Caravan: Which driving licence do I need?
Travelling by caravan means a lot of freedom and independence. However, the big journey can only begin once the driver is legally entitled to tow a camper or caravan with their vehicle. Depending on how heavy your home on wheels will be, whether a small trailer is sufficient or you are considering a large caravan, additional training may be necessary.
Category B driving licence: Is it enough for the caravan?
Since 1999, category B has been the standard driving licence. With this licence, you are already allowed to drive many available caravans or motorhomes. However, before you hire or buy a caravan using a category B licence, you should check the exact figures.
The following loads and combinations are permitted with a category B driving licence:
- Cars and lorries with a permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes (t)
- Cars up to a maximum weight of 3.5 t with a trailer up to a permissible gross weight of 750 kilograms (kg); in total a maximum of 4.25 t permissible gross weight
- A combination of car and trailer with a total permissible gross weight of the entire outfit up to 3.5 t; for example, a 2 t car and a trailer with a 1.5 t permissible gross weight.
Note: The permissible gross weight is the maximum weight stated in the vehicle documents for a vehicle or trailer. It is not sufficient to simply load the trailer less. The legally relevant value is the "technically permissible mass".
Upgrading with the B96 endorsement
If you only hold a category B driving licence, you can easily add the "B96" endorsement to your driving licence. This simply requires a short course, consisting of both theory and practical elements, and can usually be completed within a day. No separate test is required. With the B96 licence extension, you have a somewhat greater margin when driving with a caravan.
The following are the regulations regarding weight for a B96 licence:
- Cars with a permissible gross weight up to 3.5 t
- Cars and trailers together with a combined permissible gross weight not exceeding 4.25 t
- Agricultural tractors up to 40 kilometres per hour (km/h)
The B96 extension increases your options when it comes to towing a car and caravan combination.
Which driving licence is suitable for all caravans?
Even category B96 is not always sufficient to tow a large caravan. But are there any licence categories with which you may tow any caravan?
Category 3 driving licence before 1999
Anyone who obtained their driving licence before 1999 enjoys the greatest freedom when it comes to choosing a motorhome, as the permitted gross weights are exceedingly high. Most caravans will not exceed these limits. Specifically, the category 3 driving licence entitles you to tow the following vehicles with trailers:
- Towing vehicle (car or lorry) with a permissible gross weight of up to 7.5 t
- Outfits with up to three axles and a total weight of 12 t, observing the maximum towing vehicle weight of 7.5 t
- Agricultural tractors up to 40 km/h
The most important restriction with a category 3 licence is that the towing vehicle must also be designed to tow a heavy caravan. Other than this, you can drive almost any caravan with this category 3 licence.
Category BE driving licence
Anyone who passed their driving test after 1999 has the option to upgrade from category B to BE – or obtain a BE licence directly. To obtain the BE endorsement on your driving licence, you must take practical driving lessons and pass a test. You may then tow caravans and outfits with the following weight limits:
- Cars and lorries up to a permissible gross weight of 3.5 t
- Trailers with a permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 t
- A combination of towing vehicle and trailer with a total weight of up to 7 t
