Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. This is a standard practice throughout the European Union. Ireland has 14 categories in total, ranging from motorcycles to agricultural vehicles.

If you have a full driving licence or a provisional driving licence, you are only entitled to drive the category of vehicle for which the licence has been issued.

If you wish to have another category of motor vehicle added to your existing licence, your existing licence must be in date. The basic rule is, categories of lower class vehicles may be added to your existing licence without the requirement of a driving test or a driver theory test. Here is an example; the holder of a class C licence can have category C1 added to his or her licence without having to do a driver theory test or a driving test.

Essentially, there are three different types of vehicle categories; basic, higher and trailer. The following is an explanation of the types of vehicles and the minimum age you need to be in order to drive them.

 

Basic categories

Category	Vehicle type	Minimum age of driver
A1	Motorcycles up to 11kW or 125 cc	16 years
A (restricted)	Motorcycles up to 25kW (approx. 300 cc)	18 years
A	Any size motorcycle (after 2 years on a full licence)	18 years
B	Vehicles with seats for up to 8 passengers and max weight of 3,500kg	17 years
M	Moped with maximum speed of 45 kph and engine size up to 50 cc	16 years
W	Works vehicle such as a tractor or JCB	16 years

Higher categories

Category	Vehicle Type	Minimum requirements	Minimum Age
C1	Goods vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg	Full C1 licence	18 years
C	Goods vehicles over 3,500kg	Full C licence	18 years
D1	Buses or passenger vehicles with accommodation for more than 8 but less than 16 people	Full D1 licence	21 years
D	Buses or passenger vehicles with accommodation for more than 8 people	Full D licence	21 years

Trailer categories

Category	Vehicle Type	Minimum requirements
EB	Vehicles in category B with a trailer attached	Full EB licence
EC1	Vehicles in category C1 with a trailer attached	Full EC1 licence
EC	Vehicle in category C with a trailer attached	Full EC licence
ED1	Vehicles in category D1 with a trailer attached	Full ED1 licence
Vehicles in category D with a trailer attached	Vehicles in category D with a trailer attached	Full ED licence

Adding a category of vehicle to an existing licence

If you are a provisional licence holder, you can add a category of vehicle to your provisional driving licence by completing application form D201. This form is available from your Motor Tax office. You should send your completed application form (together with your last provisional licence and two new photographs) to your Motor Tax Office. If you are required to complete a driver theory test for the new category of vehicle, you must include your driver theory test certificate with your application.

When you are applying for or renewing a full licence, you should complete application form D401. You should send your completed application form (together with your last full licence or your last provisional licence and two new photographs) to your Motor Tax Office. You must also forward your Certificate of Competency for the new category of vehicle.

Rates

There are no fees for adding categories to driving licences that are still in date.

How to apply

If you wish to have an additional category of vehicle added to your existing licence, your application is made directly to the Motor Tax Office of your local authority. Staff in your Motor Tax office will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding categories of vehicles and can advise you on the specific requirements of your application.

Where to apply

Applications are made directly to the Motor Tax Office.

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