Rules for lorries used for driving tests
Lorries used for practical driving tests have to meet certain rules, and some vehicles and trailers must also carry a minimum weight.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
The lorry you use for your off-road exercises test and on-road driving test must meet certain rules.
You must use a vehicle in the same driving licence category for both parts of the test. For example, if you pass the off-road exercises test in an articulated lorry (category CE), you must use an articulated lorry for the on-road driving test.
Some vehicles and trailers must also carry a minimum weight.
Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if your vehicle does not meet the rules.
Rules for all types of lorries
All vehicles used for category C1, C1E, C and CE tests must be capable of 50mph.
They must be fitted with:
- L-plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) on the front and rear
- 2 sets of externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors - one for the driver and one for the examiner
- seat belts fitted to seats used by the examiner or any person supervising the test
- a tachograph
- an anti-lock braking system (ABS) - trailers do not need to be fitted with ABS
A tractor unit is not a suitable vehicle for a category C or C1 test.
All trailer cargo compartments must be:
- of a closed box construction
- at least as high and wide as the towing vehicle
For C1E the trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle, but the view to the rear must be by the use of external mirrors only.
Rules for medium-sized lorries: categories C1 and C1E
A category C1 vehicle is a medium-sized lorry:
- with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least 4 tonnes
- at least 5 metres long
- with a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab
MAM is the maximum weight of the vehicle including the maximum load that can be carried safely while used on the road. This is also known as ‘gross vehicle weight’.
There are 2 types of vehicle that you can use for the category C1E test:
- a drawbar combination of a category C1 vehicle towing a trailer of at least 2 tonnes MAM with a combined length of at least 8 metres
- a medium-sized articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 6 tonnes with a combined length of at least 8 metres
Rules for large goods lorries: categories C and CE
Category C vehicles are large goods lorries:
- with a MAM of at least 12 tonnes
- at least 8 metres long
- at least 2.4 metres wide
The vehicle must have a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the cab.
Category CE vehicles must be at least 2.4 metres wide. There are 2 types of C+E test vehicle:
- a drawbar combination of a category C vehicle and trailer with a MAM of at least 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
- an articulated lorry with a MAM of at least 20 tonnes, a minimum length of 14 metres and maximum length of 16.5 metres
Minimum load requirement
The table shows:
- which vehicles and trailers need to carry a minimum weight for the test
- what the minimum load requirements are
| Vehicle category | Vehicle or trailer affected | Minimum real weight | Minimum load requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Vehicle | 10,000 kg | 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs |
| CE ‘drawbar’ vehicle | Towing lorry and trailer | 10,000 kg for lorry and 5,000 kg for trailer | 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer) |
| CE articulated lorry | Semi-trailer | 15,000 kg | 8 x 1,000 litre IBCs |
| C1E | Trailers | 800 kg | 600 kg of aggregates or one IBC of 1,000 kg or 600 kg capacity when filled with water |
Rules about the load
The load can be water or bagged aggregates like sand, stone chippings, gravel or any other recycled material packages (but not toxic materials). Bagged aggregates can only be used for the C1+E category.
Bagged aggregates must be in sealed transparent bags and must:
- all weigh the same
- be at least 10kg
- have the weight clearly stamped on them
Water must be in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) made from semi-transparent moulded plastic usually reinforced with a wire framework.
The examiner can inspect an IBC used as ‘load’ for the test, so it’s important that they can see it has the correct water level.
You can not use any other type of load.
The load must be secured appropriately onto the vehicle or trailer.
Minimum real weight
The ‘real weight’ is the actual weight of the vehicle and the load combined. This can not be more than the MAM.