Trailer License — B96 vs. B+E Explained
When do you need B96 or B+E? Weight limits, course prices, and real-world examples for towing caravans, trailers, and horse boxes in Czechia.
You buy a caravan and head out on your first holiday. On the motorway, the police pull you over, check the registration documents, and say: "Your category B license doesn't cover this combination." A fine of CZK 25,000 to 50,000, a driving ban of one to two years, four points on your penalty record. All because you didn't add up two numbers from the vehicle registration certificate beforehand. This happens to more people in Czechia than you'd expect — because the rules for towing trailers seem straightforward at first glance but hide several tricky details.
This article gives you a clear overview: when your standard category B license is enough for towing, when you need the B96 extension, and when you need a full B+E license. We'll explain how the weight calculations work, why the numbers on paper (not reality) are what matters, and walk through real-world examples to show which category your combination falls into.
Quick summary:
- With a category B license, you can tow a trailer if the total weight of the combination according to the registration certificate doesn't exceed 3,500 kg (exception: unbraked trailers up to 750 kg are exempt from this limit)
- B96 covers combinations up to 4,250 kg — only a practical driving test, no theory, prices from CZK 5,000
- B+E is the full extension for trailers up to 3,500 kg — requires training and both exams, but is recognised worldwide without issues
One rule you must know — the registration certificate decides
Before we get into the individual categories, you need to understand one key principle. This is where most drivers trip up — and what the police check first.
What matters is the "Maximum technically permissible mass" from the vehicle registration certificate — field F.2. Not the actual weight of your car and trailer at any given moment. Field F.2 states the maximum weight the vehicle can reach according to the manufacturer. And it's these values that get added together.
Think of it this way: your car has F.2 = 2,400 kg and your trailer has F.2 = 1,200 kg. On paper, the combination is 3,600 kg — exceeding the 3,500 kg limit for a category B license. You need B96. Even if the trailer is completely empty and actually weighs just 300 kg. The officer won't look at a scale. They'll look at the registration certificate.
This rule is intentional — the law (Section 80a of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.) is based on the principle that the driver must be qualified to drive the combination at full load. That's why maximum possible mass is used, not the current one.
Watch field F.2
Always check F.2 in the registration certificate — for both the car and the trailer. Add the two numbers together. If the total exceeds 3,500 kg, a category B license isn't enough. This rule applies regardless of the combination's actual weight.
Category B — when it's enough for towing
With a basic category B license, you can tow a trailer under two conditions. Either the trailer is light (unbraked, up to 750 kg), or the combination — car plus trailer — is up to 3,500 kg on paper.
Unbraked trailers up to 750 kg (category O1) are the simplest case. A small utility trailer for the garden, moving furniture, or transporting a quad bike. Here's a surprising exception: even if the sum of F.2 values exceeds 3,500 kg, a category B license is still enough. For O1 trailers, the 3,500 kg combination limit doesn't apply — the combination can weigh up to 4,250 kg (3,500 kg car + 750 kg trailer). Many people don't know about this exception, but that's how it works.
Braked trailers over 750 kg are a different story. Here the sum of F.2 values matters. If the car (F.2) plus the trailer (F.2) doesn't exceed 3,500 kg, category B is enough. Once the total exceeds 3,500 kg, you need to upgrade — either to B96 or B+E.
Most people with a category B license can comfortably tow a small utility trailer, a light scooter carrier, or a modest boat trailer. Problems start with caravans, horse boxes, and heavier work trailers.
B96 — fast and affordable extension for caravan owners
B96 is a so-called harmonised code — technically it's not a separate license category but an entry on your existing driving license. It extends your category B so you can drive a combination with a total mass of up to 4,250 kg (according to the registration certificate). The trailer must be braked and heavier than 750 kg.
Why is B96 so popular? Because it's quick and simple. You don't need any mandatory training — the law only requires you to pass a supplementary driving test (Section 45b(3) of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.). The test is purely practical — no theory questions, no written exam. Just get behind the wheel, show you can handle a trailer, and you're done.
Most driving schools will offer you preparatory lessons — typically two to three. They're voluntary, but we recommend taking them. Reversing with a trailer is a completely different skill from normal driving, and an instructor will show you techniques that you'd otherwise learn the hard way alone in a car park. The entire process — preparation plus exam — takes a matter of days, a week at most.
You can get B96 alongside your B license
You don't have to wait until you receive your B license. You can take the supplementary B96 test as part of your category B training — just arrange it with your driving school in advance.
Price-wise, B96 is one of the cheapest license extensions. Prices range from CZK 4,900 to 12,000 — depending on the driving school, region, and number of preparatory lessons. Add CZK 700 for the administrative fee at the municipal office (issuing a new driving license with code 96).
