Heavy lorry

Will you be driving a heavy lorry? If so, you will need a category C driving licence. More information is provided here about the requirements for a category C licence and what you need to bear in mind.

There are four different driving licence categories for heavy goods vehicles: C1, C1E, C and CE. The difference is in the heavy goods vehicles and the attached trailers you are allowed to drive.

The theory test

The test consists of 60 questions in total, but you can score a maximum of 55 points. This is because 5 of the questions are sample questions and do not count towards the test score. To pass the test, you must answer 44 questions correctly. The test takes 40 minutes. You can choose to listen to the questions in the test if you wish.

The theory test includes questions on matters such as:

  • vehicle knowledge and manoeuvring
  • environment
  • road safety
  • road traffic rules
  • personal circumstances

Whether you have passed or failed is shown immediately on screen after the test. A theory test pass is valid for one year. You must have passed a driving test within that time.

The results will be sent to your email address. You can also view the results in the booking service. The results will show you how many correct answers you have in the various subject areas.

Category C1E driving test

The driving test consists of:

  • a safety check
  • special manoeuvres
  • driving in traffic.

You must demonstrate during the test that you are capable of handling the vehicle in traffic, and that you can apply sound good judgement and drive safely. Your manoeuvring of the vehicle combination will be assessed specifically. You must be able to use the correct gearshifting and braking techniques and plan your driving and pay attention to other traffic, particularly taking into account the space required by your vehicle combination.

Safety check

The driving test will start with you being asked to carry out a safety check, including the coupling of the vehicle and trailer. When the test begins, the tractor unit must be behind or to the side of the trailer.

The examiner will ask questions about one or more elements of the safety check. You must be able to give reasons for what you have checked, and why. You must also be able to describe the risks and consequences of vehicle faults and defects and suggest what to do, even if no such faults have been detected.

The safety check must include the following elements

  • Lights, indicators,reflectors and signals
  • Windscreen wipers and washers
  • Steering system, brakes
  • Tyres, rims and wheel bolts
  • Mudflaps
  • Fluids, such as windscreen washer fluid, coolant and engine oil
  • Warning systems, mirrors, windows
  • Load, coupling arrangement
  • Tachograph

Driving in traffic

You will drive in traffic for at least 45 minutes, and you will be asked to drive on both urban and rural roads. The time for the safety check and special manoeuvres is not included in this time. The examiner will tell you where to drive. You may be given different tasks to perform such as making a U-turn, hill starting, parking in a loading bay or reversing while turning the vehicle.

The test must end with a check to ensure that you can disconnect the trailer from the tractor unit and park safely for loading and unloading.

You may fail the safety check even if you pass the manoeuvring test and the driving in traffic element. The parts you pass will then remain valid for one year, and you must take and pass a retest for the safety check within one year. The theory test must be valid when you take the retest.

Driving test requirements for vehicle category C1E

You must bring your own vehicle combination to the test. You must show valid ID before your driving test.

  • The tax and insurance must be paid.
  • The vehicles must be registered in Sweden and be reliable in terms of road safety.
  • You must show the last registration certificate issued at the driving test.
  • Approved seatbelts must be provided for the seats used. The vehicle must be capable of travelling at speeds of at least 80 kilometres per hour.

The vehicle must not be banned from the roads, or be an emergency vehicle or a hearse. Nor may it be loaded with dangerous goods or animals.

The tractor unit must:

  • have a total weight of no less than 4000 kg and no more than 7500 kg
  • be at least 5 metres long
  • be equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • be equipped with a tachograph, unless the test is for a driving licence
  • restricted to vehicles without a tachograph (condition code 97)

The trailer must have:

  • a total weight of at least 1250 kg,
  • a gross weight of at least 800 kg

The vehicle combination must:

  • have a total length of at least 8 metres
  • be loaded to at least half the maximum load

The cargo compartments of both tractor and trailer must be in the form of an enclosed box structure at least as wide as the driver’s cab. However, it may be slightly narrower than the driver’s cab, provided that visibility to the rear is possible only when the side mirrors of the tractor unit are used. The cargo compartment must be at least as high as the driver’s cab. If either the tractor unit or the trailer meets the height requirement, this will suffice. The cargo must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored.

Category C1 driving test

The driving test consists of:

  • a safety check
  • riding in and outside urban areas.

You must demonstrate that you are capable of handling the vehicle in traffic, and that you can apply sound good judgement and drive safely. The driving test assesses in particular your ability to manoeuvre the vehicle. For instance, you must be able to use the correct gearshifting and braking techniques, plan your driving and pay attention to other traffic, taking into account the space required by your vehicle.

