1997 car licence that already includes C1.
Drivers who passed their car test from 1 January 1997 onwards are now generally allowed to tow within the car and trailer limits on the V5C and towbar plate, but rules can change so always check current GOV.UK guidance.