For the vast majority of van and multi-drop work, your normal category B car licence is all you need — it covers vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. You only need an extra category once you go heavier. Here's exactly where the lines fall.
Category B: the standard car and van licence
A full UK category B licence — what you get when you pass your car test — lets you drive vehicles up to 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) maximum authorised mass with up to 8 passenger seats. That covers nearly all the vans used for delivery work:
- Small and medium vans (Transit Custom, Vivaro, and similar)
- Most long-wheelbase 3.5t panel vans used for multi-drop
- Many Luton vans and box vans — as long as they're plated at 3.5t or under
The number that matters is the van's maximum authorised mass (MAM) — sometimes called gross vehicle weight — not how much you're actually carrying. Check the plate in the door frame or under the bonnet; if it says 3,500kg or less, a category B licence covers it.
Category C1: 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes
Step up to a vehicle over 3.5t and up to 7,500kg and you need category C1. This is where the well-known 1997 cut-off comes in:
- Passed your car test before 1 January 1997? You almost certainly have C1 already, through "grandfather rights" — check the categories on the back of your licence.
- Passed on or after 1 January 1997? C1 isn't included. You'll need to take a separate medical and C1 test to add it.
Driving a 7.5-tonne vehicle as the main part of your job also means you need a Driver CPC on top of the C1 licence — we cover that in do you need a Driver CPC?
Heavier still: category C
Category C covers rigid lorries over 7.5 tonnes, and C+E adds articulated lorries (a tractor unit plus trailer). Both need a Driver CPC for professional driving. These are HGV roles rather than van work.
What about towing a trailer?
The rules changed in late 2021. If you passed your car test from 1 January 1997, you can now generally tow a trailer with a category B licence without taking a separate B+E test, up to a combined limit. Drivers who passed before 1997 usually have trailer entitlement already. If towing is central to a role, confirm the exact weights on gov.uk — the combination limits still apply.
Quick reference
| Vehicle | Licence needed | Driver CPC? |
|---|---|---|
| Van up to 3.5t (most delivery work) | Category B | No |
| 7.5t (3.5–7.5t) | Category C1 | Yes, for professional driving |
| Rigid lorry over 7.5t | Category C | Yes |
| Articulated lorry | Category C+E | Yes |
Licence rules have exceptions and change over time. Always check the categories printed on your own licence and the current gov.uk guidance before taking on a vehicle you're unsure about.
Which licence do you need for FlexiDriver?
Most FlexiDriver work — van and multi-drop shifts — needs nothing more than a full UK category B licence. If you hold C1 and a valid CPC, you also unlock higher-paid 7.5-tonne shifts. When you set up your profile, we show exactly what each vehicle type requires.
Want to see what you could earn on each? How much do delivery drivers earn in the UK? breaks down the rates — or create your driver account to get started.