Category B1 driving licence (2024)

However not all of the categories on the new licence are obtainable. An oversight in production of the licence means that category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

Rackstar wrote: »

However not all of the categories on the new licence are obtainable. An oversight in production of the licence means that category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

A co*ck up when the cards were mass produced?

https://www.ndls.ie/licence-categories.html

73 Restricted to category B vehicles of the motor quadricycle type (B1)
.....

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b1_licenses

3 or 4 wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen weight were covered by category B1 (a subcategory of B (car)).

However, under the third European Directive on driving licences (2006/126/EC, three-wheeled vehicles must now fall within the motorcycle categories (A1 or A) rather than the car category (B). This means category B1 for three-wheeled vehicles, once given within category B, will be covered by motorcycle categories and will not exist as a separate provisional entitlement.

From 19 January 2013 only drivers with a disability are able to take a driving test in a three-wheeled vehicle. Driving tests for three-wheeled vehicles will not be available for able bodied drivers.

These changes mean that any current provisional entitlement for three-wheel vehicles within category B1 will no longer be valid after 19 January 2013 for the non-disabled and to continue to drive these vehicles the drivers will have to pass Compulsory Basic Training and theory and practical tests on a two wheeled motorcycle. They must also meet the new minimum age requirements for motorcycles.

Rackstar wrote: »

However not all of the categories on the new licence are obtainable. An oversight in production of the licence means that category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

Braylee Scary Orchid wrote: »

A co*ck up when the cards were mass produced?

Is there any chance that since these are EU licences that they may still be obtainable in other jurisdictions (UK seem to facilitate it, so relevant for now at least!), and so have to be included lest someone convert their licence and "fall" into having a category they are not technically entitled to?

Rackstar wrote: »

However not all of the categories on the new licence are obtainable. An oversight in production of the licence means that category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

B1 is not an oversight, it is prescribed to be present on the community model driver licence as per Annex I PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE-COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE of Directive 2006/126/EC.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006L0126#ntr1-L_2006403EN.01002801-E0001

Whilst adopting the category or not was optional for member states (and as we know Ireland did not adopt B1), varying the back of the card was not an option afforded by the EU.

GM228 wrote: »

B1 is not an oversight, it is prescribed to be present on the community model driver licence as per Annex I PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE-COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE of Directive 2006/126/EC.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006L0126#ntr1-L_2006403EN.01002801-E0001

Whilst adopting the category or not was optional for member states (and as we know Ireland did not adopt B1), varying the back of the card was not an option afforded by the EU.

So in short, it's on the list on a driving licence, but Ireland doesn't issue it as a category.

What if someone held B1 on EU licence and swapped for Irish. Would they be awarded B1 on Irish licence?

CiniO wrote: »

So in short, it's on the list on a driving licence, but Ireland doesn't issue it as a category.

What if someone held B1 on EU licence and swapped for Irish. Would they be awarded B1 on Irish licence?

This is the interesting part for me, a mate of mine has a UK licence with B1 on it, he was going to change it over to an Irish one as he is settled here, married,house bought etc etc, but they won't recognise the B1 category so he keeps the UK version.

If someone had the pockets (or the balls) to take the government to Europe to recognise the category i assume the EU could force them to implement it?

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I thought B1 was for those blue invalid carriages that used to be common in the UK.

I thought it was for these

CiniO wrote: »

So in short, it's on the list on a driving licence, but Ireland doesn't issue it as a category.

What if someone held B1 on EU licence and swapped for Irish. Would they be awarded B1 on Irish licence?

You can only exchange for the equivalent licence in the country of exchange, their is no equivalent here.

There seems to be good bit variety between EU countries on what actually B1 category is for.

F.e. in Poland B1, allows to drive cars with own maximum mass of 550kg. And this category is available for people from 16 years of age (comparing to regular B being available from 18).

So this gives a chance for young people to get around in tiny cars like that:

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I thought B1 was for those blue invalid carriages that used to be common in the UK.

B1 is for "a motor-powered quadricycle capable of a speed of at least 60km/h".

CiniO wrote: »

There seems to be good bit variety between EU countries on what actually B1 category is for.

F.e. in Poland B1, allows to drive cars with own maximum mass of 550kg. And this category is available for people from 16 years of age (comparing to regular B being available from 18).

So this gives a chance for young people to get around in tiny cars like that:

B1 is standard across the EU, it is for quadricycles with an unladen mass of 550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods, or 400 kg when not for goods.

GM228 wrote: »

B1 is standard across the EU, it is for quadricycles with an unladen mass of 550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods, or 400 kg when not for goods.

OK, i thought it was for something else considering I've seen info about quadricycles, etc....

Car on the pictures is actually the one which is intended for carrying goods (like a van, but usually 2 seaters).
I found that limit for passenger vehicles is 400kg unladen weight on the same polish website.

So I can assume it's the same all over Europe then

CiniO wrote: »

OK, i thought it was for something else considering I've seen info about quadricycles, etc....

Car on the pictures is actually the one which is intended for carrying goods (like a van, but usually 2 seaters).
I found that limit for passenger vehicles is 400kg unladen weight on the same polish website.

So I can assume it's the same all over Europe then

Correct, the requirements are set at EU level across the board.

Those 'vehicles' look remarkably like French 'Voiture Sans Permis' vehicles. These are also quadracycles but as the linguists amongst you may have already have translated as a car with licence, so anyone over 14 can drive one without a license. Contrary to what you might think, there's very few 14 year olds hooning around in them, moreso elderly folk who've never done a test and those who've lost their license for drink driving.

Is there a difference between B1 and VSP?

alias no.9 wrote: »

Those 'vehicles' look remarkably like French 'Voiture Sans Permis' vehicles. These are also quadracycles but as the linguists amongst you may have already have translated as a car with licence, so anyone over 14 can drive one without a license. Contrary to what you might think, there's very few 14 year olds hooning around in them, moreso elderly folk who've never done a test and those who've lost their license for drink driving.

Is there a difference between B1 and VSP?

“Hooning” ? Jasus I thought only Australia used that word