Table of contents:

• 1. Guide: C1 driving licence

• 2. Which vehicles can I drive with a C1?

  • 2.1 C1 key number 171

    • 2.1.1 C1 key number 95

  • 2.2 Difference between C1 and C1E

• 3. Is a C1 driving licence worth it?

  • 3.1 For motorhomes / caravans: do I need a C1?

• 4. How much does a C1 driving licence cost?

  • 4.1 C1 theory

  • 4.2 C1 practical

  • 4.3 Mandatory additional costs

    • 4.3.1 First aid course

    • 4.3.2 Vision test

    • 4.3.3 Medical examination

    • 4.3.4 Application fee at the driving licence authority

  • 4.4 Optional additional costs

• 5. Age: from when can you get a C1 truck licence?

• 6. C1 driving licence renewal

  • 6.1 Process for renewing a C1 driving licence

• 7. Drones and the C1 driving licence: the connection

• 8. Conclusion: C1 driving licence

C1 driving licence guide: everything you need to know

The C1 driving licence is an important driving licence for anyone who wants to drive vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. Whether for professional purposes or for larger motorhomes, this licence offers many advantages.

In this article you will find the most important information about the requirements for the C1 driving licence, the C1 driving licence costs, the C1 driving licence process, the medical examination required for the C1 licence and much more.

C1 driving licence: what am I allowed to drive?

With the C1 driving licence you may drive vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of between 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes. The licence therefore applies to the following vehicles:

Light trucks:

These vehicles are often used for delivery services or light commercial truck transport.

Motorhomes:

This refers in particular to larger motorhomes that can no longer be driven on a standard car driving licence (category B) due to their weight. This often includes luxury motorhomes with extensive equipment such as kitchens, bathrooms and separate sleeping areas.

Vans:

These vehicles are often used by tradespeople or delivery services to transport heavy loads efficiently.

Special emergency vehicles:

For example fire engines or ambulances that fall within certain weight classes below 7.5 tonnes.

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C1 driving licence 171: what does it mean?

The key number 171 restricts the use of the C1 driving licence to non-commercial journeys. Anyone who wants to drive professionally needs an additional qualification for professional drivers.

Requirements for professional driver qualification (key number 95)

Anyone who does not want to use driving licence category C1 for motorhomes in their private time, but instead needs category C1 as a truck licence for commercial purposes, should note the following information:

The additional requirements for the professional driver qualification are governed by the Professional Drivers Qualification Act (BKrFQG).

Only those who meet these requirements will have the key number 95 entered in their driving licence. Without this entry, the C1 driving licence may not be used commercially.

The requirements for a commercial truck driver cover the following points:

Basic qualification (can be obtained in 3 ways):

1. Standard basic qualification: A several-month training course with a final examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

2. Accelerated basic qualification: A 140-hour course with theoretical and practical content plus a Chamber of Industry and Commerce examination.

3. Vocational training: Anyone who completes training as a professional driver or transport specialist automatically obtains the basic qualification.

Mandatory continuing education every 5 years:

• Every five years professional drivers must complete continuing education at a recognised training centre for truck driving licence categories.

• The continuing education comprises 35 hours of instruction in various modules (e.g. safe driving, load securing, economical driving).

• After completing the continuing education, the key number 95 is entered in the driving licence, which permits commercial use.

Additional training for specific transports:

If the driver carries out special transports, further training may be required, e.g. an ADR certificate for the transport of dangerous goods.

What is the difference between C1 and C1E?

The difference between a category C1 driving licence and the category C1E driving licence is that category C1E is an extension of the C1 category.

While the category C1 driving licence allows driving vehicles with a maximum authorised weight of between 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes to drive, holders of the C1E driving licence additionally tow trailers with a permissible gross vehicle weight of more than 750 kg can be towed.

This is particularly important for people who heavy loads transport or caravans as well as horse trailers want to tow.

The combination of towing vehicle and trailer must not, however, 12 tonnes exceed.

A further advantage of the C1E driving licence is greater flexibility in the commercial sector.

Drivers who regularly transport larger loads or need to take on special transport tasks benefit from this extension.

For many professional drivers, the class C1E is therefore a useful addition.

Class C1 driving licence: is it worth it?

The C1 driving licence is mainly worth it for people who regularly vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight. But for ordinary holiday trips with caravan or motorhome it is not strictly necessary.

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Do you need the class C1 driving licence for motorhomes and caravans?

Most standard motorhomes are under 3.5 tonnes and can be driven with a standard class B driving licence.

If your motorhome weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, but no more than 7.5 tonnes, you need the C1 driving licence.

For caravans that do not weigh more than 750 kg, the standard class B driving licence is sufficient, provided the total combination with the vehicle does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.

If you want to tow a larger caravan, you do not need a class C1 driving licence. Instead you can do the B96 extension. With this you may drive a combination of towing vehicle and trailer with a permissible gross weight of up to 4.25 tonnes.

If you want to tow a heavy caravan, you need class BE licence. With this you can tow trailers with more than 750 kg permissible gross weight. The total combination may exceed 3.5 tonnes, as long as the towing vehicle can still be driven with class B.

