How to Get a Category D1E Driving Licence in Ukraine?

Ukraine's D1E prerequisite is genuinely less demanding than D1 itself: just one year of driving experience, compared to the three-year bar D1 requires from Category B, C1, C, or T. This piece covers what D1E authorizes, the specific requirements, and how it fits within Ukraine's broader licensing category system.

What Category D1E covers

D1E authorizes combination vehicles in which the towing vehicle falls under Category B, C1, C, D1, or D, paired with a trailer exceeding 750 kg.

Minimum age

You need to be 21 to hold D1E.

The one-year experience requirement

This is genuinely worth knowing, since it's notably less demanding than D1's own prerequisite. D1E requires you to already hold a license for Category B, C1, C, D1, or D, alongside more than one year of recent driving experience in that category, compared to the three years D1 itself requires.

Trailers under 750kg don't need D1E

Worth remembering: you can tow a trailer weighing up to 750 kg using just the license category appropriate to your towing vehicle; no E-category extension needed for lighter loads.

Documents you'll need

• A copy of your passport (relevant pages) or plastic ID card, both sides, plus a registration certificate
• A medical certificate confirming fitness to drive, plus two copies
• Your existing licence for B, C1, C, D1 or D
• Confirmation of your driving experience on the qualifying category

What D1 and D require, for comparison

D1 requires more than three years' continuous driving experience on Category B, C1, C or T. Full Category D requires you to hold Category B, C1, C, D1 or T, which is genuinely more flexible than D1's own bar, since D1 itself counts toward qualifying for D.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

The code for automatic transmission

If you trained and tested on an automatic-transmission vehicle, code 78 is entered on your license, restricting you to automatic-transmission vehicles specifically.

What driving without the correct category means legally

Operating a vehicle combination without the appropriate category on your license is treated as driving without a license, a legal violation that carries a fine and can prevent an employer from hiring you as a professional driver.

DE, for comparison

DE follows the same combination-vehicle logic as D1E, requiring a tractor unit from Category D and a trailer exceeding 750 kg.

Where D1E sits in Ukraine's licensing system

Ukraine currently issues 15 categories of driving license. D1E sits above standalone D1, specifically for heavier trailer combinations, alongside BE, C1E and CE as the country's other trailer-extension categories.

Age thresholds across the system, for context

Ukraine's minimum ages run 16 for Categories A and A1, 18 for B1, B, C1 and C, 19 for BE, C1E and CE, and 21 for D1, D, D1E, DE and T.

What D1E is genuinely useful for

D1E suits operators running smaller passenger transport who also need a heavier trailer for luggage or equipment, as well as tour operators, sports clubs, and school groups traveling with substantial gear.

Tips that actually help

• Track the point at which you have over a year's experience in your base category, since that's your key threshold for D1E.
• Gather your medical certificate and copies of your existing license early, since the documentation requirements are thorough.
• Remember trailers under 750kg don't need D1E at all.
• Check whether your driving school trains on a genuinely D1E-appropriate combination before enrolling.

Where this fits going forward

D1E in Ukraine offers a genuinely accessible route, rewarding drivers with even modest additional experience on their base category. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who's hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, as well as our broader job guides. Our driving license in Ukraine and license eligibility pages provide the broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by driving school in Ukraine. Always confirm current requirements with official Ukrainian sources before making decisions, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) service centers. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.