How to Get a Category BE Driving Licence in Europe?

A Category BE driving licence is the licence you need to tow a heavy trailer behind a car or van in Europe. If you want to pull a large caravan, a horse box, a boat trailer, a plant trailer or a light commercial “BE combination”, a standard Category B licence is often not enough — you need BE. This guide explains what a Category BE licence covers, exactly when you need it instead of Category B or the B96 code, who can apply, how to get it across Europe, and how it fits into a professional driving career.

As with all driving licences, the framework is set by EU law, but each country decides the training hours, fees, and test details, so use this as a general European overview and confirm the specifics where you live. Our driving licence in Europe and licence eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Category BE driving licence?

Category BE lets you drive a combination made up of a Category B towing vehicle (a car or van up to 3.5 tonnes) and a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorised mass over 750 kg and up to 3,500 kg. The total mass of the whole combination can be up to 7,000 kg — for example, le a 3,500 kg vehicle pulling a 3,500 kg trailer. It is the licence used for serious towing, well beyond what a plain car licence allows.

When do you need BE rather than Category B?

This is where most drivers get caught out. Your Category B licence already lets you tow, but only within limits. As a simple guide:

• Trailer up to 750 kg: Category B is always enough.
• Trailer over 750 kg, but the whole combination stays up to 3,500 kg: still allowed on Category B.
• Combination over 3,500 kg and up to 4,250 kg: you need either the B96 code or a full BE licence.
• Combination over 4,250 kg and up to 7,000 kg: you need a Category BE licence.
• Trailer over 3,500 kg or combination over 7,000 kg: BE is not enough — you need a heavier category such as C1E or CE.

Always check the towing capacity in your vehicle’s registration document as well, because the licence is only one part of what you are legally allowed to tow.

Category B with Code 96: the lighter alternative

If your combination onst exceeds the Category B limit — over 3,500 kg but not more than 4,250 kg — you may not need a full BE licence. Many countries offer the B96 code, an add-on to your Category B licence. In most countries,, B96 requires a short training course typicallyy around7n hours)But no separate exam, and a code “96” is then added to your licence. A full BE licence does everything B96 does and more, so you only need one or the other — choose BE if you want the higher 7,000 kg limit.

Who can apply for a Category BE licence?

The requirements are consistent across Europe:

• You must already hold a valid Category B licence — BE is always an addition to your car licence.
• The minimum age is generally 18.
• You must meet the medical and eyesight standards that apply to your licence.

How to get a Category BE licence: the steps

Because you already hold Category B, getting BE is shorter than your first licence. The typical route across Europe is:

1. Confirm you hold Category B. You cannot start BE training until your car licence is issued.
2. Take the required driving lessons. Most countries set a minimum amount of practical training focused on coupling, manoeuvring, reversing and driving with a heavy trailer — for example, several hours including motorway and, in some countries, night driving.
3. Pass the practical test. In most countries,e s BE requires only a practical driving test, since the theory is already covered by your Category B; some countries add a few supplementary questions rather than a full theory exam.
4. Receive your updated licence. Once you pass, category BE is added to your EU-model driving licence.

The practical test

The BE practical test focuses on the skills that matter with a trailer: safely coupling and uncoupling, checking loads and brakes, reversing and manoeuvring the combination, and driving smoothly in traffic and at speed. Because a long combination behaves very differently from a car — longer braking distances, wider turns and trickier reversing — examiners pay close attention to control and awareness. A few extra practice sessions before the test are usually worthwhile.

One licence, valid across Europe

Like all EU categories, a Category BE licence is mutually recognised across the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland, so once you hold it,t you can tow throughout Europe. The licence follows the common EU model and, for cars and their towing categories, is typically valid for 15 years. If you obtained a BE licence many years ago, older entitlements may allow heavier towing under grandfathering rules — check your licence codes if this might apply to you.

What can you tow with a BE licence?

A BE licence opens up the heavier end of everyday and light commercial towing: large twin-axle caravans, horse trailers, boat and car-transporter trailers, plant and machinery trailers, and the light commercial “BE combinations” used to move goods when a van alone is not enough. It is popular with tradespeople, equestrians, motorsport and leisure users, and small logistics operators who need extra payload without stepping up to a truck licence.

BE for work and the route to professional driving.

BE combinations are widely used in light goods transport, so the licence has real commercial value. If you want to go further and drive larger trucks, BE is a stepping stone toward the heavy categories: C1E and CE for combinations above the BE limits, which also require the professional Code 95 qualification and a tachograph card. If a driving career is your goal, browse current driver jobs to see what employers ask for.

Tips for getting your BE licence First, decide

• t whether you really need a full BE or if the B96 code covers your trailer — it can save time and money.
• Check your towing vehicle’s maximum towing capacity in the registration document before booking anything.
• Practise reversing and manoeuvring; these catch out most candidates on the BE test.
• Use a lesson trailer that matches the test specification in your country.
• If you may later need to tow heavier vehicles or drive trucks, plan your progression to C1E or CE.

Get ready to tow

A Category BE licence gives you the freedom to tow heavy trailers and combinations up to 7,000 kg right across Europe. If you already hold Category B, it is a manageable next step: a short course, a practical test, and your licence is upgraded. When you are ready to take your driving to the next level, register in the driver section and browse current vacancies on FastDriver.eu.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Driving licence categories, weight limits, training requirements, fees, and test formats are set by EU law but applied by national authorities, and they can vary by country and by individual vehicle. Always confirm the current rules with your national licensing authority and check your vehicle documents before towing. You can read the EU framework in the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205 and on the European Commission website. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.