The full list of classes FRSC issues
FRSC sorts every vehicle type into a licence class before it issues a card. The full set is A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J. Which ones belong on your card depends on what you actually drive, not on how long you've been driving.
Your licence can show more than one class, so a driver who owns both a car and a motorcycle doesn't need two separate cards.
What each letter actually covers
FRSC's own FAQ gives worked examples for the three classes people ask about most. Class A is a motorcycle. Class B is a private motor vehicle, the class most car owners hold. Class E is a commercial motor vehicle, the class commercial drivers need.
The letters in between and beyond those three cover other vehicle types, graded broadly by size and use rather than by make or engine capacity. If you're unsure which one applies to a vehicle you don't drive every day, ask at a Driver's Licence Centre before you apply, rather than guess and pay for the wrong class.
The classes most private drivers need
If you only drive your own car, class B is the one class you need on your card. Add class A as well if you also ride a motorcycle or a tricycle. Very few private drivers ever need anything beyond A and B, since the higher classes exist mainly for commercial work.
Where commercial classes fit in
Class E covers commercial motor vehicles, and the classes near it cover other commercial and heavier vehicle types. Getting one of these classes takes more than filling the standard form. FRSC also asks for a medical certificate, and the application starts at a Driver's Licence Centre rather than from the portal's home page. Our guide to getting a commercial driver's licence covers each requirement in full.
How many classes you can hold
A licence isn't limited to a single class. FRSC allows up to three classes on one card, though a first-time applicant can only choose two when they first apply. Adding a class after that is treated as an upgrade, done through the renewal or re-issue route rather than a fresh application. Our explainer on the class limit covers exactly how that works.
Picking the right class before you apply
Choose based on what you drive today, not what you might drive one day. If your plans change, adding a class later is straightforward, so there's little to gain from applying for one you don't yet need.
Remember that FRSC bills each class separately, so a car-and-motorcycle combination costs more than either class alone. If you're renewing an existing licence, check which classes are already printed on your current card before you start, so you don't pay twice for one you already hold.
For the full application and renewal process, see our guide to renewing a driver's licence. For more licence and vehicle topics, visit the licences and vehicles hub.