A Guide to Bumping Up Your Class B Driver's License: Trailblaze with B96, No Test Needed!
- Authored by Gernot Kramper
- Reading Time: Approx. 2 Mins
Prolonging Your Class B Driver's License Without Re-examination: A Step-by-Step Guide - Obtaining a New License B Without a Test: A Guide
The trusty Class B driver's license lets you conquer the roads on those slick passenger cars, no restrictions on horsepower or speed, but weight limits galore. You're capped at 3.5 tons, and that's submit, right? Wrong!
Perks of Class B - More than Just Cars
With the Rather-Retro Class 3 driver's license, Class B pales in comparison. But fear not, you got options galore! Whip around the city with a peppy motorbike, clocking speeds up to 45 km/h, or let off some steam on four-wheeled light vehicles like quad bikes. Get behind the wheel of tractors (up to 40 km/h) or mammoth lawnmowers (25 km/h) without a second thought. Three-wheelers, like motorbikes with duo tires on a single axle, are also a go!
The Hitch: Trailers
The wheels may be turning for passenger vehicles but hit a snag when it comes to trailers. The combo shouldn't tip the scales over 3500 kilograms, making trades difficult as van-tow combos barely leave anything for the trailer. The same applies to agriculture. In private life, you'll often exceed the limit with caravans, horse, or boat trailers.
With Class B, you can drive vehicles with a maximum total mass (zGM) of up to 3500 kilograms, tow trailers with a zGM of up to 750 kilograms. However, the total weight of the combo must not exceed 3500 kilograms.
The Great Escape - B96 Without the Test!
You might be tempted to upgrade to the light truck Class C1 plus C1E combo, but brace yourself - it gets pricey, especially if you're not keen on driving trucks.
The savior: the coveted B96 extension! Not familiar with this option? You might think B96 simply refers to a federal road, but it's much more exciting! It adds to Class B, and the best part? No grueling tests required! A driving school will suffice. A day of both theoretical and practical segments await, and the total cost ranges from a reasonable 300 to 500 euros, according to ADAC.
Your new B96 credential grants the liberty to tow heavier trailers, heavier than 750 kg, provided the towing vehicle and trailer's total weight doesn't surpass 4250 kilograms. For instance, an SUV like the Mercedes ML, with a permissible weight of 2800 kilograms, can support a whopping 1450 kilograms on the hitch. A VW Tiguan with all-wheel drive, on the other hand, boasts a permissible weight of 2250 kilograms, leaving room for a two-ton trailer.
Lastly, a Mitsubishi Pajero, already tipping the scales at 3030 kilograms, has 750 kilograms left for the trailer with Class B. With the extension, you can quadruple that, giving you a hefty 1220 kilograms.
The next leap is the BE class, but be prepared for a practical exam, additional costs, and the risk of failing. Plus, you'll shell out at least 1000 euros for five sessions of mandatory driving lessons. Upon success, you can drive trailers up to 3.5 tonnes, with a combined weight of 7 tonnes. One must practice towing within the Class B limits before embarking on B96 or BE training. Obtaining Class B doesn't require any towing experience, but more practical know-how is recommended for B96 or BE.
Sources: ADAC 1, ADAC 2
- Driver's License
- Traffic Law
- Vehicle
Bonus Insights:
The B96 extension for Class B licenses permits the holder to drive trailers whose total authorized mass exceeds 750 kg or a vehicle-trailer combination with a maximum authorized mass that exceeds 3,500 kg but does not go beyond 4,250 kg. The B96 extension does not require a separate practical or theory test. However, it demands practical training to demonstrate competence in handling heavier trailer combinations beyond the standard Class B limitations. The minimum age for obtaining B96 is generally 18 years, although there are provisions for 17-year-olds under accompanied driving or specific vocational training conditions. This extension offers drivers a way to tow heavier trailer combinations legally without the need for a separate license such as BE, as long as they fulfill the B96 extension's requirements and complete the necessary practical training.
- The B96 extension, available for Class B drivers, allows for the towing of heavier trailers, up to a total combined weight of 4250 kilograms, which can be beneficial in industries such as transportation, automotive, and even vocational training with the use of large trailers for transporting equipment or tools.
- Obtaining the B96 extension can be a cost-effective way to gain the ability to tow heavier trailers, as it requires practical training rather than a separate theory and practical test, with costs ranging from approximately 300 to 500 euros according to ADAC, unlike the BE class which requires additional costs and a practical exam.
