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All 15 driving licence categories - finally completed

agoodlife

It took me over 5 years but I finally managed to get all of the driving licence categories complete.

I just wanted to share the story, in case it might interest someone here who is thinking of doing the same.

I already had the categories B, AM and W on my full licence since the late 1990s. However, I’ve always loved driving and during COVID, I decided that I would try to get as many of the categories on the back of my licence as I could. I finally passed the CE test last month.

Category A (including A1 and A2) in January 2021

Category C (including C1) in September 2024

Category D (including D1) in April 2025

Category CE (including BE, C1E, D1E and DE) in April 2026

Unfortunately, the category B1 is still blank as that is not available in Ireland….thats annoying. Apart from the CE, I passed all of the tests first time. I passed the CE on the second attempt. In terms of costs, I reckon that the total was about €9,000 for everything. I did not do any CPC tests. I did them all in Cork.

At this moment in time, I don’t plan on using any of them, but I feel very proud of the accomplishment all the same.

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Gland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058438465/all-15-driving-licence-categories-finally-completed

Well done! It's something I've had a vague desire to do for years, but probably never will. I didn't know you couldn't get a B1 here (not that you'd need it I suppose).

donegal_man

Congratulations, quite an achievement. I only have A & B, all I've ever needed but sometimes think D could be useful.

Del2005

I did it years ago. My C, CE, D and DE are currently expired and I'm debating doing the medical to renew them when my B expires.

The fact that you get better pay and conditions working in a warehouse then driving a truck or bus is crazy.

?Cee?view

Well done. Did it myself as well a few years ago. The 5 year ones are up for first renewal soon. And yes, the B1 is annoying!

mikeecho

I did the A B C D ages ago.. i've been meaning to do BE for a good many years, never got around to it.

I've no interest in CE or DE.

In fact its been so long, i dont even know the process of getting a learners permit, or if i have to sit a theory test again, or if i have to do the mandatory lessons for BE.

mikeecho

Get it renewed, the handy thing will be that you will have 2 physical licences, albeit with the HGV categories expired on one of them.

Diabhalta

It took you 5 years? I would guess like 10+ with all the waiting times. I did BE recently and it took forever. I will never do any other licence in this country that's for sure.

hoodie6029

Well done OP. That was no small feat, very impressed. I’m going to do the C licences myself. Partly as it’s some always wanted to do.

Anois_

I know someone who has nearly all completed and never sat a driving test in their life. Marked all down and got them issued in the 70's for what ever strange reason when the government decided to give out free licences.

Speedline

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571341#Comment_124571341

Yes it was almost 50 years ago now. 1979 for a 6 month period. I would bet a very small percentage of those people are still on the road.

Well done all the same.

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571341#Comment_124571341

once you passed your car test before a certain date, you just paid for the extra categories. And kept them with a medical form at renewal afaik.
Pre-1964 there was no test, you just bought it in the post office.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571354#Comment_124571354

There was an ‘amnesty’ to clear test backlogs after a strike - if you were on your second of subsequent provisional you were given a full licence. You may have had to have previously sat the test and failed too, I can’t quite remember.
So there are thousands of drivers in their 60’s and 70’s on the road with licences from that era. Less so the pre-1964 era….

Anois_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571555#Comment_124571555

There are loads of people still driving from when they handed out a free licence. I know several. And that's just the ones who would admit it. I propably know more drivers who keep it quiet.

Speedline

If they were on their 2nd provisional, they were at least 19 years old. So the youngest would be 66 years old now. Natural selection will have done its job for the worst of those drivers. I wouldn't be worrying about this cohort of drivers to be fair.

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571792#Comment_124571792

they’re generally the ones holding up the road, doing 60 in a 100.

(Who else saw that massive generalisation??)

User1998

I can't see a driving test from 50 years ago making much of a difference to the performance of a 67+ year olds driving habits

mickdw

Nice To have the full card. You could probably be well on your way to a private pilots licence instead considering cost but maybe that's your next plan.

MarkN

€12-15,000 for a PPL (probably less if you did it in one of the smaller flying clubs)!

Lofidelity

Well done op!

I got the BE a few years ago. After two lessons i realised i didnt like it and would never pull a trailer but i was stubborn and kept going.

carzony

Congrats. I got my A license last September as i'm now a keen motorcyclist. Bus driving, lorry driving or driving in general is such an under-paid, under appreciated skill in terms of the hourly rate on offer.