The B2 license does not correspond to any official category of the French Highway Code. Neither the ANTS, nor Service-public, nor Road Safety reference a “B2” subcategory in their regulatory tables. Understanding where this term comes from, why it circulates, and what it actually encompasses helps avoid administrative errors and misunderstandings in a professional context.
B2 License and B2 Criminal Record Extract: The Technical Confusion
The main source of misunderstanding is lexical. The acronym “B2” refers in French law to the second bulletin of the criminal record, an administrative document that only certain authorized administrations and employers can request. It has no relation to a category of driving license.
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In job descriptions (VTC driver, independent delivery person, passenger transport driver), the prerequisites often mention “license B + clean B2”. Here, “B2” refers to the criminal record, not an extension of the license. The offers require a standard B license held for at least three years (or two years with accompanied driving), and an extract from the criminal record without any mention incompatible with the exercise of the profession.
We observe that several online articles merge these two concepts to artificially create a “B2 license” category that would allow the driving of vehicles transporting more than eight passengers. This description actually corresponds to the D license, dedicated to collective passenger transport.
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Actual Categories of License B: B1, B, B96, and BE
The Highway Code structures the B family around four variants. Each responds to a specific need related to weight and trailer configuration. Anyone questioning the B2 driving license will find their answer in this official grid, as no fifth subcategory exists.
| Category | Authorized Vehicles | Access Condition |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Heavy quadricycles (maximum GVW 450 kg) | From 16 years, specific exam |
| B | Cars with a GVW of 3.5 tons or less, max 8 passengers | From 17 years (accompanied driving) or 18 years |
| B96 | B license + trailer with a GVW exceeding 750 kg (combined limit of 4,250 kg) | 7-hour training, no exam |
| BE | B license + trailer with a GVW over 750 kg (combined over 4,250 kg) | Additional practical exam |
B96 and BE cover situations of heavy towing (horse trailer, large caravan, vehicle transport trailer). None of these categories bear the name “B2”.
GVW and Towing: The True Distinction Criterion
The difference between B96 and BE is based on the combined GVW of the vehicle + trailer. As long as this total remains under 4,250 kg, B96 training is sufficient. Beyond that, the BE license requires a test with an inspector.
This 4,250 kg threshold is the technical point that drivers most often underestimate. A trailer with a GVW of 1,300 kg hitched to an SUV with a GVW of 2,200 kg already exceeds the B96 limit if the actual loaded weight reaches the ceiling. We recommend checking the registration certificates of both elements before any trailer purchase.
Job Offers Mentioning “B2 License”: What They Really Require
Recruitment ads in transport, delivery, or personal services structure their prerequisites around the standard B license. No French job offer legally requires a “B2 license” as a driving category.
When a job description states “clean B2”, it refers to the second bulletin of the criminal record. The relevant professions include:
- VTC driver, who must present a clean record and a B license outside the probationary period to obtain their professional card
- Independent delivery driver, subject to the same checks when registering on delivery platforms
- Agent for transporting people with reduced mobility, whose employer may require consultation of the B2 bulletin from the national criminal record
The probationary period of the B license (three years reduced to two years for drivers who have undergone accompanied driving) constitutes the real access filter for these jobs, not a hypothetical higher category.
Differentiating License Requirement and Administrative Requirement
A candidate for a driver position must provide two distinct documents: a copy of their category B driving license and, separately, the authorization to extract the B2 bulletin from their criminal record. Confusing the two delays the application and may disqualify a file if the recruiter receives the wrong document.
D License and C License: The Real Categories Beyond License B
Transporting more than eight passengers falls under the D license. Driving a vehicle with a GVW exceeding 3.5 tons for goods transport requires a C license. Both categories impose a prior medical examination, a minimum mandatory initial training (FIMO), and periodic renewal of medical fitness.
The D license requires a minimum age of 24 (or 21 under certain professional training conditions). The C license is accessible from 21 years, with subcategories C1 and C1E for vehicles with a GVW between 3.5 and 7.5 tons.
Any driving of a collective transport vehicle without a D license exposes one to criminal penalties, regardless of the seniority of the held B license. It is not enough to have “had a B for a long time” to move to the higher category.
The term “B2 license” will likely continue to circulate in online searches and some poorly written job offers. The regulatory reality remains simple: the categories B, B96, BE, C, D and their variations cover all driving needs in France. Checking the exact category listed on one’s driving title and not confusing a criminal record document with a license extension remains the most useful reflex before any professional or administrative steps.