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Everything you need to know about motor vehicle categories
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Driving is freedom. However, the vehicle plate and the right to drive it do not come by themselves. In addition to knowledge and experience, a driving license gives us the right to officially drive certain motor vehicles - but which ones? In this blog, we will simply explain the categories of motor vehicles , what each letter means, which vehicles you can drive with a certain category and what are the basic conditions for obtaining a driving license.
What are the categories of motor vehicles?
Categories are determined by Slovenian and EU legislation according to the type of vehicle and the maximum permitted dimensions or engine power. Each category has its own meaning: what you can drive, from what age and - in some cases - what additional rights or restrictions it brings.
Main categories of driving licenses
AM – Mopeds and light quadricycles
Minimum age: 15 years .
It allows the driving of motorized bicycles (mopeds) and light quadricycles that do not exceed a certain speed and power.
The vehicle is small and less powerful – ideal for beginners or young drivers.
The right also includes driving category G machinery (working with machinery on the road).
A1, A2 and A - Motorcycles
These three subcategories apply to engines of different capacities :
A1: motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW of power.
A2: more powerful engines, but limited to 35 kW .
A: there are no power limits – the most powerful engines.
Each higher category includes the rights of the lower category (e.g. with category A you can also drive mopeds and small motorcycles from A1, A2).
Age restrictions:
A1 ~ 16 years old,
A2 ~ 18 years,
A ~ 24 years (with the possibility of earlier if you have had A2 for at least 2 years).
B – Passenger vehicles
This is the most well-known and widespread category – the passenger car .
Includes:
Vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of up to 3,500 kg and up to 8 passenger seats.
With a B license, you can also drive AM, B1, and G category vehicles.
Age for the exam: usually 18 years (theoretical and practical part of the exam).
C and C1 – Trucks
If you want to drive larger trucks :
C1: trucks up to 7,500 kg.
C: trucks over 3,500 kg.
These permits also include rights from lower categories (e.g. B).
D and D1 – Passenger transport
For buses and other larger passenger vehicles:
D1: smaller buses (up to 8 m and up to 16 seats).
D: larger buses (more than 8 seats).
BE, C1E, CE, D1E, DE – Combinations with trailers
These subcategories add trailers or heavier vehicle + trailer combinations .
Example:
BE – passenger car with a larger trailer.
CE – heavy truck with trailer.
F and G – Special vehicles
Uncommon but important permissions:
F: tractors and tractor trailers.
G: working machines and motor cultivators (included in other categories)
Conclusion
A driver's license is not just a card - it is the key to different types of vehicles . By understanding the categories:
Do you know what you can drive?
What rights does your driving license include?
Where to start if you want to upgrade your category
If you are considering obtaining a license or upgrading your category, we recommend that you check the specific conditions and age restrictions with your local driving school or on official websites.
