Driving License Categories and Curriculum 2023. Driving license categories were rolled out by NTSA and new rules for driving schools, driving instructors and issuance of driving licenses in accordance with the updated Traffic Act.This included a new driving curriculum that aims at improving road safety along with the rollout of the new smart driving license
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The rules define new driving license categories that specify the class of vehicles that a license holder can drive. This new classification includes more vehicle categories compared to the old driving license and comes with stricter requirements. The categories are divided into 7 groups: A, B, C, D, E, F & G. Categories A to D are further subdivided into different classes while categories E to G define special driving classes.
Below is a list of tables of all the new categories along with their descriptions and minimum requirements.
Driving License Categories and Curriculum 2022.Category A Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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A1
Moped |
Enables one to ride a motorcycle of up to 50cc
No passengers allowed to be carried. No loads No passenger Minimum age of 16 years |
Minimum age of 16 years
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A2
Light motorcycle |
Enables one to ride a ride motorcycle above 50cc
Can carry a maximum load of 60 Kg (for up to 400cc) Can carry a passenger |
Minimum age of 18 years
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A3
Motorcycle taxi Couriers Three wheelers (e.g Tuk-tuk) |
Enables one to ride a motorcycle above 100cc
Can carry a maximum load of 100 Kg (for up to 50cc) Can carry a passenger |
Minimum age of 21 years
1 year riding experience of category A2 |
Driving License Categories – Category B Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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B1
Light Vehicle |
Enables one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)
Can drive a vehicle equipped with both a manual or automatic gearbox Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers |
Minimum age of 18 years
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B2
Light Vehicle Automatic |
Enable one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with an automatic gear box and a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)
Cannot drive a vehicle equipped with a manual gearbox Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers Minimum age of 18 years |
Minimum age of 18 years
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B3
Professional |
Enables one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)
Equipped with a manual or automatic gear box Can carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers Minimum age of 21 years |
Minimum age of 21 years
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Category C Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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C1
Light Truck |
Enables one to drive a light truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 3500 kg and a maximum of 7500 kg with maximum one light trailer not exceeding 750 kg
Equipped with manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 22 years
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C
Medium Truck |
Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with maximum one light trailer not exceeding 750 kg
Equipped with manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 24 years
Two years’ experience of driving category C1 Required to undergo training |
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CE
Heavy Truck with trailer |
Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with a heavy trailer or semi-trailer
Enables one to drive articulated vehicles (i.e. a vehicle with two or more parts that are connected so that they can move in different directions at the same time) Equipped with manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 28 years
Four years’ experience of driving category C Required to undergo training and retesting for category CE |
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CE
Heavy Goods Vehicle For Transportation of Hazardous Materials |
Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with heavy trailer or semitrailer.
Enables one to drive articulated vehicles Equipped with a manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 30 years
Two years’ experience of driving category CE Required to undergo training and retesting for category CD |
Category D Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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D1
Van |
Enables one to drive a van with a maximum of 14 passengers.
Equipped with manual or automatic gearbox |
Minimum of 22 years
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D2
Mini-bus |
Enables one to drive a bus with 14 to 32 passengers
Equipped with manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 25 years
Minimum experience of 3 years driving category D1 Required to undergo training and retesting for category D2 |
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D3
Large Bus |
Enables one to drive a bus with 33 or more passengers
Equipped with manual or automatic gear box |
Minimum age of 30 years
Minimum experience of 3 years driving category D2 Required to undergo training and retesting for category D3 |
Category E Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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Special professional driving license
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Enables one to drive any vehicles classified under categories C1, C, CE, D, D1, D2, D3 and licensed as EC1, EC, ECE, ED, ED1, ED2 and ECD3 respectively
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Minimum age of 21years
Completed 3 months driving practice with any vehicle classified under categories C1, C, CE, D, D1, D2, D3 and licensed as EC1, EC, ECE, ED, ED1, ED2 AND ECD 3 respectively Class ED2 Licenses shall be endorsed for class D1 and D while Class ECE Licenses shall be endorsed for C and C1 |
Driving License Categories and Curriculum 2021.Category F Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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Special Driving License for Persons with Disability (PWD)
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Enables one to drive a vehicle depending on the category the PWD is trained on
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Minimum age of 18 years
Requirement is as per the class the categories of abled drivers |
Category G Driving Licenses
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Category
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Description
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Requirements
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Industrial construction and agricultural plants equipment
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Enables one to operate forklift, motor grader, shovel, excavator, roller and any other special kinds of plant and equipment for which special authorization is required from the authority as defined in the Traffic Act before such plants can be registered for use.
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Endorsement for class G will be done on the driving license.
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