4.25 tons with class B driver's license: Regulation and deadlines
As of: September 11, 2026
Alternatively powered commercial vehicles with a permissible gross vehicle weight of up to 4,250 kilograms may be driven with a class B driving license under certain conditions. This regulation accounts for the extra weight of the battery, fuel cell, or gas storage system. Without it, the additional weight of the electric commercial vehicle's drive system would affect either the payload or the required driving license class.
Status in Germany
In Germany, this regulation already exists nationally. The conditions are: holding a class B driver's license for at least two years, use exclusively for freight transport, no trailer operation, and restriction to domestic journeys. This covers vehicles with alternative drivetrains, including battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicles.
New regulations at European level
Directive (EU) 2025/2205 on driving licenses was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on November 5, 2025. It extends driving license class B Europe-wide to alternatively powered vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of up to 4,250 kilograms. This extension applies across borders, for freight and passenger transport, and allows trailer combinations up to 5,000 kilograms; additional training is scheduled for trailer operation. The prerequisite remains holding a class B driving license for at least two years. The regulation applies retroactively to existing driving licenses; exchanging the driving license is not required. The application date is November 26, 2027; national implementation will take place one year prior.
What this means for fleets
As of the application date, the major disadvantage of the 4.25-ton class is eliminated: the restriction to domestic journeys and to freight transport. For operators with cross-border routes, the class will thus become fully usable for the first time. In practical terms, this means: An electric chassis with a maximum permissible gross weight of 4.25 tons can carry around 750 kilograms more total mass than a 3.5-ton vehicle, without the driving personnel requiring a different driving license.
Relation to HEERO Motors
The new generation of the HEERO brand is designed for both weight classes, 3.5 and 4.25 tons. The design for 4.25 tons is the answer to the fundamental problem of electric commercial vehicles: battery weight comes at the expense of payload.
Questions and Answers
Am I allowed to drive a 4.25-ton vehicle with a class B driver's license?
Yes, if the vehicle is alternatively powered and the class B driving license has been held for at least two years. In Germany, this regulation already applies nationally, currently limited to freight transport without trailers and to domestic journeys.
From when does the 4.25-tonne rule apply EU-wide?
Directive (EU) 2025/2205 was published on November 5, 2025; the date of application is November 26, 2027.
Do I need additional training for 4.25 tons?
Not for the vehicle itself. For trailer operation under the new EU regulation, additional training is required.
Do I need to exchange my driver's license?
No. The regulation applies retroactively to existing driver's licenses.
Does the regulation also apply to passenger transport?
According to the new EU directive, yes. The current German regulation is limited to freight transport.
Sources and status
Directive (EU) 2025/2205 on driving licences, Official Journal of the EU of 05.11.2025. Driver Licensing Regulation. Created 11.09.2026. Updated 11.09.2026. Verified 11.09.2026.