Dear Mr Kendrick,
Thank you for your e-mail requesting information on B1 provisional and full entitlements. DVLA are replying to you as routine business and not via the terms of The Freedom of Information Act.
3 or 4 wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen weight used to be covered by category B1 (a subcategory of B (car). Category B1 was granted automatically to those passing a motorcycle test before 2001 and from 1 January 1997 until 19 January 2013 was a sub-category of full category B (car).
However, since 19 January 2013 when the Third European Council Directive (2006/126/EC) came into force, three-wheel vehicles now fall within the motorcycle rather than car category. This means The UK will not be issuing category B1 for new drivers and three-wheel vehicles will now be covered by motorcycle categories AM, A and A1 and will not exist as a separate provisional entitlement. The 4 wheel element of the old B1 will now be covered under B and lighter quads within AM. Drivers who have already previously gained the full B1 category will keep it and it will be shown as trike entitlement (Restricted A) and B1.
These changes mean that any current provisional entitlement for three-wheel vehicles within category B1 (within the B category showing on the licence) will no longer be valid after 19 January 2013 for the non-disabled. Therefore, in line with the changes introduced by the Directive, only drivers with a disability will be able to take a test in a three-wheel vehicle. Driving tests for three-wheel vehicles will not be available for able bodied drivers. To continue to drive a three wheel vehicle these drivers will have to pass Compulsory Basic Training and theory and practical tests on a two wheel motorcycle (A1) or (A). They must also meet the new minimum age requirements for motorcycles.
We realise that this will be unpopular with some provisional licence holders, but the opportunity to prove competence via a test must be given within the context of the re-categorisation of vehicles and the discontinuation of B1 tests. For non-disabled provisional licence holders after 19 January, this may only be done on a motorcycle in categories A or A1. As the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are responsible for driving tests you will need to contact them for further information.
You may be interested to know that there is a derogation in the text of the 3rd Directive that would allow car licence holders to drive large motor tricycles on national territory only, provided the licence holder is over 21 years old. The proposal to adopt this derogation was included in a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) consultation which ran until 26 August. The UK recognises that this change is not ideal, but it is the only option available at present that allows the driving of three-wheeled vehicles without the driver having to take a motorcycle test. Accordingly, this change should go ahead next year.
We trust this explains the entitlement.
Regards,
Drivers Policy Group
DVLA
