Most new drivers in Ghana need class B, which DVLA's online portal describes as cars, cross-country vehicles, minibuses and pick-ups up to 5,000 kg; class A covers motorcycles, and class E covers agricultural, earth-moving and industrial equipment such as tractors and forklifts. DVLA's current fee list prices new licences for the classes A, B, E, AB, AE, BE and ABE, and its services page sets a minimum age of 18 for A and B and 21 for E. The heavier classes C, D and F are defined on the same portal but are not priced as new licences, so check with DVLA how to reach them.
What DVLA itself shows
DVLA's services page says applicants for classes A and B must be at least 18 and applicants for class E at least 21. DVLA's online fee portal, checked in October 2026, then prices a new licence for seven combinations: A, B, E, AB, AE, BE and ABE. In other words, you can hold several classes on one licence, and the price rises with each one added.
| Class | DVLA portal description | Minimum age on DVLA's services page |
|---|---|---|
| A | Motorcycles, with or without sidecar | 18 |
| B | Cars, cross-country vehicles, minibuses and pick-ups up to 5,000 kg (1 to 15 passengers) | 18 |
| C | Buses and medium goods vehicles up to 10,000 kg | Not stated |
| D | Buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles up to 35,000 kg | Not stated |
| E | Agricultural, earth-moving and industrial equipment: tractors, bulldozers, loaders, forklifts, combine harvesters | 21 |
| F | Articulated and rigid heavy goods vehicles above 35,000 kg | Not stated |
The descriptions come from the licence class list on DVLA's online payment portal, checked in October 2026. Some study guides place class E among the heavy commercial categories, but DVLA's own definition is plant and farm equipment, so go by DVLA rather than a study guide.
The heavier classes: C, D and F
An April 2026 explainer from Citi Newsroom said Class B is the private passenger car licence with a minimum age of 18, and that classes C, D and F cover heavy-duty and commercial vehicles with a minimum age of 25. That fits DVLA's portal, which defines C, D and F as the bus, coach and heavy goods classes, although its fee list does not price them as new licences, which suggests they are reached by upgrading. In September 2026 the Transport Minister was reported as saying the minimum age had been lowered from 25 to 21, a change earlier reporting linked to commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders. Whether the age for classes C, D and F has also changed is not confirmed in public sources. If you need a heavy or commercial licence, ask DVLA for the current class and age limit in writing or on your invoice before you pay for training.
Choosing the right class
- Everyday car driving: class B is the usual answer.
- Motorbike or scooter: class A. Commercial riders need more; see below.
- Both a car and a bike: the combined AB class costs less than paying for two licences separately.
- Towing, heavy equipment or large vehicles: class E covers farm, earth-moving and industrial equipment, while buses and heavy goods vehicles fall under C, D or F. For towing, ask DVLA which class applies.
The licence class must match the vehicle at every stage. Training, the in-traffic test and insurance all depend on it, so avoid registering for a class you do not actually plan to use. The process for a first licence is described in our step-by-step guide.
Cost by class
On Regular service in October 2026, a new licence cost GHS 594.25 for class A, GHS 642.25 for class B and GHS 715.25 for class E, with combinations running from GHS 788.25 (AB or BE) to GHS 953.25 (ABE). Adding a class at the start is cheaper than adding it later: the separate additional-class service was GHS 619.25 on its own. The fees page has the full table, including Premium prices, but the amount on your own invoice is the one that counts.
Adding or upgrading a class later
DVLA's services page lists an upgrading service for drivers who already hold a Ghanaian licence. The listed requirements are a valid licence held for at least two years, a completed form and an invoice, followed by a theory test and an in-traffic test. Under the 2026 regulations, a GHANADRIVE statement cited a requirement for proof of an upgrading programme from a certified institution as well. DVLA's fee list prices upgrading at GHS 610.25 and adding a class at GHS 619.25 on Regular service, as of October 2026. Moving from a car to a heavy vehicle is a bigger step than the fee suggests, so budget for proper training.
Commercial motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles
The 2026 regulations require a commercial rider's licence for riding for hire; the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) says registration through unions and companies applies from January 2027. Reports on the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) say regulation 164 prohibits commercial use of a motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle without a valid commercial rider's licence from DVLA, and commentary on the next regulation lists a minimum age of 21 and membership of a commercial transport organisation among the conditions. A Ghana News Agency report in August 2026 described NRSA sessions with riders as part of a six-month transition period for educating operators. On 30 September 2026 the NRSA's Director-General, Abraham Amaliba, said riders will have to belong to a registered union or company before they can be licensed, with the system launching in the last quarter of 2026, as reported by MyJoyOnline. In late September 2026 the driving schools' association said it was ready to train commercial riders but was waiting for DVLA to certify institutions to do so. Anyone planning to ride for hire should check the current position with DVLA rather than rely on word of mouth.
Identity documents
Whatever the class, DVLA's process starts from a Ghana Card for citizens. Foreign residents follow the conversion route described in our page on foreign licence conversion. Keep the same name and details on every document, since mismatches slow down the record check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which licence class do I need for a normal car?
Class B, which DVLA lists with a minimum age of 18. DVLA's online portal describes it as cars, cross-country vehicles, minibuses and pick-ups up to 5,000 kg.
Can I hold more than one class on the same licence?
Yes. DVLA's fee list prices combinations such as AB, BE, AE and ABE, so classes can be held together.
What is class E?
DVLA's online portal defines class E as agricultural, earth-moving and industrial equipment, such as tractors, bulldozers, loaders, forklifts and combine harvesters. DVLA's services page gives a minimum age of 21.
Did the minimum driving age change in 2026?
The Transport Minister was reported in September 2026 as saying the minimum age was lowered from 25 to 21. Earlier reporting linked that change to commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders, and the age for classes C, D and F is unconfirmed. DVLA still lists 18 for classes A and B, so check your class with DVLA.
How do I add a class later?
Use DVLA's upgrading or additional-class service. It involves an invoice, tests and, according to the 2026 regulations as reported, proof of an upgrading programme.