More information about which driving licences you need for which caravan and motorhome types, you can find in this blog post.

Unsplash Image by Michael B. Stuart |

C1 driving licence costs: what should you budget for?

The costs of the C1 driving licence can vary considerably depending on the region, driving school and individual requirementsvary.

Overall you should budget between 1,500 and 3,000 euros for your C1 driving licence. The main cost factors consist of the following components:

C1 driving licence theory lessons and theory test

• Attendance at theory lessons at the driving school

• Registration for the theory test

• Costs for teaching materials and digital learning platforms

• Examination fees for the theory test

Practical driving training and practical test

• Number of required driving lessons (depending on individual ability)

• Special drives, e.g. country roads, night and motorway driving

• Fees for the practical driving test

• Rental of the driving school vehicle during the test

Additional mandatory costs

First aid course for C1 driving licence

A first aid course is compulsory for all driving licence classes and costs around 30 to 50 euros.

Vision test for C1 driving licence

A vision test is required for the driving licence application. The cost is between 10 and 20 euros.

C1 driving licence medical examination

The medical examination checks fitness to drive vehicles with a permissible gross weight between 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes.

The costs of the medical examination for the class C1 driving licence are approximately 50 to 100 euros.

Application fee for the C1 driving licence at the licensing authority

The application fee varies by federal state between 40 and 80 euros.

Optional additional costs

• A C1 driving licence crash course / intensive courses for faster training

• Costs for additional practical lessons if needed

A comparison between different driving schools can be worthwhile, as prices and service packages may differ.

Anyone who receives funding or a subsidy from their employer (e.g. professional drivers) or another institution can often reduce the total costs significantly.

C1 driving licence age: from what age is it possible?

The minimum age for obtaining the C1 driving licence is 18 years.

Those who want to use the licence professionally, e.g. as a truck driver for transporting goods, should have more than a year of driving experience with a car driving licence.

Renewing the C1 driving licence: when is it necessary?

You may also be wondering "When does the C1 driving licence expire?". The answer is simple: After 5 years.

After this period expires, a renewal is required to remain authorised to drive class C1 vehicles.

The renewal requires a new medical examination as well as a report to confirm fitness to drive.

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C1 driving licence renewal procedure

1) Medical examination:

An occupational or traffic medicine specialist checks eyesight, general mental and physical health as well as reaction and coordination ability.

2) Obtaining a report:

If health concerns regarding the driver exist, an additional ophthalmological or traffic psychology report may be required.

3) Application at the driving licence authority:

The renewal must be applied for at the responsible authority. The following documents are required:

• Identity card or passport

• Passport photo (biometric)

• Medical certificate

• Ophthalmological report if applicable

4) Allow for processing time

The processing usually takes several weeks, so the application should be submitted early to ensure a smooth transition.

5) Take note of the renewal period

The renewal is again valid for a period of five years and can be renewed again afterwards.

C1 driving licence and drones: what do these two things have in common?

Drone pilots who want to fly commercially must provide certain proof depending on the weight and intended use of the drone.

While for light drones only a EU competency certificate (A1/A3) is required, heavier drones require a specific drone licence in category A2 or a more extensive operating authorisation.

The C1 driving licence itself is not a direct prerequisite for operating drones, but can be an advantage in certain situations.

For example, it is useful for people who use drones for traffic monitoring or for transport tasks with special drone systems.

In some cases, a C1 driving licence combined with other qualifications can be advantageous for working as a professional drone pilot in the logistics or surveillance sector.

In addition, there is the C1 drone category under EU Regulation 2019/947, which refers to unmanned aircraft and describes a specific weight class.

Drones in this class may weigh a maximum of 900 grams and are subject to certain flight restrictions.

Anyone operating such a drone must follow specific rules, but this has no connection to the driving licence class C1 for motor vehicles.

Image by wirestock on Freepik |

Conclusion on driving licence class C1

The C1 driving licence offers a valuable extension of the driving licence for people who regularly vehicles between 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes move.

It is particularly important for professional drivers, tradespeople, or delivery services, where it is a key requirement. But travellers with large luxury motorhomes also benefit from the additional options that driving licence category C1 brings with it.

The costs of obtaining the C1 driving licence can vary, though the investment is particularly worthwhile for those who rely long-term on heavy vehicles on a permanent basis.

Every five years the C1 driving licence must be renewed. The renewal process involves a new medical examination as well as an application to the driving licence authority.

Particularly worth mentioning is the extension offered by the C1E driving licence, which also permits driving with trailers and thus provides even more flexibility. Anyone who wants to transport heavy loads or work professionally in the logistics and transport sector should consider the combination of C1 and C1E .

For leisure users, especially motorhome owners, the C1 driving licence is relevant when the vehicle exceeds the 3.5-tonne limit. In many cases the standard category B licence or an extension such as B96 is enough, so it is worth thinking carefully before deciding.

Overall, the C1 driving licence offers a range of benefits, both commercially and privately. Anyone considering getting one should find out thoroughly about the requirements, costs and the process in order to get the most out of this driving licence .