What Vehicles Can I Drive With Each Licence Code? Complete South African Guide

South Africa's driving licence system uses letter codes (A, A1, B, C1, C, EB, EC1, EC) which correspond to the older number codes (1, 2, 8, 10, 13, 9, 11, 14) that many people still use. Understanding which vehicles each code covers is essential, whether you're deciding which licence to get or checking if you're allowed to drive a specific vehicle.

Here's the complete breakdown.

Code A1 — Light Motorcycles

Code A1 covers motorcycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 125cc.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Scooters up to 125cc
• Small motorcycles up to 125cc
• Mopeds

You must be at least 16 years old to get a Code A1 learner's licence and 17 years old for the full licence.

Code A — Motorcycles

Code A covers motorcycles with an engine capacity exceeding 125cc.

Vehicles you can drive:

• All motorcycles regardless of engine size
• Everything covered by Code A1

You must be at least 17 years old for a Code A learner's licence and 18 years old for the full licence.

Code B (Code 8) — Light Motor Vehicles

Code B is the most common licence in South Africa. It covers motor vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3,500 kg or less, excluding motorcycles.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Sedans and hatchbacks — Toyota Corolla, VW Polo, Hyundai i20, BMW 3 Series, etc.
• SUVs — Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Hyundai Tucson, etc.
• Bakkies — Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, VW Amarok (all under 3,500 kg GVM)
• Minibuses — Toyota Quantum and similar (for private use; commercial passenger transport requires a PrDP)
• Small delivery vans — VW Caddy, Toyota Proace, Hyundai H100 panel van
• Kombis and MPVs

Weight limit: 3,500 kg GVM. This is the manufacturer's rated maximum loaded weight, not the vehicle's empty weight.

Important: If you pass your test on an automatic vehicle, your licence is restricted to automatic vehicles only. Pass on a manual to drive both.

Code EB (Code 9) — Light Vehicle With Trailer

Code EB covers a Code B vehicle combined with a trailer where the trailer's GVM exceeds 750 kg.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Everything covered by Code B
• Plus a trailer over 750 kg GVM (e.g., a car towing a boat trailer, horse box, or caravan)

If your trailer's GVM is 750 kg or less, you only need a Code B licence.

Code C1 (Code 10) — Medium Heavy Vehicles

Code C1 covers heavy motor vehicles with a GVM exceeding 3,500 kg but not exceeding 16,000 kg.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Medium trucks — Isuzu NPR, Hino 300 series, Fuso Canter
• Delivery trucks — 4-tonne and 8-tonne trucks
• Small buses — under 16,000 kg GVM
• Large panel vans and commercial vehicles over 3,500 kg
• Everything covered by Code B

Weight limit: Over 3,500 kg up to 16,000 kg GVM.

Note: To carry passengers commercially (bus or taxi service), you also need a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP).

Code C (Code 13) — Heavy Vehicles

Code C covers heavy motor vehicles with a GVM exceeding 16,000 kg.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Heavy rigid trucks — large delivery trucks, construction vehicles
• Large buses — over 16,000 kg
• Heavy commercial vehicles — refuse trucks, concrete mixers, fire engines
• Everything covered by Code C1 and Code B

Weight limit: Over 16,000 kg GVM (no upper limit for rigid vehicles).

Code EC1 (Code 11) — Medium Articulated Vehicles

Code EC1 covers an articulated heavy motor vehicle consisting of a truck-tractor and semi-trailer, where the GVM of the truck-tractor does not exceed 16,000 kg and the trailer's GVM exceeds 750 kg.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Medium truck-tractor and semi-trailer combinations
• Everything covered by Code C1 and Code B

Code EC (Code 14) — Heavy Articulated Vehicles

Code EC is the highest licence code in South Africa. It covers articulated heavy motor vehicles where the truck-tractor's GVM exceeds 16,000 kg and the trailer's GVM exceeds 750 kg.

Vehicles you can drive:

• Superlinks (interlink trailers)
• Tanker trucks — fuel tankers, chemical tankers
• Car carriers — vehicle transport trailers
• Flatbed semi-trailers
• Container trucks
• Refrigerated trailers
• Everything covered by Code C, Code C1, and Code B

Weight limit: No upper limit. This covers the heaviest vehicles on South African roads.

Quick Reference Table

| Licence Code | Old Code | Vehicle Type | GVM Limit |

|---|---|---|---|

| A1 | 1 | Motorcycles up to 125cc | N/A |

| A | 2 | All motorcycles | N/A |

| B | 8 | Light motor vehicles | Up to 3,500 kg |

| EB | 9 | Light vehicle + trailer over 750 kg | Up to 3,500 kg + trailer |

| C1 | 10 | Medium heavy vehicles | 3,501 - 16,000 kg |

| C | 13 | Heavy vehicles | Over 16,000 kg |

| EC1 | 11 | Medium articulated vehicles | Tractor up to 16,000 kg |

| EC | 14 | Heavy articulated vehicles | Tractor over 16,000 kg |

Understanding GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass)

GVM is the maximum allowable total weight of a vehicle when fully loaded, including the vehicle itself, passengers, fuel, and cargo. It's set by the manufacturer and can be found:

• On a metal plate on the vehicle (usually on the door frame or under the bonnet)
• In the vehicle's registration documents
• In the owner's manual

GVM is not the same as the vehicle's kerb weight (empty weight). A bakkie might weigh 2,000 kg empty but have a GVM of 3,200 kg when you include its maximum payload.

Which Licence Should You Get?

For most people, a Code B (Code 8) licence is all you need. It covers cars, SUVs, bakkies, and minibuses for personal use.

If you need a licence for work purposes, consider:

• Code C1 (Code 10) for medium truck driving jobs
• Code EC (Code 14) for long-haul trucking careers — this is the most in-demand commercial licence

For a full overview of all codes, visit our driving licence codes guide.

Ready to get started? Find a driving school near you that offers training for your chosen licence code.