The Main Categories of LGV Licences Explained for towing
- Brent
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
Thinking about stepping up from towing trailers to driving bigger rigs? Then you’ll need to understand LGV licence categories — that’s Large Goods Vehicles in UK law. Whether you’re moving plant equipment, hauling heavy trailers, or just curious how it all works, here’s your no-nonsense guide to the main types and what each one allows you to drive.
First Things First: What Counts as an LGV?
LGV stands for Large Goods Vehicle, covering any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes gross weight used for carrying goods. That includes everything from medium-sized delivery trucks to full-blown articulated lorries.
If your towing setup or vehicle combination exceeds certain limits, you’ll need more than just a standard car licence — you’ll need the right LGV category added to your driving entitlement.
Category C1 – The Starting Point
Weight Range: 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes (with or without a small trailer up to 750 kg).
If you’re driving something like a horsebox, medium-sized removal van, or a small rigid lorry, this is the ticket. Many drivers who passed their car test before 1 January 1997 automatically have C1 on their licence.
To tow heavier trailers with these vehicles, you’ll need the next step — C1+E.
Category C1+E – Medium Lorry + Trailer Combo
Weight Range:
Vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes
Trailer over 750 kg (combined up to 12 tonnes total)
This one’s for drivers who regularly tow with heavier loads, like horse transporters, recovery vehicles, or plant trailers. It bridges the gap between light truck driving and the full-size LGV world.
You’ll need a medical, theory, and practical test to earn it — but it opens the door to bigger business opportunities.
Category C – Rigid Lorries
Weight Range: Any rigid lorry over 3.5 tonnes, up to 32 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
This is your full-sized truck licence — ideal if you’re driving for logistics, construction, or hire and transport companies. The vehicle has one rigid chassis (not an articulated trailer), and you can tow a light trailer up to 750 kg.
If you plan to tow heavier trailers, though, you’ll need the big one...
Category C+E – The Top Dog
Weight Range: Any vehicle in Category C plus a trailer over 750 kg.
This is the king of LGV licences — allowing you to drive articulated lorries and heavy drawbar combinations. If you’ve seen massive artics hauling freight across the UK motorways, that’s C+E territory.
It takes more training and testing, but it’s the gateway to professional HGV work and higher-paid driving jobs.
Do I Need an LGV Licence to Tow a Trailer?
Not always. For most car and light van towing, a Category B licence covers trailers up to 3,500 kg gross (depending on your vehicle’s limits).
But if your towing setup pushes beyond that — such as larger commercial loads or heavier machinery — you’ll likely cross into LGV licence territory. It all comes down to your Gross Train Weight (GTW) and what the manufacturer says your vehicle can legally tow.
Brent’s Take
At Brent, we’re all about making towing, hauling, and transport easier — but doing it safely and legally is key. Whether you’re towing plant, horses, cars, or equipment, understanding your LGV licence category keeps you compliant and confident on the road.
Looking to expand your business or add trailer hire to your fleet? Brent can help you connect with customers and manage bookings in one place — so you can focus on the driving, not the admin.
-Brent
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