The code on your licence decides what you may legally drive. Picking the wrong one at application means testing for a licence that does not cover the vehicle you actually need.
| Code | Vehicle | Mass | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Motorcycle, no sidecar | 125 cc or less | 16 |
| A | Motorcycle | Any engine capacity | 18 |
| Code 8 (B) | Car, bakkie, light van | Up to 3 500 kg | 17 |
| Code 10 (C1/C) | Heavy motor vehicle, rigid | Over 3 500 kg | 18 |
| Code 14 (EC) | Extra-heavy / articulated | Truck-tractor and trailer | 18 |
Code 8 — the one most people want
Code 8 covers any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kg: every ordinary car, bakkie and light van. It is by far the most common licence in South Africa and the minimum age is 17.
It also permits towing a trailer, within the mass limits that apply to the combination.
Code 10 — heavy rigid vehicles
Code 10 covers heavy motor vehicles over 3 500 kg that are rigid — a single unit rather than a truck pulling a trailer on a fifth wheel. Think delivery trucks, tippers and buses.
The theory paper is the same three sections, but the content that matters shifts: heavier vehicles carry their own speed limits, longer following distances and load rules.
Code 14 — articulated combinations
Code 14 covers extra-heavy vehicles and articulated combinations — a truck-tractor coupled to a semi-trailer. This is the interprovincial freight licence, and it brings in coupling, air brakes, abnormal loads and axle-mass limits.
What actually differs in the learner's test
Less than people expect. All codes sit the same structure — 30 rules, 30 signs, 8 vehicle controls — and most road rules and signs apply identically to everyone.
What changes is a slice of the content:
- Speed limits: a goods vehicle over 9 000 kg is capped at 80 km/h outside urban areas, against 100 km/h for a car.
- Following distance: six seconds is recommended for a heavy vehicle, against three for a light one.
- Load rules: height, width, projection and axle-mass limits mainly concern Code 10 and 14.
- Vehicle controls: air brakes and coupling appear for heavy codes; a motorcycle paper asks about handlebars and a hand clutch instead.
Motorcycles are a separate track
Code A1 covers motorcycles of 125 cc or less without a sidecar, from age 16. Code A covers any capacity from 18. Neither is included in a Code 8 licence — riding a motorcycle on a car licence is not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Code 14 licence let me drive a car?
Yes — the heavier codes include the lighter ones. A Code 8 licence does not work the other way round.
Can I get Code 10 or 14 at 17?
No. Both require a minimum age of 18. Only Code 8 is available at 17, and only A1 at 16.
Is the learner's test harder for Code 14?
The structure and pass marks are identical. The heavy-vehicle content is extra material rather than harder material.
Do I need Code 8 before Code 10?
You can apply for a heavy code directly, though the practical test will be conducted in a vehicle of that class, which most people have far less experience in.