What is a Category CE Licence?
Category CE — the "C+E" or articulated lorry licence — covers the operation of vehicle and trailer combinations where the drawing vehicle has a GVW over 7.5 tonnes. In practice, this means the large articulated lorries (artics) you see daily on motorways: the backbone of the UK's supply chain.
CE is the highest class of HGV licence available in the UK. It unlocks the widest range of driving jobs, the best rates of pay, and the most opportunities in long-distance and international haulage.
Important: You must hold a full Category C licence before you can begin Category CE training.
What Vehicles Can I Drive with CE?
- ✓ Articulated lorries (tractor unit + semi-trailer)
- ✓ Drawbar outfits (rigid + full trailer)
- ✓ Refrigerated articulated lorries
- ✓ Curtainsided artics for general haulage
- ✓ Flatbed and lowloader combinations
- ✓ Tanker artics for fuel, food and bulk liquids
- ✓ All rigid vehicles covered by Category C
What's Included in CE Training?
- ✓ Coupling and uncoupling — attaching and detaching the trailer safely
- ✓ Vehicle safety checks — tractor unit, trailer, landing legs, kingpin
- ✓ Reversing exercise — reversing the artic to a bay (the key test manoeuvre)
- ✓ On-road artic driving — awareness, swing, positioning on junctions
- ✓ Motorway and A-road driving at full articulated length
- ✓ DVSA test preparation and full mock test
Prerequisites
- ✓ Hold a full Category C licence (mandatory)
- ✓ Valid DVLA Group 2 medical (D4) in force
- ✓ Valid provisional CE entitlement added to your licence
- ✓ No new theory test required (Cat C theory carries over)
Duration & Programme Structure
CE training builds on your existing Cat C skills. Our standard CE programme runs 3–5 training days:
- Day 1: Coupling/uncoupling, vehicle safety, low-speed manoeuvres
- Days 2–3: Reversing exercise practice and road driving
- Day 4: Mock test, polishing weak areas
- Day 5: DVSA practical test day
Many candidates complete Cat C and CE back-to-back within the same 2–3 week programme. Ask us about our Full HGV Package for the best value option.
Earning Potential with a CE Licence
Category CE drivers command the highest wages in the road transport sector. Salary benchmarks as of 2026:
- ✓ New CE driver (days): £34,000–£42,000
- ✓ Experienced CE driver (nights): £40,000–£52,000+
- ✓ Specialist loads / ADR: £45,000–£60,000+
- ✓ Owner-driver / self-employed: earnings vary significantly