Licence requirements for driving a tractor

Following requests from members, the Association has worked with a specialist transport solicitor to clarify what driving licence entitlement is required when driving a tractor on a public road as part of a landscape or horticultural activity. 

Whilst all category B (car) licence holders automatically gain the category F (Agricultural tractor) entitlement when they pass their car driving test, the category F entitlement only permits individuals to drive tractors on a public road when used for either agricultural or forestry purposes.  Any person driving a tractor on a public road for purposes other than agriculture or forestry (i.e. landscape construction or maintenance) must hold a goods vehicle driving license. 

Landscape tasks are excluded from definitions of agriculture or forestry, which means any person driving a tractor used for landscape construction or maintenance which meets the definition of  tractor provided in EU Regulation 167/2013 must hold a goods vehicle licence. 

Further reading

BALI website: Tractor driving licence requirements (members only)

DVSA webpage: Tractors and regulatory requirements: a brief guide September 2017