How to apply for a C1 or C driving licence

Apply for C1 or C at the Motor Vehicle Office using form TT2112, your category B licence, medical fitness certificate and required payments. The category and any CQC affect the requirements and route.

Choose between C1 and C first

C1 authorises you to drive vehicles designed to carry goods, with a maximum authorised mass over 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes, and no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. Category C covers vehicles for the same purpose with a mass over 3.5 tonnes and no C1 upper limit. Both allow a trailer up to 750 kg; above that limit, consider C1E or CE.

Choose based on the vehicle you plan to drive and the work you intend to do, not age alone. Professional goods transport may also require the Driver Qualification Card (CQC), which is separate from the driving licence. C1 code 97 is a variant with specific tachograph-related restrictions: before applying, clarify with your driving school or UMC which qualification you actually need.

Submit the application

MIT’s C1-C licence page lists the Civil Motor Vehicle Office as the place to apply. Your file includes the current TT2112 form, ID, tax code, current licence and proof of medical fitness. For medical documents, follow MIT’s validity periods and check the date and type of doctor before submitting. Add the PagoPA receipts for your application; fees can change, so do not copy amounts from an old receipt.

You may authorise someone else to submit the application only if you follow the office’s instructions and provide the documents required from your representative. If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, check MIT’s section on additional documents and the residence requirement. Keeping a copy of the application and every receipt shows what you submitted and helps you respond to any request for more information.

Age, tests and learner’s permit

The ordinary minimum age is 18 for C1 and 21 for C. The age for C may be reduced to 18 through the prescribed goods-transport CQC route, provided you obtain the qualification before the practical test. This is not a general exemption: enrolment, training and CQC issuance must meet ministerial rules.

The standard process includes a theory test and a practical test. After passing theory, the UMC issues a learner’s permit (foglio rosa); you can then book practice and the practical test within the deadlines on the current information page. The Motor Vehicle Office also publishes minimum requirements for the test vehicle, which are stricter for C than C1. Private candidates should make sure in advance that a compliant vehicle is available for the test session.

Useful preparation

Before your appointment, check that the category, personal details and payments match your application. Ask the UMC whether your office accepts applications by appointment or only at the counter, and whether it needs extra copies. Local notices explain how to access the office; national requirements remain those set by MIT. For professional work, ask separately about CQC course dates and enrolment: obtaining C and obtaining CQC are connected but separate steps.

Working towards your driving licence? Study and practise with Quiz Patente Ufficiale: exam-style quizzes, topic-by-topic explanations and a review of your mistakes.