Combine Harvester Driving
Do I Need a Licence to Drive a Combine Harvester?
You might think that to drive a larger vehicle, and they don't get much larger than combine harvesters, you would need a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence.
However, in the UK, certain categories of large goods vehicles, including combines, can be driven by holders of a full Category B car drivers licence.
As long as they are driven "primarily off the public road" combine harvesters can be driven and operated with a UK Drivers Licence (Category B) only.
There is one other restriction related to driver's age and the weight of the vehicle to be driven. Drivers over 18 are restricted to vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes.
The modern Combine Harvester has a weight well over the 7.5 tonnes limit, so may only be driven by operators at least 21 years of age or over who hold a current Category B Car Drivers Licence.
Note, these laws apply to the UK only; consult the DVLA website for the latest revisions.
Combine Harvester Driving regulations and licencing laws are not universal and, obviously, vary from country to country; consult your local licensing authority for further information about driving combines and which combine licence you require.
For information on combine training visit our Combine Harvester Training page.