Category B
Category B
A category B driving licence is required for drivers of motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass not in excess of 3,500 kg and which are designed and built to carry a maximum of 8 passengers in addition to the driver.
Motor-driven quadricycles also come into this category.
A category B driving licence obtained before 01/01/1989 is also valid for categories BE.
The holder of a driving licence valid for category B, which does not have the code 96, may drive a combination made up of a category B vehicle and a trailer whose maximum authorised mass does not exceed 750 kg. If the maximum authorised mass of the trailer exceeds 750 kg, a category B licence is sufficient, subject to the maximum authorised mass of the combination not exceeding 3,500 kg. Failing this, a specific driving licence is required.
Type(s) of vehicule(s)
- Motor vehicles
- 8 places maximum
- 3500 kg
Did you know ?
- Holders of a category B licence can also drive a category AM moped or scooter?
- If you obtained your category B licence after 1st May 2011, you can, two years later, drive a motorcycle or scooter of 125 cc maximum, limited to 11 kW (15 hp), with a maximum power/weight ratio of 0.1 kW per kg, on condition of having attended four hours of driver training at an accredited driving school. If this is the case, there is no practical test or theory test to take.If your licence was issued before 1st May 2011, you are not required to attend training to be able to drive a moped or scooter, although this training is strongly recommended by all professionals. Driving lessons are available at driving schools and at ongoing training centres.IMPORTANT: this system (category A1 licence with category B licence) only allows you to drive in Belgium. To drive in other countries, you must hold a full category A1 licence in its own right.
- If you obtained your category B licence before the end of 1988, you can drive a motorcycle or scooter on public roads with no limits on power or engine capacity. However, for safety reasons, we recommend attending a training course at a driving school or ongoing motorcycle training centre.
Filtres
Theory test
If you wish to obtain your driving licence, you will first have to pass a theory test.
To prepare for the test, you have the choice between theory training at an accredited driving school and private driver training.
The test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need to score a minimum of 41 points out of 50.
Each wrong answer loses you 1 point, except for questions about 3rd degree offences (not respecting a no-entry sign) and 4th degree offence (making a U-turn on a motorway). Exceeding the authorised maximum speed loses you 5 points. This means that making two serious mistakes will bring the test to an end and you will be failed.
NEW Education appointment and Road Book
Someone taking the test who passed the theory test after 30/06/2018 and wishing to continue learning to drive privately, must first attend a learning appointment, accompanied by the person(s) guiding him.
This education appointment is aimed at the person taking the test and the private instructor(s). The person taking the test and the private instructor(s) must attend the learning appointment before beginning the private driver training on public roads.
Duration : 3 hours of lessons presented by an accredited driving school or monitored via e-learning (AWSR, BTI Belgium, Conduct Belgium or Go For Drive).
Validity : on completion of this appointment, the person taking the test and the private instructor will each receive a certificate valid for 5 years. Both certificates (the one of the person taking the test AND the one of the private instructor) must be valid and submitted on the day of the practical test. The certificate issued to the private instructor may be used for multiple individuals taking tests.
Waiting period before passing the practical test: minimum 3 months from the date on which the certificate demonstrating attendance at a learning appointment has been issued and from the date on which the provisional driving licence has been issued.
As the holder of a provisional driving licence (18 months and 36 months), the person taking the test is required to cover at least 1,500 km during his/her driver training period and to complete the logbook in the Road Book. For holders of a provisional driving licence valid for 36 months, only the kilometres covered after the learning appointment will be eligible for calculating the 1,500 kilometres.
Passed?
You will be issued with a request for a driving licence that will enable you to obtain your driving licence from your local council.
You will have the choice between practical driver training at an accredited driving school and driver training undertaken privately.
To be allowed to take the practical test, you must have passed the theory test within the past 3 years.
Failed?
You cannot present yourself to take the test again on the same day that you fail. There is no limit to the number of attempts you have to pass the test. Nonetheless, you will have to present a learning certificate proving that you have had 12 hours of lessons at an accredited driving school after every two successive failures. The conditions that apply for each fresh attempt will be those in effect on the date of the test, regardless of the number of times you have taken the test previously.
Risk perception test (RPT)
Passing the risk perception test is necessary in order to take the practical test.
The risk perception test is a computer-based test enabling you to measure your ability to identify risk situations in differing traffic conditions.
A video sequence is played on the screen of your computer. Imagine yourself at the steering wheel of your car. When you see a risk, click on it.
A risk is an external event that obliges you to adjust your speed, change direction, sound your horn, etc.
During the test, you will have to identify 10 risks, spread across 5 films. There are films with 0, 1, 2 or 3 risks. You are allowed to click 10 times. A correctly identified risk = + 1 point. An incorrect click = – 1 click. Once you have used up your 10 clicks, the test stops.
You need to obtain a minimum of 6/10 to pass.
The cost of the risk perception test is 16 euros.
Practise the risk perception test
Passed?
You can now make an appointment to take your practical test. The validity of the risk perception test is limited to the validity of your pass certificate for the theory test.
Failed?
If you fail, you can take the test again the same day. There is no limit to the number of attempts you can make. Nonetheless, after two successive failures, you must attend 3 three hours of lessons at an accredited driving school. You will only be able to take the test again on presentation of a learning certificate issued by this accredited driving school.
Technical driving ability test
NEW If you wish to drive alone before your final practical test, you must pass a technical driving ability test.
You must first have a valid pass certificate for your theory test and your risk perception test.
