Tractor driving license: categories, requirements, costs

Although tractors are most commonly associated with agriculture, today they are used much more widely—in forestry, construction, road maintenance, and other specialized fields. Therefore, more and more people are interested in what licenses are required to drive a tractor, what the tractor driver categories are, and at what age one can start learning.

Not everyone knows that in Lithuania there are several different categories of tractors and self-propelled machines, each granting the right to drive a specific type of equipment. It is also important to understand when a B or higher category driver's license is sufficient and when additional tractor driver qualification is necessary.

In this article, we will discuss all the main tractor categories, their requirements, age restrictions, training costs, the procedure for issuing and renewing licenses, and other important information worth knowing before starting to learn or work with agricultural and specialized machinery.

TR1 Category

The TR1 category is the primary category granting tractor driver qualification. The TR1 category is valuable as it develops driving skills that will be useful in the future for learning to drive other vehicles.

What can you drive with a TR1 category?

With a TR1 category, you are entitled to drive wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors with an engine power of up to 60 kW, as well as tracked tractors and tractor combinations with trailers, agricultural machinery, and tractors with mounted mechanisms (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, etc.)

Can you drive a moped with a TR1 category?

No, a tractor or self-propelled machinery driver's license does not grant the right to drive AM category vehicles. For that, you need to have the AM category itself or any category higher than AM (A, B, C, D).

At what age can you start learning the TR1 category?

The right to learn to drive TR1 category tractors is granted to individuals not younger than 15 years (without the right to drive on roads until they turn 16).

TR1 Category – Cost

Obtaining a TR1 category license costs 60–75 EUR. The state may compensate for training and provide additional compensations during the learning period.

TR2 Category

The TR2 category differs from the TR1 category in that with the TR2 category, you can drive more powerful tractors of 60 kW or more. To obtain the TR2 category, a minimum education level is required: basic education and TR1 tractor driver qualification.

What can you drive with a TR2 category?

With a TR2 category, you can drive wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors with an engine power of 60 kW or more, tracked tractors, and tractor combinations with trailers, agricultural machinery, and tractors with mounted mechanisms (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, etc.)

At what age can you start learning the TR2 category?

Individuals can start learning and taking the TR2 category from 17 years old.

Tractor License – Cost (A2 Category)

Obtaining a TR1 category license costs 60–75 EUR. The state may compensate for training and provide additional compensations during the learning period.

SZ Category

The SZ category allows driving self-propelled agricultural machines. When attending a driving school to obtain the SZ category, you must have not only an identity card or passport and a driver's medical certificate but also a TR1 category tractor driver license.

What can you drive with an SZ category?

The SZ category includes self-propelled agricultural machines (grain, sugar beet, potato, forage, and other self-propelled combines, self-propelled mowers), so you would be able to drive them after completing the SZ category courses.

At what age can you start learning the SZ category?

Individuals can take the SZ category from 17 years old.

SZ Category Cost

Obtaining an SZ category license costs 60–75 EUR. The state may compensate for training and provide additional compensations during the learning period.

SM Category

The SM category allows driving non-agricultural machinery. To obtain this category, you must also have a TR1 category tractor driver license.

What can you drive with an SM category?

The SM category includes non-agricultural machinery, i.e., special earth-moving, transportation, land reclamation, forestry, road construction, and maintenance machines, and others not belonging to the self-propelled agricultural machinery category.

At what age can you start learning the SM category?

Individuals can take the SM category from 17 years old.

SM Category Cost

Obtaining an SM category license costs 60–75 EUR. The state may compensate for training and provide additional compensations during the learning period.

“Regitra” Tractor License

There is no need to take tractor license exams at “Regitra”, meaning there is no need to take practical or theoretical tractor license exams at “Regitra.” You can obtain a tractor license simply at any driving school that trains TR category drivers. This applies to all four tractor categories—TR1, TR2, SZ, SM.

Who Can Drive a Tractor?

The rules for training tractor and self-propelled machinery drivers and obtaining the right to drive these vehicles state that motor vehicle driver's licenses granting the right to drive C1, C, C1E, CE, D, D1, DE, or D1E category motor vehicles also grant the right to drive TR1, TR2 category tractors and SZ category self-propelled agricultural machines. Those with the right to drive B category vehicles gain the right to drive TR1 category tractors. 

Individuals with the appropriate category driver's licenses who wish to drive tractors or self-propelled agricultural machines do not need a separate tractor driver license. Those with B category driver's licenses can drive tractors with an engine power of up to 60 kW. Individuals with a higher than B driver's category have the right to drive all categories of tractors, regardless of their power, and all self-propelled agricultural machines: grain and other combines, self-propelled sprayers, loaders.

Tractor License – Renewal

A tractor driver license needs to be renewed if:

• Your previous tractor driver license has expired;

• The license is no longer usable—worn out, damaged, lost;

• Personal data has changed (surname, name);

• The person has gained the right to drive other categories of tractors and self-propelled machines than those previously indicated on the tractor driver license.

Documents required for renewing a tractor driver license:

• Identity card or passport;

• Driver's medical certificate (with a note that you can drive tractors);

• 1 photo (3×4 format);

• Old tractor driver license (original). If the tractor driver license is lost, then have the old TR1 TR2 SZ SM tractor driver or excavator driver training or course completion certificate.

You can renew your tractor driver license at driving schools or relevant educational institutions that issue tractor licenses. If a tractor driver license is lost for one year or more, a qualification exam must be retaken.

Tractor License Renewal – Cost

Renewing a tractor driver license costs about 35 EUR.