The short answer
A standard Code B (old Code 8) licence covers bakkies and most cargo vans. Anything heavier than 3,500 kg GVM, which includes every 4-ton truck and up, needs a Code C1 (old Code 10) or higher, plus a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP).
It’s one of the most common questions our team gets: “Can I drive a 4-ton truck on my Code 8?” The answer is no, and getting it wrong matters. Driving on the wrong licence is an offence, and it can also void the insurance cover on the vehicle if something goes wrong.
This guide explains the South African licence codes in plain terms, shows which code you need for each vehicle in the Power Truck Hire fleet, and covers what to do if your licence doesn’t cover the vehicle you need.
| Vehicle | Licence code | PrDP needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Bakkie (1-ton single cab, double cab, H100, Super Tonner) | B (Code 8) | No |
| Cargo / panel van (Quantum, Sprinter) | B (Code 8) | No |
| 14-seater passenger van | B (Code 8) | Yes, category P |
| 23-seater passenger van | C1 (Code 10) | Yes, category P |
| 4-ton to 8-ton truck | C1 (Code 10) | Yes, category G |
| 14-ton truck | C | Yes, category G |
| Truck-tractor and trailer (24-ton, 32-ton) | EC (Code 14) | Yes, category G |
South African licence codes explained
South African licence codes are based on a vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM): the vehicle’s own weight plus the maximum load it’s rated to carry. You’ll find the GVM on the vehicle’s licence disc. What matters is the GVM, not how much you’re actually loading.
| Code | Old code | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| B | Code 8 | Light motor vehicles up to 3,500 kg GVM, towing a trailer up to 750 kg GVM |
| EB | — | Code B vehicles towing a trailer over 750 kg, combined mass up to 3,500 kg |
| C1 | Code 10 | Rigid vehicles from 3,500 kg to 16,000 kg GVM, trailer up to 750 kg |
| C | — | Rigid vehicles over 16,000 kg GVM, trailer up to 750 kg |
| EC1 | — | C1 vehicles with a trailer over 750 kg, and articulated vehicles up to 16,000 kg |
| EC | Code 14 | Articulated vehicles (truck-tractor and trailer) and heavy rigids with trailers over 16,000 kg |
Higher codes include the lower ones. An EC licence lets you drive everything from a bakkie to a superlink. A C1 licence covers bakkies, vans and trucks up to 16,000 kg, but not a truck-tractor and trailer.
The truck sizes you see on our site (4-ton, 8-ton, 14-ton) refer to how much the truck can carry, not its GVM. A 4-ton truck typically has a GVM of 7,000 to 8,500 kg, well over the 3,500 kg Code B limit.
Which licence for each vehicle we hire out
Bakkies: Code B
All our bakkies fall under 3,500 kg GVM, so a standard Code B licence is all you need. That includes the 1-ton single cab, double cab, Volumetric, Super Tonner, H100 and the 1-ton refrigerated bakkie. No PrDP is required.
Note that self-drive private bakkie rentals have a minimum of 5 days. Shorter rentals are available when you hire the bakkie with one of our drivers.
Cargo vans: Code B
Our Toyota Quantum and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel vans are light commercial vehicles, so they’re also covered by Code B. See our van hire page for the full range.
Passenger vans: Code B or C1, plus a PrDP
This is the one that catches people out. Any minibus designed to carry 12 or more people, including the driver, needs a PrDP (category P). That applies even if you’re not charging passengers and even if only a few seats are filled.
- 14-seater Toyota Quantum: Code B plus PrDP-P
- 23-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: at over 3,500 kg GVM, Code C1 plus PrDP-P
Please note that we don’t supply drivers with our passenger vans, so you’ll need a correctly licensed driver of your own.
Trucks: Code C1 or C, plus a PrDP
Every truck in our truck hire fleet is over 3,500 kg GVM, so Code B won’t cover any of them.
- 4-ton to 8-ton trucks (drop side, panel van, curtain side, refrigerated, tail-lift, 8-ton crane): Code C1 (Code 10) plus PrDP-G
- 14-ton trucks (drop side, crane): Code C plus PrDP-G
If in doubt, check the GVM on the truck’s licence disc. A rigid truck up to 16,000 kg GVM is C1, and anything above that is C.
Truck-tractor and trailer: Code EC
Our 24-ton curtain side tractor and trailer and 32-ton superlink are articulated vehicles. They need a Code EC (Code 14) licence plus PrDP-G.
Not sure which vehicle your licence covers?
Tell us what you’re moving and what’s on your licence card, and our team will match you with the right bakkie, van or truck, or arrange a driver. Call 0861 44 55 44 or request a quote online.
