What Can I Drive on a Class 2 Licence?
Understand the difference between Class 1 (C+E) and Class 2 (Category C) HGV licences, the 750kg trailer limit and the right next step.
A Class 2 licence is the industry name commonly used for Category C. It is the entitlement for large rigid lorries. The legal category shown on your licence matters more than the informal Class 1 and Class 2 labels, so check the vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM), its trailer and any licence codes before you drive.
Class 1 and Class 2: the practical difference
| Common name | Licence category | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | Category C | Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM with a trailer up to 750kg MAM. This is commonly a rigid lorry. |
| Class 1 | Category C+E (CE) | A Category C vehicle with a trailer over 750kg MAM, including an articulated lorry combination. |
The 750kg figure is the key divider. It is the trailer’s MAM (its permitted maximum weight), not a general description such as “small” or “large”, that determines whether Category C or C+E is needed. Read the official GOV.UK licence-category definitions before making a vehicle decision.
What a Category C licence is useful for
Category C is the route to driving a large rigid lorry with a trailer up to 750kg MAM. Depending on the vehicle and work, that can include rigid delivery, refuse, tipper or removal vehicles. The entitlement alone does not decide whether a particular job is suitable: employers, insurers and the operator may set their own requirements, and the vehicle must still match the category and any restriction codes on your licence.
If your intended vehicle is a rigid lorry, compare the training and package details on the HGV Class 2 (Category C) course page. Use the live course table as the source of current package prices and inclusions.
Do you have to take Class 2 before Class 1?
Not necessarily. A person starting with a full Category B car licence can apply for the relevant provisional entitlement and take the Category C+E route; passing C+E gives the higher trailer entitlement. A Category C route is still a sensible choice when a rigid lorry is the vehicle you need or when you prefer to learn that vehicle type first.
GOV.UK explains that a D2 application for Category C or C1+E provides provisional C1, C1+E, C and C+E entitlements. For the practical options available from a car licence, see the Fast Track C+E course; drivers who already hold Category C can review the Category C to C+E course. Read the official provisional-entitlement guidance before applying.
Licence entitlement and Driver CPC are separate checks
Having the correct Category C or C+E entitlement is not the whole professional-driving requirement. If driving an HGV is the main part of your job, you normally need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) as well. For a first qualification, GOV.UK sets out five tests: Part 1 theory (multiple choice and hazard perception), Part 2 case studies, Part 3a off-road exercises, Part 3b on-road driving and Part 4 practical demonstration.
Qualified professional drivers must complete 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years to stay qualified. Check the official HGV qualification steps and periodic Driver CPC rules, then see GS’s Driver CPC course information for the current training options.
Choose the route from the vehicle you need to drive
Rigid lorry with a trailer up to 750kg MAM
Choose Category C (Class 2).
Category C vehicle with a trailer over 750kg MAM
Choose Category C+E (Class 1), including for an articulated lorry combination.
Driving professionally
Check whether full Driver CPC is required in addition to the correct category.
Not sure which route matches your starting licence and vehicle goal? Contact GS Driver Training or call 01252 447808 (weekdays, 08:00–17:00) for course-route guidance. You can also view your driving-licence information on GOV.UK to check your current entitlements.
Read the full article on GS Driver Training Blog.
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More guides in the HGV Training category:
- Fuel Prices Are Surging: Book Your HGV Training Now Before Costs Rise
- HGV Driver Shortage UK 2026: Why Now Is the Best Time to Train
- How to Become an HGV Driver in the UK: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
- HGV Theory Test 2026: Everything You Need to Know to Pass First Time
- Direct Access to Class 1 (C+E): Can You Skip Class 2?
For more information about HGV training courses, call 01252 447808 or visit our courses page.