Rules for lorries, buses and coaches used for driving tests :Cross Stitch – Motoring

There are rules about the lorry, bus or coach you use for your driving test. If your vehicle does not meet the rules, you can’t use it for your test. Find out if your vehicle meets the rules.

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the rules, you can’t use it for your test. If you take a vehicle that doesn’t meet the rules:

  • your test will be cancelled
  • you may lose your fee

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the rules:

  • your test will be cancelled
  • you may lose your fee

All vehicles used for category C1, C1+E, C and C+E tests must be capable of 50 miles per hour (mph) – 80 kilometres per hour (km/h).

It must be fitted with:

  • externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors
  • seatbelts fitted to seats used by the examiner or any person supervising the test
  • a tachograph
  • an anti-lock braking system (ABS) – please note that trailers don’t need to be fitted with ABS

A tractor unit is not a suitable vehicle for category C or C1 test.

All trailer cargo compartments must be:

  • of a closed box construction
  • at least as high and wide as the towing vehicle

In the case C1+E the trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle, but the view to the rear must be by the use of external mirrors only.

Category C vehicles are large goods lorries.

Category C

A category C vehicle is a rigid goods vehicle:

  • with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes
  • at least eight metres in length
  • at east 2.4 metres in width

The vehicle must have:

  • at least eight forward ratios
  • a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab

Category C+E

Category C+E vehicles must:

  • have at least eight forward ratios
  • be at least 2.4 metres in width

There are two types of test vehicle in the C+E category:

  • a drawbar combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of 20 tonnes and a length of at least 7.5 metres from coupling eye to extreme rear and a combined length of at least 14 metres
  • an articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, a minimum length of 14 metres with a maximum length of 16.5 metres

The vehicle must be fitted with externally mounted, nearside and offside mirrors for use by the examiner

All the vehicles used for categories D1, D1+E, D and D+E tests must be capable of 50 mph (80 km/h).

The vehicle must be fitted with:

  • externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors
  • a seatbelt for the examiner or any person supervising the test
  • a tachograph
  • ABS

Stretched limousines and prison vans based on a lorry chassis are not suitable vehicles for a category D test.