Přehled cen rozšíření B96 a B+E — srovnání kurzů z dat autoškol na Kvalty.cz
| statsTable.columns.license | statsTable.columns.minAge | statsTable.columns.avgPrice | statsTable.columns.minPrice | statsTable.columns.maxPrice | statsTable.columns.schoolCount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C+E – Truck with heavy trailer | 21 | 37,056 Kč | – | 60,000 Kč | 11 |
| D – Buses | 24 | 28,720 Kč | – | 64,900 Kč | 73 |
| B – Passenger cars up to 3.5 t | 18 | 26,147 Kč | – | 64,500 Kč | 1,067 |
| C – Trucks over 3.5 t | 21 | 25,952 Kč | – | 60,550 Kč | 235 |
| A2 – Motorcycles up to 35 kW | 18 | 25,084 Kč | 3,500 Kč | 64,500 Kč | 496 |
| A – Powerful motorcycles without limits | 20 | 24,744 Kč | 3,500 Kč | 64,500 Kč | 507 |
| C1 – Light trucks | 18 | 24,400 Kč | 19,490 Kč | 28,000 Kč | 7 |
| B+E – Car with heavy trailer | 18 | 24,105 Kč | 10,000 Kč | 35,700 Kč | 8 |
| D1 – Minibuses | 21 | 23,500 Kč | 22,000 Kč | 25,000 Kč | 2 |
| T – Tractors | 17 | 23,287 Kč | – | 59,000 Kč | 214 |
| A1 – Motorcycles up to 125 cc | 16 | 21,241 Kč | 3,500 Kč | 53,500 Kč | 470 |
| B1 – Quadricycles and light motor vehicles | 17 | 19,950 Kč | 17,000 Kč | 22,900 Kč | 2 |
| AM – Mopeds and small scooters | 15 | 18,878 Kč | 3,500 Kč | 53,500 Kč | 422 |
| B96 – Car with medium trailer | 18 | 17,585 Kč | 4,990 Kč | 33,500 Kč | 9 |
Total 3523 schools
There is one thing to be aware of, though. B96 is a harmonised code within the European Union — it's valid in all member states. Outside the EU, however, you may run into problems. Some countries don't recognise code 96, and a roadside officer may not know what the entry on your license means. Czech caravan enthusiasts have reported occasional issues even within the EU — for example in Austria or Poland, where not every officer knows what code 96 is. If you plan to travel extensively outside the EU, a safer solution is B+E.
B+E — full extension for heavy trailers
B+E is a full driving license category. It qualifies you to drive a combination of a category B vehicle (up to 3,500 kg) and a trailer of up to 3,500 kg. In theory, that means a combination of up to 7,000 kg — though in practice you're limited by the maximum towing weight your car can handle (stated in the car's registration certificate).
You need B+E when the combination's mass according to F.2 exceeds 4,250 kg. Typical cases: a large fully-equipped caravan, a two-horse trailer, a heavy boat trailer, or a work combination with a mini-excavator. Category B+E automatically includes B96 — so if you have B+E, you don't need B96 separately.
Unlike B96, B+E requires a full extension course at a driving school. Act No. 247/2000 Coll. sets a minimum of 18 hours — 6 hours of theory and 12 hours of practice (including 8 hours of driving, 2 hours of vehicle maintenance, and 2 hours of first aid). The course typically takes two to three weeks. At the end, you sit a written theory test and a practical driving test — you must pass both.
The course price for B+E ranges from CZK 8,500 to 15,500, plus CZK 700 for the administrative fee at the municipal office. It costs more than B96, but you get a qualification that's recognised worldwide with no caveats. If you plan to tow heavy trailers regularly, or want to travel with a caravan outside Europe, B+E is the clear choice.
| Parameter | B96 | B+E |
|---|---|---|
| Max. combination weight | 4,250 kg | 7,000 kg (3,500 + 3,500) |
| Mandatory training | None (voluntary lessons only) | 18 h (6 theory + 12 practice) |
| Exam | Practical only | Theory + practical |
| Course price | CZK 4,900–12,000 | CZK 8,500–15,500 |
| Admin fee | CZK 700 | CZK 700 |
| Valid in EU | Yes (harmonised code) | Yes |
| Valid outside EU | Problematic | No issues |
| Time to obtain | Days (1–2 lessons + exam) | 2–3 weeks |
| Minimum age | 18 (with valid B) | 18 (with valid B) |
Real-world examples — which category do you need?
Theory is one thing, but what you really want to know is: "Do I need something extra for my combination?" Here are five real-world examples covering the most common situations.
Škoda Octavia + small utility trailer. Car F.2 = 1,750 kg, trailer is an unbraked O1 with F.2 = 600 kg. The combination is 2,350 kg on paper. On top of that, the trailer is in category O1 — so even if the total exceeded 3,500 kg, category B would still be enough. No stress here. Category B is enough.
VW Touran + medium caravan. Car: F.2 = 2,220 kg. Caravan: F.2 = 1,350 kg (braked, O2). Total = 3,570 kg. Exceeds 3,500 kg but doesn't exceed 4,250 kg. You need B96. The combination's maximum speed depends on the caravan's registration certificate — typically 100 km/h.
