This table explains each of the 14 driving licence categories. Minimum age refers to the age at which you can receive a learner permit for that category.
| Category |
Vehicle type |
Minimum age* |
| A1 |
Motorcycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres and with a power rating not exceeding 11 kilowatts with or without a side car. |
16 years |
| A |
Motorcycles with or without a sidecar |
18 years |
| M |
Mopeds with a maximum speed of 45kph and an engine size of up to 50cc |
16 years |
| B |
Vehicles with seats for up to 8 passengers and a maximum weight of 3,500kg (includes pulling a trailer where the maximum weight of the trailer when fully loaded is 750kg or less) |
17 years |
| W |
Work vehicles and land tractor with or without a trailer. |
16 years |
| C |
Vehicles having a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500kg. and having passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is not greater than 750kg. |
18 years |
| C1 |
Vehicles in category C having a design gross vehicle weight not exceeding 7,500kg. and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is not greater than 750kg. |
18 years |
| D |
Vehicles having passenger accommodation for more than 8 persons and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is not greater than 750kg. |
21 years |
| D1 |
Vehicles in category D having passenger accommodation for not more than 16 persons. |
21 years |
| EB |
Combinations of vehicles with drawing vehicle in category B and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is greater than 750kg. |
17 years |
| EC |
Combinations of vehicles with drawing vehicle in category C and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is greater than 750kg. |
18 years |
| EC1 |
Combinations of vehicles with drawing vehicle in category C1 having a combined design gross vehicle weight not exceeding 12,000kg and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is greater than 750kg. |
18 years |
| ED |
Combinations of vehicles with drawing vehicle in category D and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is greater than 750kg. |
21 years |
| ED1 |
Combination of vehicles with drawing vehicle in category D1 having a combined design gross vehicle weight not exceeding 12,000kg and where the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer is greater than 750kg. |
21 years |
Minimum age*:
This refers to minimun age at which you can hold a learner permit in that category
Note:
"Passenger accommodation" means seating accommodation for passengers in addition to the driver.
"Design g.v.w." means design gross vehicle weight (i.e. design laden weight). Manufacturers generally refer to it as gross vehicle weight (g.v.w.) and it is usually displayed on a metal plate attached to the vehicle by the manufacturer.