Adding higher categories to a driving licence
You can automatically gain provisional entitlements in a higher category provided you have passed a driving test in category B, this is known as 'staging'. Depending on which category you pass a driving test in, a higher category may also ‘upgrade’ one or more lower categories on your licence.
Staging
You must hold full entitlement in category B before being granted provisional entitlements in higher categories. For example, if you want to drive a vehicle over 3,500kg you must have full entitlement to drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg (category B). Gaining a provisional entitlement to drive larger or higher category vehicles is known as staging.
The table below shows the full entitlement that needs to be held so that a provisional entitlement in a higher category can be granted.
| Full entitlement held | Provisional entitlement that can be applied for |
|---|---|
| B | B+E*, G*, H* |
| C1 | C1+E* |
| C | C1+E*, C+E* |
| D1 | D1+E* |
| D | D1+E*, D+E* |
*Provisional entitlement granted automatically when a lower category is gained.
Upgrading
If you pass your test for a larger vehicle category, any corresponding lower categories will be upgraded from provisional to full entitlement.
The table below shows vehicle category held, the higher vehicle category that has been passed and the vehicle category that will be upgraded as a result of the test passed.
| Full category held | Additional test passed | Upgrading |
|---|---|---|
| B, C1 | C1+E | B+E |
| B, D1 | D1+E | B+E |
| B, C1, D1 | C1+E | B+E |
| B, C1, D1 | D1+E | B+E |
| B, C1, C | C+E | B+E |
| B, C1, C, D1, D | D+E | B+E |
| B, C1, C, D1, D | C+E | B+E, D+E |
If you pass a test in category D and/ or category DE, category D1 not for hire or reward (nfhr) and/ or D1E (nfhr) will no longer be shown on your driving licence. Category D allows a person to drive a category D1 vehicle, including not for hire or reward. Category DE allows a person to drive both category D1 and category D1E vehicles, including not for hire or reward.
D1(nfhr) and D1E (nfhr) can be reinstated if you decide you no longer wish to renew the higher categories, provided you meet the relevant health rules.
For further information on staging or upgrading of vehicle category entitlements, you can write to:
Production and AssuranceDriver Licensing Division
Castlerock Road
Waterside
Coleraine
BT51 3TB