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Drivers with a full licence (category B) may be able to apply for provisional entitlements in a high category.
With an additional test, drivers who passed their test on or after 1st January 1997 may be able to upgrade to a higher category.
You will need to get provisional entitlement on a certain category to learn to drive in that category. You then work your way up the 'stages' i.e. full car licence to provisional licence for a lorry, minibus or bus.
The following table gives details of full licence categories that can apply for provisional entitlement in higher categories.
| Provisional Entitlement Required | Full Licence Desired |
|---|---|
| B+E*, G*, H*, C1, C, D1, D | B |
| C1+E | C1 |
| C+E | C |
| D1+E | D1 |
| D+E | D |
* With a full category B licence, provisional entitlement is granted automatically.
Once you have passed the test for a higher category vehicle, your lower category may be upgraded.
For example, and as a general rule, lorry entitlements can upgrade bus entitlements. Bus entitlements can not upgrade lorry entitlements. Both lorry and bus entitlements can upgrade car entitlements.
| Full Licence Category Held | Additional Test Passed | Upgrading |
|---|---|---|
| B, C1 | C1+E | B+E |
| B, D1 | D1+E | B+E |
| B, C1, D1 | C1+E | B+E, D1+E |
| B, C1, D1 | D1+E | B+E |
| B, C1, C | C+E | B+E, C1+E |
| B, C1, C, D1, D | D+E | B+E, D1+E |
| B, C1, C, D1, D | C+E | B+E, C1+E, D1+E, D+E |
For further information write to the relevant DVLA department given at the address below:
Drivers Customer Services (DCS)
Correspondence Team
D12
DVLA
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Last updated: Monday 25th July 2011
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