Licence for a construction machinery trailer: B, BE or C1?

Which licence do you need to tow your construction machinery trailer? The answer depends on the permitted combined weight of the tow vehicle and loaded trailer – not the trailer alone.

Category B: up to 3,500 kg combined weight

With a standard category B car licence, you may tow trailers as long as the combined gross weight of tow vehicle and trailer doesn't exceed 3,500 kg. For smaller compact excavators on a trailer like the BM 2000 Kompakt, this is often enough.

Code 96 and category BE

If the combined weight is between 3,500 kg and 4,250 kg, licence holders (from 19 January 2013 onward) only need the additional code 96 qualification, gained through a short course. From 4,250 kg or for higher combined weights, the full category BE is required, involving its own theory and practical test.

Category C1 for heavier tow vehicles

If the tow vehicle itself already weighs more than 3,500 kg – with larger pickups or light trucks, for instance – category C1 is additionally required. This covers tow vehicles up to 7,500 kg gross weight.

Always check the combined weight in the documents

Don't rely on estimates: the gross weight of both tow vehicle and trailer is stated in their respective registration documents. Add both figures and compare the result against your licence category's limits.

Conclusion

Before buying a construction machinery trailer, work out the combined weight of your tow vehicle and the loaded trailer, and check it against your licence category. When in doubt, a quick check with the licensing authority helps.