Understanding HGV Licence Categories: C1, C, and C+E

The UK driving licence system uses letter categories to define what vehicles you can drive. For anyone working in or considering the logistics industry, understanding the differences between C1, C, and C+E is essential — each opens different doors and commands different pay rates.

Category C1 — Medium Goods Vehicles

• Vehicles: 3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes gross weight
• Common vehicles: large panel vans, small rigid lorries, horse boxes
• Trailer: can tow a trailer up to 750kg
• Typical work: local deliveries, furniture removal, small distribution

Important: if you passed your car test before 1 January 1997, you may already have C1 entitlement on your licence. Check the categories on the back of your photocard. Drivers who passed after that date need to take a separate test.

C1 work typically pays £11 to £14 per hour through agencies, or £24,000 to £30,000 permanent.

Category C — Large Goods Vehicles (Class 2)

• Vehicles: rigid lorries over 3.5 tonnes with no upper weight limit
• Common vehicles: 18-tonne and 26-tonne rigid lorries, skip lorries, refuse vehicles
• Trailer: can tow a trailer up to 750kg
• Typical work: multi-drop delivery, construction, waste management, local distribution

Category C (Class 2) is the entry point for most professional HGV drivers. Pay rates are £12 to £16 per hour through agencies, or £28,000 to £38,000 permanent.

Category C+E — Articulated Vehicles (Class 1)

• Vehicles: articulated lorries (tractor unit plus semi-trailer), drawbar combinations
• Common vehicles: 44-tonne artics, fuel tankers, car transporters, curtainsiders
• Trailer: no weight restriction on the trailer
• Typical work: trunking, long-distance, tankers, specialist haulage

C+E (Class 1) is the gold standard of driving licences and commands the highest pay: £14 to £18+ per hour through agencies, or £38,000 to £50,000 permanent. It requires holding category C first.

Which Is Most In Demand?

Class 1 (C+E) drivers are in the highest demand and shortest supply. However, Class 2 drivers are also heavily sought after, particularly for local multi-drop and construction work. If your goal is maximum earning potential, the progression is: B → C → C+E. Each step takes roughly one to two weeks of training plus the practical test.

Getting Started

Whichever category you are aiming for, the process follows the same pattern: DVSA medical, provisional entitlement, theory test, practical training, and practical test. Titan Recruitment can advise on the best training providers in your area and connect you with employers offering funded training schemes.