Safety check

The examiner will ask questions about one or more elements of the safety check. You must be able to give reasons for what you have checked, and why. You must also be able to describe the risks and consequences of vehicle faults and defects and suggest what to do, even if no such faults have been detected.

Driving in traffic

You will drive for at least 45 minutes. You will be asked to drive on both urban and rural roads. The examiner will give you directions or ask you to drive to a specified destination. You may be given different tasks to perform such as making a U-turn, hill starting, parking in a loading bay or reversing while turning, including reversing straight before or after turning.

You may fail the safety check even if you pass the driving in traffic element. The parts you pass will then remain valid for one year, and you must take and pass a retest for the safety check within one year. The theory test must be valid when you take the retest.

Requirements for vehicle category C1

You must bring along your own car or van to the test. You must show valid ID before your driving test.

  • The tax and insurance must be paid.
  • The vehicles must be registered in Sweden and be reliable in terms of road safety.
  • You must show the last registration certificate issued at the driving test.
  • Approved seatbelts must be provided for the seats used. The vehicle must be capable of travelling at speeds of at least 80 kilometres per hour.

The vehicle must not be banned from the roads, or be an emergency vehicle or a hearse. Nor may it be loaded with dangerous goods or animals.

The vehicle must:

  • have a total weight of no less than 4000 kg and no more than 7500 kg
  • be at least 5 metres long
  • be equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • be equipped with a tachograph, unless the test is for a driving licence restricted to vehicles without a tachograph (condition code 97)

The vehicle must be loaded to at least half the maximum load. The cargo compartment must be in the form of an enclosed box structure that is at least as high and wide as the driver’s cab. The cargo must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored.
You may use a vehicle without an enclosed box structure if you are taking a retest that includes only the safety check. The cargo must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored, but the weight in such a test need not amount to half the maximum load.

Category C driving test

The driving test consists of:

  • a safety check
  • riding in and outside urban areas.

You must demonstrate that you are capable of handling the vehicle in traffic, and that you can apply sound good judgement and drive safely. The driving test assesses in particular your ability to manoeuvre the vehicle. For instance, you must be able to use the correct gearshifting and braking techniques, plan your driving and pay attention to other traffic, taking into account the space required by your vehicle.

Safety check

The examiner will ask questions about one or more elements of the safety check. You must be able to give reasons for what you have checked, and why. You must also be able to describe the risks and consequences of vehicle faults and defects and suggest what to do, even if no such faults have been detected.

Driving in traffic

You will drive for at least 45 minutes. You will be asked to drive on both urban and rural roads. The examiner will give you directions or ask you to drive to a specified destination. You may be given different tasks to perform such as making a U-turn, hill starting, parking in a loading bay or reversing while turning, including reversing straight before or after turning.

You may fail the safety check even if you pass the driving in traffic element. The parts you pass will then remain valid for one year, and you must take and pass a retest for the safety check within one year. The theory test must be valid when you take the retest.

Driving test requirements for vehicle category C

You must bring your own vehicle to the test. You must show valid ID before your driving test.

  • The tax and insurance must be paid.
  • The vehicles must be registered in Sweden and be reliable in terms of road safety.
  • You must show the last registration certificate issued at the driving test.
  • Approved seatbelts must be provided for the seats used. The lorry must be capable of travelling at speeds of at least 80 kilometres per hour.

The vehicle must not be banned from the roads, or be an emergency vehicle or a hearse. Nor may it be loaded with dangerous goods or animals.

The vehicle must:

  • have a total weight of at least 16000 kg
  • be at least 8 metres long
  • be at least 2.4 metres wide
  • have a wheelbase of at least 4 metres
  • be equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • be equipped with a tachograph

The lorry must be loaded to at least two-thirds of the permissible cargo weight on load class 1 (BK1) roads. The lorry’s cargo compartment must be in the form of an enclosed box structure that is at least as high and wide as the driver’s cab. However, the height must be no less than 3.5 metres. The cargo must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored.

Category CE driving test

The driving test consists of:

  • a safety check
  • special manoeuvres
  • driving in traffic.

You must demonstrate during the test that you are capable of handling the vehicle in traffic, and that you can apply sound good judgement and drive safely. Your manoeuvring of the vehicle combination will be assessed specifically. You must be able to use the correct gearshifting and braking techniques and plan your driving and pay attention to other traffic, particularly taking into account the space required by your vehicle combination.

