Article 9 — Staging and equivalences between categories

1. Driving licences of categories BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE shall be issued only to drivers already entitled to drive vehicles in category B. 2. The validity of driving licences shall be determined as follows: (a) driving licences issued for categories C1E, CE, D1E or DE shall also be valid for combinations of vehicles in category BE; (b) driving licences issued for category CE shall also be valid for category DE, if their holders are entitled to drive vehicles in category D; (c) driving licences issued for category C1E or CE shall also be valid for category D1E, if their holders are entitled to drive vehicles in category D1; (d) driving licences issued for categories CE and DE shall also be valid for categories C and C1, and D and D1, respectively; (e) driving licences issued for category CE and DE shall also be valid for combinations of vehicles in categories C1E and D1E respectively; (f) driving licences issued for category C1E and D1E shall also be valid for categories C1 and D1, respectively; (g) driving licences issued for any category shall also be valid for power-driven vehicles in category AM. However, for driving licences issued on its territory, a Member State may limit the equivalences for category AM to driving licences for categories A1, A2 and A, if that Member State imposes a practical test as a condition for obtaining a driving licence for category AM. (h) driving licences issued for category A2 shall also be valid for category A1; (i) driving licences issued for categories A, B, C or D shall also be valid for categories A1 and A2; B1; C1; D1, respectively; (j) two years after a category B driving licence was issued for the first time, it shall also be valid for driving motor vehicles, including power-driven emergency vehicles used for the purpose of maintaining public safety and order including by providing immediate assistance during natural or man-made emergencies, such as police vehicles, ambulances, civil protection and rescue vehicles, or fire brigade vehicles, powered wholly or in part by alternative fuels as defined in Article 2 of Directive 96/53/EC, and which have been approved under Regulation (EU) 2018/858, with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding 4250 kg. Where the condition laid down in Article 6(1), point (c)(ii), of this Directive is met, those vehicles may be combined with a trailer, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the combination does not exceed 5000 kg. Motor caravans shall not be covered by the equivalence referred to in this point; (k) two years after a category BE driving licence was issued for the first time, it shall also be valid for driving a combination of a motor vehicle, powered wholly or in part by alternative fuels as defined in Article 2 of Directive 96/53/EC and which has been approved under Regulation (EU) 2018/858, with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg, but not exceeding 4250 kg, as a tractor vehicle and a trailer or semi-trailer of mass categories O1 or O2 laid down in Article 4(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2018/858. 3. For driving on their respective territories, Member States may grant the following equivalences: (a) powered tricycles under a driving licence for category B, for powered tricycles with a maximum net power exceeding 15 kW, provided that the holder of the driving licence for category B is at least 21 years old; (b) category A1 motorcycles under a driving licence for category B. The equivalences provided for in the first subparagraph shall be mutually recognised by the Member States that granted them. Member States shall indicate on the driving licence that a holder is entitled to drive the vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph only by means of the relevant Union codes, set out in Annex I, Part E. Member States shall inform the Commission without delay about equivalences referred to in the first subparagraph that are granted on their territories, including any related national codes which were used before 25 November 2025. The Commission shall make that information available to Member States. 4. Member States may authorise the driving on their territory of the following categories of vehicles: (a) vehicles of category D1 with a maximum authorised mass of 3500 kg, excluding any specialised equipment intended for the carriage of passengers with disabilities, by drivers over 21 years old holding a category B driving licence, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued to the driver for the first time and provided that the vehicles are used by non-commercial entities for social purposes and that the driver provides his or her services on a voluntary basis; (b) vehicles of a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg by drivers aged over 21 years holding a category B driving licence, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued to the driver for the first time, provided that those vehicles fulfil all of the following conditions: (i) they are intended to be used, when stationary, only as an instructional or recreational facility; (ii) they are used by non-commercial entities for social purposes; (iii) they have been modified so that they can neither be used for the transport of more than nine persons nor for the transport of any goods other than those strictly necessary for the purposes set out in points (i) and (ii); (c) vehicles of category B with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 2500 kg and with a maximum speed limited by technical means to 45 km/h, by drivers below 21 years old holding a category B1 driving licence, which was issued subject to the conditions set out in Article 6(1), point (c)(i), second subparagraph, and, if relevant, Article 7(2), point (b); (d) power-driven vehicles used for the purpose of maintaining public safety and order, including by providing immediate assistance during natural or man-made emergencies, such as police vehicles, ambulances, civil protection and rescue vehicles, or fire brigade vehicles, with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding 5000 kg, which may be combined with a trailer when the maximum authorised mass of this combination does not exceed 5000 kg, by drivers who have reached the age of 20 years, holding a category B driving licence, having completed the training, testing, or both, required under Article 6(1), point (c)(ii), and who are driving solely for the purpose that the emergency vehicle is intended for, including necessary maintenance and test drives. Where Member States indicate on the driving licence that a holder is entitled to drive the vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), they shall do so only by means of relevant national codes. Member States may, temporarily or indefinitely, mutually recognise on their respective territories the validity of driving licences issued under the first subparagraph, point (d). Member States shall inform the Commission of any authorisations granted in accordance with this paragraph. 5. Member States shall be entitled to authorise the driving of vehicles of category D or D1, on their territories, by holders of a driving licence issued for category C, provided that no other person is transported in the vehicle and provided that the driver is a person who is: (a) executing a roadworthiness test in accordance with Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, within a 5 km radius from the testing centre; or (b) a mechanic of a vehicle repair workshop performing a test drive, within a 5 km radius from the workshop, once the vehicle has been repaired, or for maintenance or inspection purposes, respectively. When leaving the test centre or workshop, the holder of the category C driving licence shall be in a position to prove during any inspection that the vehicle is being driven for the purpose of a roadworthiness test as referred to in point (a) or for a test drive as referred to in point (b). Member States shall inform the Commission of any authorisations granted in accordance with this paragraph.