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Vehicle Requirements

All vehicles used for  Categories C1, C1 + E, C and C + E tests must have externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors and seatbelts fitted to seats used by the examiner or any person supervising the test.

All vehicles presented for test must be fitted with a tachograph and an anti-lock braking system (ABS).  Trailers don' t need to be fitted with ABS.

All vehicle combinations must operate the appropriate service brakes and utilise a heavy duty coupling arrangement suitable for the weight

A tractor unit isn't a suitable vehicle for category C or C1 test

Medium sized goods vehicles

Category C1

A medium sized lorry with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least 4 tonnes, at least 5 metres in length, capable of 80 km/h (50 mph) and with a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.

Category C1 + E

There are two types of test vehicle in the C1 + E category.

• A drawbar outfit made from a combination of a category C1 vehicle towing a trailer of at least 2 tonnes MAM with a combined length of at least 8 metres, capable of 80 km/h (50 mph) and with a closed box trailer at least as high and as wide as the towing vehicle.  The trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle, but the view to the rear must be by use of external mirrors only.
• A medium sized articulated lorry with a MAM of at least six tonnes with a combined length of at least 8 metres, capable of 80 km/h (50 mph) and with a closed box trailer at least as high and as wide as the towing vehicle.  The trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle, but the view to the rear must be by use of external mirrors only.

Large goods vehicles

Category C

A rigid goods vehicle with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes, at least eight metres in length and least 2.4 metres in width, capable of 80 km/h (50 mph). The vehicle should have at least eight forward ratios, a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.

Category C + E

There are two types of test vehicle in the C + E category.

• A drawbar outfit made from a combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of 20 tonnes and a length of at least 7.5 metres from coupling eye to extreme rear and a combined length of at least 14 metres with a trailer at least 2.4 metres in width. The vehicle combination should be capable of 80 km/h (50 mph), with at least 8 forward ratios and a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.
• An articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, with a minimum length of 14 metres and and minimum width of at least 2.4 metres.  The vehicle should be capable of 80 km/h (50 mph) and have with at least 8 forward ratios and a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab

Passenger carrying vehicles (buses)

Category D1

A Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) with 9 - 16 passenger seats with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of at least four tonnes, of at least five metres in length and capable of 80 km/h (50 mph). Tachograph, ABS, seatbelts and examiner mirrors.

Category D1 + E

A category D1 vehicle towing a trailer of at least 1.25 tonnes MAM, with a closed box trailer at least two metres high and two metres wide. Tachograph, ABS, seatbelts and examiner mirrors.

Category D

A PCV with more than eight passenger seats, at least 10 metres in length, at least 2.4 metres in width and capable of 80 km/h (50 mph). Tachograph, ABS, seatbelts and examiner mirrors.

Category D + E

A category D vehicle towing a trailer of at least 1.25 tonnes MAM, with a closed box trailer at least two metres high and two metres wide. Tachograph, ABS, seatbelts and examiner mirrors.
Notes:
Stretched limousines and prison vans based on a lorry chassis are not suitable vehicles for a PCV (category D) test

PCVs with restricted rear vision such as Highliners and Neoplans are suitable vehicles for test, as the braking manoeuvre is carried out off road

All vehicle combinations must operate the appropriate service brakes and utilise a heavy duty coupling arrangement suitable for the weight.