Towing Licence Calculator: Category B, B96 or BE?

Enter your car’s gross weight (F.2), gross train weight (F.3) and trailer weight to see whether a category B licence is enough or you need B96 or BE.

Which licence do you need to tow a trailer: B, B96 or BE?

In France, a B licence lets you tow a trailer of 750 kg gross weight or less whatever the combination, or a heavier trailer if the combined gross weights do not exceed 3,500 kg. Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg you need the B96 code (7 hours of training); above that, a BE licence, for a trailer of 3,500 kg at most. These are the thresholds in force on 14 October 2026.

The rule (France)

  • B licence: trailer of 750 kg gross weight or less, or combined gross weights of 3,500 kg or less.
  • B96 code: trailer over 750 kg and combined gross weights between 3,500 and 4,250 kg, after 7 hours of training with no test.
  • BE licence: combined gross weights above 4,250 kg, with a trailer of 3,500 kg at most.

Worked example

SUV with 2,100 kg gross weight (F.2), gross train weight 3,700 kg (F.3), braked towing capacity 1,600 kg (O.1) and a 1,500 kg caravan:

  • Combined gross weights: 2,100 + 1,500 = 3,600 kg, so B96.
  • 3,600 kg is within the 3,700 kg gross train weight: the combination can run fully loaded.
  • 1,500 kg is within O.1 (1,600 kg): the car can tow this caravan.

What the new directive changes

Directive (EU) 2025/2205 keeps the 750, 3,500 and 4,250 kg thresholds. By 26 November 2027 at the latest, a B licence held for 2 years will also cover alternative-fuel vehicles of 3,500 to 4,250 kg; the rest of the text applies from 26 November 2029. The tool does not simulate these cases yet.

Limits

The calculation uses the gross weights on the registration documents, not the actual weight. A licence obtained under older rules may carry other entitlements.

Sources and dates: Directive 2006/126/EC, article 4; French Highway Code, article R221-4, version in force since 29 April 2016; order of 17 January 2013 on B96 training (7 hours); service-public.fr pages on trailers with a B licence (checked 26 May 2025) and on the BE licence (checked 10 August 2026); Directive (EU) 2025/2205 of 22 October 2025, published in the OJEU on 5 November 2025, no French transposition found (checked on 14/10/2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy a trailer can I tow on a category B licence?

On a category B licence you can tow a trailer of up to 750 kg gross weight, whatever the car weighs. A heavier trailer is allowed if the car’s gross weight plus the trailer’s gross weight does not exceed 3,500 kg. Example: a 1,900 kg car and a 1,500 kg trailer make 3,400 kg, so a B licence is enough.

What is the difference between B96 and a BE licence?

Code 96 (B96) covers combinations with a combined gross weight between 3,500 and 4,250 kg; depending on the country, you get it after a training course (7 hours in France) or a test. Above 4,250 kg you need a BE licence, which includes a practical test and allows a trailer of up to 3,500 kg.

Where are the gross weight and towing capacity on the registration certificate?

The vehicle’s gross weight is in field F.2 and the gross train weight in field F.3 of the EU registration certificate. The maximum towing capacity is in O.1 for a braked trailer and O.2 for an unbraked one. The actual loaded combination must never exceed the gross train weight.

Is this tool really free?

Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.

Is my data protected?

Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.