Category F driving licence
In order to drive a tractor on the road, you need to have a category F driving licence.
There are two ways to get a category F licence:
- Pass a car driving test. Category F is automatically acquired when you pass a car driving test. It is an entitlement that is linked to car category B. So with a category B licence, a driver gets the entitlement to drive a car and also gets the entitlement to drive a tractor.
- Take a standalone tractor driving test. If you pass this test, you are issued with a category F licence. This allows you to drive agricultural tractors and trailers only. It will not cover any other type of vehicle.
What can 16-year-olds drive?
At age 16 a person with a category F licence is restricted to driving an agricultural tractor with a maximum width of 2.45m. This width restriction applies to both the tractor and the trailer with either a single axle or close coupled double axle.
Telehandlers and sprayers
A category B licence also allows the holder to drive other vehicles which are registered as agricultural machines on the road.
These include vehicles such as sprayers and telehandlers.
However, there are age restrictions on the maximum vehicle weights that can be driven by younger drivers:
- Agricultural vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes – minimum age 17
- Agricultural vehicles 3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes – minimum age 18
- Agricultural vehicles over 7.5 tonne – minimum age 21
Please note that tractors are not subject to the age/weight restrictions.
Category H – tracked vehicles
Tracked vehicles steered by their tracks are in a separate H category. There is no automatic entitlement to drive vehicles in category H linked to the B category. In order to get the licence you need to drive tracked vehicles steered by their tracks, you must have passed an additional H category driving test.
This requirement is sometimes missed by drivers. If someone needs to drive a category H vehicle which is steered by its tracks, and they do not have a category H entitlement they should make arrangements to take the test as soon as possible.
Fast Tractors
High speed tractors only have two machines that fall into this category: JCB Fastrac and Mercedes Unimog, where the Unimog is registered as a tractor. The Unimog can fall within various categories and the rules which apply differ depending on its functionality, its use and how it is taxed with DVLA.
For advice on licence requirements and other information on fast tractors, visit: High speed tractors vs. standard tractors – what’s the difference?