Peugeot Rifter + light caravan. Car: F.2 = 2,135 kg. Caravan: F.2 = 1,350 kg. Total = 3,485 kg. Doesn't exceed 3,500 kg — you just squeeze in. Category B is enough. But be careful: if the caravan's F.2 were just a few kilos higher, you'd need B96. Always calculate before you buy.
Renault Trafic + heavy caravan. Car: F.2 = 3,100 kg. Caravan: F.2 = 1,350 kg. Total = 4,450 kg. Exceeds 4,250 kg. You need B+E.
SUV + two-horse trailer. Car: F.2 = 2,500 kg. Trailer: F.2 = 2,000 kg. Total = 4,500 kg. Significantly exceeds 4,250 kg. You need B+E. This is a typical situation for horse owners — few horse trailers fit within the B96 limit.
Before buying a caravan or trailer
Always check your car's F.2 and the F.2 of the trailer you want to buy first. Add the two numbers and see which category you fall into. It's cheaper to get B96 for CZK 5,000 than to pay a fine of CZK 25,000+.
Speed limits — what you risk when towing too fast
Czech traffic law doesn't set a single special speed limit for trailers. Instead, the rule is that the maximum speed of the combination is determined by the design speed of the slowest vehicle in the combination. You'll find that — guess where — in the registration certificate.
Most O1 and O2 trailers have a maximum speed of 80 km/h in their registration certificate (unless the ministry specifies otherwise during type approval). Caravans typically have 100 km/h. So even if your car can do 200 km/h, the combination can only go as fast as the trailer allows.
Watch out for another rule: a combination with an actual total mass exceeding 3,500 kg has a maximum speed of 80 km/h on motorways and outside built-up areas. This mainly affects people with B+E and heavy trailers. The standard 50 km/h applies within towns.
Penalties — what happens if you don't sort it out
Driving a combination without the required license is an offence under Section 125c(1)(e) of Act No. 361/2000 Coll. And it's no minor matter.
For a first offence, you face a fine of CZK 25,000 to 50,000, four points on your penalty record, and a driving ban of 12 to 24 months. For repeat offences, the fine increases to up to CZK 75,000 and the ban extends to 18 to 36 months. This offence is handled exclusively through administrative proceedings — you can't settle it with an on-the-spot fine.
For five thousand crowns, you can get B96 and drive legally. For twenty-five thousand, you'll pay a fine, lose your license for a year, and still won't be able to tow the caravan. The choice is obvious.
The fine can't be paid on the spot
Driving without the required license is handled by the administrative authority, not by the officer on the road. You can't pay a fine immediately and drive on — you'll face administrative proceedings with a fine of CZK 25,000–50,000, a driving ban, and penalty points.
How to get B96 or B+E — step by step
The process is straightforward and differs only in the scope of training. You'll find a detailed guide to extending your driving license in a separate chapter, but here's a brief overview.
For B96: Sign up at a driving school that offers B96. Take voluntary preparatory lessons (we recommend 2–3). Pass the practical driving test with a trailer. Apply for a new license with code 96 at the municipal office (CZK 700). The whole process takes a few days.
For B+E: Sign up at a driving school for a B+E course. Complete 6 hours of theory and 12 hours of practice (the legal minimum). Pass the written theory test and the practical driving test. Apply for the extension at the municipal office (CZK 700). The whole course takes two to three weeks.
For enrollment, you'll need: a valid category B license, a medical examination (no more than 3 months old), an application for a license extension, and the CZK 700 administrative fee. If you don't pass the exam, you can retake it — for a fee to the driving school and an administrative fee at the office.
Summary
- What matters is the mass from the registration certificate (F.2), not the actual weight — always add the car's F.2 + the trailer's F.2
- Category B is enough for combinations up to 3,500 kg (or with an unbraked trailer up to 750 kg without any limit)
- B96 covers combinations of 3,500–4,250 kg — quick, affordable, practical exam only
- B+E is for combinations over 4,250 kg — full training and both exams, but recognised worldwide
- Fine for driving without the required license: CZK 25,000–50,000 + 4 points + driving ban of 12–24 months
- The combination's speed is governed by the slowest vehicle — typically 80–100 km/h according to the trailer's registration certificate
Key Terms
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| F.2 (registration certificate) | Field in the vehicle registration certificate stating the maximum technically permissible mass — determines which license category is required |
| B96 (harmonised code) | An entry on the driving license extending category B for combinations up to 4,250 kg — valid across the EU |
| B+E | A standalone license category for trailers up to 3,500 kg — total combination up to 7,000 kg |
| Unbraked trailer (O1) | A trailer up to 750 kg without its own braking system — exempt from the 3,500 kg combination limit with a category B license |
| Braked trailer (O2) | A trailer of 750–3,500 kg with an overrun brake — the combination weight determines the required category |
| Supplementary test | A simplified test for obtaining B96 — practical driving only, no theory |
| Combination | A towing vehicle + a trailer — to determine the required category, the F.2 values of both are added together |
| Design speed | The maximum speed of a vehicle according to the manufacturer (in the registration certificate) — for a combination, the speed of the slowest element applies |