With the B96 extension, you may drive combinations consisting of a Class B towing vehicle and a trailer, where the permitted combined gross weight is more than 3,500 kg but no more than 4,250 kg. In plain terms:

- You can drive a regular car with a heavier trailer, such as a caravan or horse trailer, as long as the total weight is within the limits above.
- You have more options than with a standard Class B licence without having to meet all the requirements of a BE licence.

Choosing between B96 and BE depends on your individual needs and plans. Here are a few points to help you decide:

B96 licence:

• Easier to obtain because no practical test is required.
• Allows you to drive combinations with a total weight of up to 4,250 kg.
• Suitable for people who occasionally want to tow a larger trailer without needing the full BE category.

BE licence:

• Requires a practical test.
• Allows you to drive combinations with a total weight of up to 7,000 kg (depending on the towing vehicle’s weight limits).
• Necessary for anyone who regularly wants to tow heavy trailers or caravans.

If you plan to tow larger trailers regularly, or the trailers you want to tow exceed the 4,250 kg total weight limit, BE is the right choice. If you only want to tow a trailer occasionally and the total weight is below 4,250 kg, B96 may be a cost-effective option that takes less time.

To obtain the B96 extension, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Minimum age: You must be at least 18 years old (or 17 as part of accompanied driving from age 17).
2. Basic driving entitlement: You must already hold a Class B driving licence.
3. Training: You must attend a special B96 course at a driving school. It has no classroom theory lessons, but includes 2.5 hours of theory and 3.5 hours of practical training, including a drive in real traffic.
4. Certificate: After successfully completing the course, you will receive a certificate of attendance from your driving school. You must present it to the driving licence authority to have code 96 added to your licence.
5. Medical assessment: You may need to provide proof of medical fitness, especially if your last assessment was some time ago.

Please note that you do not need to take a first-aid course or a separate test for the B96 extension.

After successfully completing B96 training, take your driving school certificate and current driving licence to the driving licence authority. There, apply for a newly issued licence showing B96. You will receive a new licence with the B96 entitlement.

The B96 extension allows you to drive combinations consisting of a Class B towing vehicle and a trailer, where the permitted combined gross weight is more than 3,500 kg but no more than 4,250 kg.

This lets you tow a wide range of larger trailers that exceed the limit for standard Class B vehicles but do not reach the weight requiring a BE licence. Examples include:

• Horse trailers: Ideal for transporting one or two horses, depending on their weight and the trailer design.
• Large caravans: For comfortable family holidays, including models with more living space or extra amenities.
• Boat trailers: Let you launch larger boats that would be too heavy to tow with a standard Class B licence.
• Work machinery and construction trailers: For transporting smaller construction machinery or large tools needed for professional work.

The B96 extension opens up new options for leisure activities such as horse riding and camping, and gives you more flexibility at work when transporting materials and equipment.

With B96, the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is what matters. The permitted gross weight of the whole combination must be between 3,500 kg and 4,250 kg. This means the towing vehicle’s unladen weight plus its load, together with the trailer’s weight, must stay within this range.

The B96 licence is valid throughout the European Union. This means you can drive vehicle combinations that meet B96 requirements in all EU member states and across the European Economic Area (EEA).

B96 is part of the EU Driving Licence Directive, which aims to harmonise driving licence categories throughout the European Union. That is why B96 is recognised across Europe.

B196, by contrast, is a German-specific provision introduced to allow holders of a Class B licence to ride A1 motorcycles under certain conditions without taking a full motorcycle test. Because it is part of German law and not the EU Driving Licence Directive, it is valid only in Germany.

Germany has several driving licence categories for towing trailers:

1. Class B: A standard car licence allows you to tow trailers with a permitted gross weight of up to 750 kg, or heavier trailers as long as the permitted gross weight of the vehicle and trailer together does not exceed 3,500 kg.
2. Class B96: An extension of Class B for combinations consisting of a Class B towing vehicle and a trailer over 750 kg, where the permitted combined gross weight exceeds 3,500 kg but does not exceed 4,250 kg.
3. Class BE: This category allows you to tow trailers with a permitted gross weight over 750 kg, with the combined permitted gross weight of the vehicle and trailer reaching up to 7,000 kg.
4. Class C1E: For medium-duty lorries up to 7,500 kg permitted gross weight towing trailers over 750 kg.
5. Class CE: This category allows you to drive heavy lorries over 3,500 kg with trailers over 750 kg – commonly referred to as an HGV licence.

There are other categories for special vehicle types or professional uses, but the ones above are the main categories for towing trailers in private and commercial settings.

With code B96, you may tow both braked and unbraked trailers. The B96 extension allows you to tow trailers over 750 kg as long as the total permitted gross weight of the combination does not exceed 4,250 kg. The type of brake does not determine the licence category; it only affects the permitted total weight and how the vehicle combination handles.