How to Get a Category C1 Driving Licence in Austria?

A Category C1 driving licence (in German, Führerschein Klasse C1) is the Austrian licence for medium-sized trucks and goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. It is the natural step up from a car licence for anyone heading toward a professional driving career, and it is also needed for larger delivery trucks, recovery vehicles, ambulances, fire appliances and big motorhomes. This guide explains what Class C1 covers in Austria, who can apply, the medical and first-aid requirements, the training and exams, the important point that C1 is time-limited, when you also need the Code 95 professional qualification, and how it all fits together.

In Austria, a driving school (Fahrschule) conducts training and testing, while the licensing authority (the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or, in cities, the Landespolizeidirektion) issues the licence. Our pages on driving licences in Austria and licence eligibility are good starting points.

What is a Class C1 licence in Austria?

Class C1 lets you drive goods vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3,500 kg but not more than 7,500 kg, designed to carry no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, plus a trailer up to 750 kg. It is a sub-category of the full truck licence (Class C) and sits directly above the Class B car licence.

C1, C and C1E: how the classes fit together

• C1: goods vehicles from 3,500 kg to 7,500 kg, plus a trailer up to 750 kg.
• C1E: a C1 vehicle with a trailer over 750 kg; combination up to 12,000 kg.
• C: the full truck licence for goods vehicles over 3,500 kg, with no upper limit.
• CE: a Class C vehicle with a heavy trailer, for articulated lorries.

You must hold Class B before C1, and hold C1 before adding C1E.

What can you drive with a C1 licence?

A C1 licence covers 7.5-tonne rigid trucks, larger delivery and box vehicles, horse boxes, recovery vehicles, ambulances, fire appliances and big motorhomes that exceed the 3,500 kg car-licence limit. It suits both professional drivers starting out and private drivers who need a vehicle heavier than a car licence allows.

Who can apply for a Class C1 licence?

• You must already hold a valid Class B car licence.
• The minimum age is 18.
• You must pass a medical examination and complete a first-aid course.

If you apply for Class B and C together, you can only take the C practical test once you have passed both the theory and practical tests for Class B.

The medical examination

Unlike a car licence, C1 requires a medical certificate (ärztliches Gutachten) confirming you are fit to drive heavier vehicles. Arrange it before you start driving training, submit it to the authority before the theory test, and ensure it is no more than 18 months old when the licence is granted. The medical examination for the C (C1) category costs around €50.

The first-aid course

You must show proof of training in life-saving first-aid measures. For Class C1, this is a six-hour course (the longer 16-hour first-aid course applies to the bus classes D and DE). If you already completed this when you got your car licence, you do not need to repeat it.

Training and exams

You complete theory and practical training at a driving school and pass the theory and practical driving exams for the class. The theory test is computer-based with multiple-choice questions, and the practical test covers safety checks, vehicle control, manoeuvring a larger vehicle and driving in traffic. Training can begin at most six months before you reach the minimum age. After you pass, you receive a temporary licence,e and your card licence (Scheckkartenführerschein) is posted to you, normally within 5 to 10 days.

Important: C1 is time-limited in Austria.

This differs from a car licence. In Austria, Class C1 (like C, CE and the bus classes) is issued on a limited basis — normally five years, reducing to two years from age 60. Each renewal requires a new medical certificate. If you apply to renew within 18 months of expiry with a valid medical, you don’t need a new driving test; if you let it lapse longer than that, you may need a practical test. A separate 15-year limit applies to the card document itself, but the C1 driving entitlement is the time-limited one to watch. Note also that a stricter 0.1 alcohol limit applies when driving Class C vehicles.

Do you also need Code 95?

The C1 licence lets you drive the vehicle, but to drive it professionally—in goods transport for hire or reward—you also need the Code 95 professional qualification (the Driver CPC), which includes an initial qualification and ongoing periodic training. If you only drive a C1 vehicle privately, such as your own motorhome, you generally do not need Code 95. To understand this fully, read our guide to Code 95 in Austria, and remember that professional driving also brings tachograph rules.

C1E for heavier trailers

If you need to tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg behind a C1 vehicle, you need C1E, which allows a combination up to 12,000 kg and requires holding a C1 first and passing an additional practical test. Like C1, it is issued on a time-limited basis and requires a medical examination.

Costs depend on the driving school and how much practice you need. Plan for the school’s training package, the medical examination (around €50), the first-aid course, the exam fees, and the licence-issuing fee. Renewing the licence later is inexpensive for the card itself, but you must budget for the repeat medical each time. Combining C1 with another class at the same time usually reduces the total.

The route forward: C and CE

C1 is the first rung of the professional ladder. From C1 you can progress to the full truck licence, Class C, for vehicles over 7,500 kg, and then to CE for articulated lorries and drawbar combinations — the licences most haulage employers want. Combined with Code 95, these open the widest range of driver jobs in Austria and across Europe.

Tips for getting your C1 licence in Austria

• Arrange your medical certificate early and send it to the authority before the theory test.
• Decide whether you need Code 95 — if you will drive professionally, plan it alongside C1.
• Note the expiry date and book your renewal medical well in advance so your entitlement doesn’t lapse.
• Carry your licence at all times, as driving without it can result in a fine.
• If you plan to tow heavy trailers, include C1E in your training from the start.

Start your driving career.

A Class C1 licence opens the door to medium trucks and is the foundation of a professional driving career in Austria. Add Code 9,5, and you can be paid to drive; progress to C and C, E, and you can move into long-distance haulage. When you are ready, register in the driver section, explore vacancies, and see what employers are hiring for on FastDriver.eu.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Licence categories, weight limits, ages, medical standards, validity periods, training requirements and fees can change and may vary by case and by authority in Austria. Always confirm the current rules with the official Austrian government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s oesterreich.gv.at driving licence pages, including guidance on medical certificates, and the EU framework is in the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.