Safety check

The driving test will start with you being asked to carry out a safety check, including the coupling of the vehicle and trailer. When the test begins, the tractor unit must be behind or to the side of the trailer.

The examiner will ask questions about one or more elements of the safety check. You must be able to give reasons for what you have checked, and why. You must also be able to describe the risks and consequences of vehicle faults and defects and suggest what to do, even if no such faults have been detected.

The safety check must include the following elements

  • Lights, indicators, reflectors and signals
  • Windscreen wipers and washers
  • Steering system, brakes
  • Tyres, rims and wheel bolts
  • Mudflaps
  • Fluids, such as windscreen washer fluid, coolant and engine oil
  • Warning systems, mirrors, windows
  • Load, coupling arrangement
  • Tachograph

Driving in traffic

You will drive in traffic for at least 45 minutes, and you will be asked to drive on both urban and rural roads. The time for the safety check and special manoeuvres is not included in this time. The examiner will tell you where to drive. You may be given different tasks to perform such as making a U-turn, hill starting, parking in a loading bay or reversing while turning the vehicle.

The test must end with a check to ensure that you can disconnect the trailer from the tractor unit and park safely for loading and unloading.

You may fail the safety check even if you pass the manoeuvring test and the driving in traffic element. The parts you pass will then remain valid for one year, and you must take and pass a retest for the safety check within one year. The theory test must be valid when you take the retest.

Driving test requirements for vehicle category CE

You must bring your own vehicle combination to the test. You must show valid ID before your driving test.

  • The tax and insurance must be paid.
  • The vehicles must be registered in Sweden and be reliable in terms of road safety.
  • You must show the last registration certificate issued at the driving test.
  • Approved seatbelts must be provided for the seats used. The vehicle must be capable of travelling at speeds of at least 80 kilometres per hour.

The vehicle must not be banned from the roads, or be an emergency vehicle or a hearse. Nor may it be loaded with dangerous goods or animals.

If the test is for a lorry with a trailer


The lorry must:

  • have a total weight of at least 16000 kg
  • be at least 8 metres long
  • be equipped with a tachograph

The trailer must:

  • have a total weight of at least 18000 kg
  • have a wheelbase of at least 4 metres
  • be at least 7.5 metres long

If the trailer is equipped with a bogie, the distance between the front axle and the front bogie axle must be at least 3.5 metres

The vehicle combination must be:

  • at least 18 metres long
  • at least 2.4 metres wide
  • equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)

The vehicle combination must be loaded to at least two-thirds of the permissible load weight on load class 1 (BK1) roads. The cargo on the tractor unit must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored: this does not apply to the trailer.

The cargo compartments of both tractor and trailer must be in the form of an enclosed box structure and be at least as wide as the driver’s cab. In addition, the cargo compartment of the tractor unit must be at least as high as the driver’s cab. However, the height must be no less than 3.5 metres.

If the test relates to a lorry with a semi-trailer


The lorry must:

  • be equipped with a tachograph

The semi-trailer must:

  • be at least 12 metres long
  • have at least 2 axles

The vehicle combination must:

  • have a total weight of at least 30000 kg
  • be at least 16 metres long
  • be at least 2.4 metres wide
  • be equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)

The vehicle combination must be loaded to at least two-thirds of the permissible load weight on load class 1 (BK1) roads. The cargo must be of a general cargo nature and be capable of being anchored.

The cargo compartment must be in the form of an enclosed box structure that is at least as high and wide as the driver’s cab. However, the height must be no less than 3.5 metres.

FAQ

Yes, if you already have a category B driving licence for cars with manual transmission.

C1 – Medium-sized lorry

Licence category C1 entitles the holder to drive lorries with a maximum total weight of 7500 kg. With a C1 driving licence, you may also drive cars with a total weight of more than 3500 kg but no more than 7500 kg. You may attach a light trailer with a maximum total weight of 750 kg.

C1E – Medium-sized lorry with heavy trailer

Category C1E gives you the same rights as C1, and you may also connect one or more trailers if the combined total weight does not exceed 12,000 kg.

C – Heavy lorry

Licence category C entitles the holder to drive lorries with no upper weight limit. You may also drive cars with a total weight of more than 3500 kg, with no upper weight limit. You may attach a light trailer with a maximum total weight of 750 kg.

CE – Heavy lorry with heavy trailer

CE entitles the holder to the same rights as C, and you may also tow one or more trailers with no upper weight limit.

Booking and paying

More information