The test will be held by appointment, at the examination centre of your choice.
The test consists of:
- a simplified technical inspection of your vehicle by the examiner;
- an assessment of your driving ability on the road, lasting 30 minutes;
- a series of manoeuvres on public roads, taken at random from: a 3-point turn, stopping on the left or right of the road, reverse or forward perpendicular parking on the road, reversing in a straight line.
The cost of the technical driving ability test is 67 euros.
Passed?
The examination centre will issue you with an aptitude certificate enabling you to obtain a provisional driving licence, valid for 18 months, allowing you to drive alone before the final practical test.
Failed?
You cannot present yourself to take the test again on the same day that you fail. After 2 failures, you may only present yourself again after completing at least 6 hours of practical lessons at an accredited driving school.
Holders of a provisional driving licence with a guide who fail to pass the test of technical driving ability will be excluded from the practical test to obtain their B licence for a period of three months from the date of the second consecutive failure.
Practical test
To prepare for the practical test, you have the choice between doing practical driver training at an accredited driving school or driver training undertaken privately.
To be admitted for the practical test, you must have passed the theory test within the past 3 years or be exempt and have passed the risk perception test.
Moreover, for the candidates who passed their first theory test for this category after 30/06/2018 and who continued to learn to drive privately, the learning appointment must have been attended by the candidate and the private instructors mentioned on the provisional driving licence for minimum 3 months before the practical test can be taken.
NEW from 1st July 2018: a number of new features make their debut for the practical test:
This test, conducted by computer before the beginning of your test, consists of determining your level of skill after your driver training. A list of skills is displayed on the screen. For each statement, you have to score yourself, from 1 to 5 (very good), for the level that you believe you have reached at the end of learning to drive. This assessment does not in any way affect the result of your test. The examiner will look at your results on completion of the test. It will help make the final debriefing objective.
Save time: : complete your self-assessment at home and enter it quickly on the day of your test.
During your test, you will be required to perform two manoeuvres on public roads. The first, which is mandatory, is stopping on the left or right of the roadway. The second is drawn at random from the following manoeuvres:
- Three-point turn;
- Reversing in a straight line;
- Perpendicular parking on the roadway going forward;
- Perpendicular parking on the roadway in reverse.
You will be required to drive on public roads for 10 minutes, in control alone and without any directions from the examiner, using traffic signs and signals. If there are no signs/signals, the examiner will intervene. The examiner will tell you when this part of the test starts and finishes.
*The conditions that apply are those in effect on the date of your test.
If your provisional driving licence (18 and/or 36 months) has expired within the past 3 years, you can obtain a new provisional driving licence with a private instructor, valid for 12 months (PCP M12), from your local council.
Conditions
- You must have done 6 hours of practical lessons at an accredited driving school.
- The PCP M12 provisional licence can only be requested once.
⚠️ Important: When obtaining a category M12 licence, the driver training carried out under the cover of the previous PCP will be taken into consideration for calculating the driver training period (art. 8 RD 2006.*).
*Nevertheless, for the person taking the test whose reference theory is after 1st July 2018, the only part taken into consideration as driver training under PCP-M36 or PCP-M12 is the time from which the person had a certificate demonstrating attendance at a learning appointment.
Passed?
You will be issued with a request for a driving licence that will enable you to obtain your driving licence from your local council within a period of 3 years following the time you pass the practical test.
Failed?
You cannot present yourself to take the test again on the same day that you fail. After failing the practical test on 2 occasions, you will only be able to take the test again after attending at least 6 hours of practical driving lessons at an accredited driving school.
Lists of documents you mustn’t forget to bring with you:
All documents must be the originals and be valid.
If you are missing any documents, the test will not take place and you will automatically be charged an administrative fee of € 29.
Identity card out of date? The test will take place on condition that if you have the out-of-date identity card with you and can present a receipt issued by your local council offices proving you have applied for renewal. The application for a provisional driving licence and/or full driving licence will be retained in the database at the examination centre and will only be issued on presentation of a valid identity card. Without the receipt, the test will not take place.
Identity card
Provisional driving licence
Pass certificate for the risk perception test
Follow-up certificate for the learning appointment (private training)
Completed roadbook (at least 1,500 km) for applicants holding a provisional 18 or 36-month driving licence
Identity card
Driving licence
Follow-up certificate for the learning appointment (private training)
Registration certificate
Insurance card
Green technical inspection certificate (if submitted)
L plate
Second internal rear-view mirror (If taking the test privately)
Special sessions: Reading or comprehension difficultie
Candidates with comprehension or reading difficulties may sit the exam in a special session.
Candidates will then be assisted by an instructor who will provide them with the explanations they need to understand the questions.
The theory test can only be taken in a special session (oral) if :
- The candidate provides a certificate or attestation completed by a psycho-medico-social centre, special education institute, observation and guidance centre or vocational guidance centre.
- Deaf and/or mute candidates may also take the theory test with a sign language interpreter (only available at our Wandre test centre).
These types of examinations are organised by appointment only. Appointments can be made directly at the examination centre on the following days:
Namur: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Wandre: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Marquain: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Louvain-la-Neuve: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Marche-en-Famenne: Wednesday, Friday
Huy: Wednesday, Friday
Bastogne: Wednesday
Eupen: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Lobbes: Wednesday, Friday
Cuesmes: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Arlon: Wednesday
A prepayment will be required at the time of registration.
On the day of the exam, the centre will check the certificate (to be completed in advance and printed by the candidate).
If the conditions are not met, the exam cannot take place.