What Is a Class 1 Drivers Licence?
A Class 1 licence, also referred to as a Cat C+E licence (or CE licence) is a step up from a Cat C or C Class licence. A Class 1 Drivers license allows HGV (heavy goods vehicles) drivers to operate vehicles in categories C and E, including articulated lorries. What this means is that once you get your Class 1 license, you can drive any HGV that weighs over 7.5 tonnes and has a detachable trailer.
This also includes ‘rigid’ vehicles (which are large, non-articulated trucks where the cargo-carrying body is permanently attached to the chassis, so the truck does not have a detachable trailer). So this means a Class 1 drivers licence will allow you to drive trucks and trailers that are over 3.5 tonnes and can weigh up to 32 tonnes.
Is a LGV C+E Licence the Same as a Class 1 Drivers License?
Yes, an LGV C+E licence is the same as a Class 1 driver’s licence / Class 1 licence. There are several different terms referring to this driver's licence such as a ‘Class 1 HGV’, a ‘C Class licence’, a ‘LGV C+E licence’ and a ‘C+E licence’ that all can be used interchangeably. All of these refer to the exact same licence which will enable you to drive HGVs and LGVs (‘heavy goods vehicles’ and ‘large goods vehicles’.)
So an LGV C+E licence is the same as a HGV class 1 licence and both of these terms refer to the licence which allows you to drive larger vehicles with trailers. An LGV C licence is also the same as a HGV Class 2 licence which refers to smaller rigid trucks.
How Do You Get a Class 1 License?
There are some requirements you need to meet in order to acquire your Class 1 licence.