Contents
Which category for which machine
| Vehicle | Category | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tractors up to 40 km/h, with a trailer driven at no more than 25 km/h | L (included in B) | Only for agricultural and forestry purposes |
| Tractors up to 60 km/h, also with a trailer | T | Under 18 years of age only up to 40 km/h |
| Self-propelled working machine such as a forage harvester or combine harvester up to 40 km/h | T | Up to 25 km/h, L is sufficient |
| Lorry for haulage, for example with silage | C or CE | Driver qualification (Code 95) and driver card, unless an exemption applies |
Anyone who drives with the wrong category is driving without a driving licence. The keeper who allows this is then also committing an offence (§ 21 StVG).
Seasonal workers and temporary staff
- Check before the first journey: New drivers receive the link on their phone or are checked on site on a tablet before they get on the machine for the first time.
- New every season: Anyone who returns the following year is checked again before their first journey. A driving ban imposed over the winter is then noticed.
- Driving licences from abroad: Categories L and T exist only in the German driving licence. For seasonal workers with a foreign driving licence, you need to clarify which category applies in Germany for the tractor. Driving licences from countries outside the EU are generally valid for only six months after the holder moves to Germany.
Driving times, tachographs, driver qualification
For agricultural and forestry tractors there are exemptions from the tachograph and from driving and rest times, for example within a radius of 100 km around the business (§ 18 Fahrpersonalverordnung, the German Driver Personnel Ordinance). These do not apply automatically to lorry journeys, and the exemption from the BKrFQG also depends on what is being carried and whether driving is the main occupation. If in doubt, clarify your case with your trade association.
Frequently asked questions
May a temporary driver with category B drive the tractor?
Category B includes L: tractors up to 40 km/h, with a trailer up to 25 km/h, and only for agricultural and forestry purposes. For faster tractors, the driver needs category T.
Do tractor drivers need Code 95?
No. With categories L and T, the qualification requirement under the BKrFQG does not apply; it concerns the lorry and bus categories.
Does FleetCred recognise categories T and L?
Yes. FleetCred reads all categories from the back, including T and L, and shows them next to the photo at approval.
This overview does not replace legal advice.
Sources