B96 Code or B+E License? Warsaw Driving School „Lauto” Weighs the Pros and Cons of Both Options for Towing a Trailer
Leszek and Stefan were friends who grew up together in the Bemowo district. Both men completed their course at the same Warsaw driving school and passed their category B exam on the first try. Both started families and came up with the idea of getting trailer-towing qualifications. They simply wanted to take their loved ones on a dream vacation.
However, a category B license turned out to be insufficient for driving with a camping trailer or a camper van. It only permits towing a light trailer with a car whose gross vehicle weight (GVW) does not exceed 3.5 tonnes (with the exception of motorcycles and buses).
It’s worth noting that GVW is not the same as actual weight. It’s simply the sum of the vehicle’s curb weight (ready to drive) and its maximum possible load. You can find the GVW value in section F.2 of the vehicle registration certificate.
Since camping trailers aren’t classified as light vehicles — typically exceeding 750 kg GVW — the entire combination (car plus camping trailer) would most likely exceed the 3.5-tonne GVW limit allowed under a category B license.
So both drivers needed to obtain additional qualifications. What remained to be decided was whether they’d choose the B+E category or the B96 code.
Step 1: Choosing a Trailer Category. Warsaw Driving School Points Out the Pros and Cons of B+E License and B96 Code
Although the two friends were so alike, there was one fundamental difference between them. Leszek was guided by cunning in life, while Stefan was guided by reason. That’s why one of them decided to get the B96 code, and the other went for the B+E category.
Which category did each driver choose?
B96 Code. Leszek chose this option because he wanted to save time and money. Besides, his family’s enthusiasm for camping adventures was fading as the trip approached. With this option, he didn’t need to take a course at a driving school (OSK), pass an internal exam there, or undergo a medical examination. Theoretically, all he needed to do was sit the exam at a WORD (regional driving test center) without having to complete a course at an OSK — significantly speeding up the entire process of obtaining trailer qualifications.
B+E License. Stefan chose this category because, unlike the previous option, it offered greater possibilities in terms of GVW. Here, the limit isn’t 4,250 kg for the entire combination’s GVW (as with the B96 code), but 7,000 kg. This means that neither the car nor the trailer can exceed 3.5 tonnes GVW individually. Additionally, this license also grants qualifications for agricultural tractors and slow-moving vehicles with one or more trailers, which isn’t covered by the B96 code.
Step 2: Driving School Course. Warsaw Driving School Explains How the 2026 Trailer Training Works and What It Costs
The drivers began training at a driving school (OSK), which wasn’t mandatory for one of them.
How did the trailer training go?
B96 Code. Although he theoretically didn’t have to, Leszek purchased two hours of driving lessons before the exam to learn how to reverse with a trailer and familiarize himself with the WORD evaluation criteria. His total cost came to 400 PLN (200 PLN per hour of driving).
B+E License. Meanwhile, Stefan had to complete training at an OSK. This mandatorily included a minimum of 15 hours, which came to 2,700 PLN. This amount included an additional hour during which the center conducted an internal exam. However, this number of lessons wasn’t sufficient. The driver had to purchase several additional hours, which cost him 800 PLN. On top of that, he paid for a medical examination (200 PLN). In the end, his total came to 3,700 PLN.
Step 3: The WORD Exam. Warsaw Driving School Reveals the Cost and Process in 2026
Due to the simplified procedure, Leszek was the first to take the exam at the Warsaw WORD, driving a Citroën with a Neptun trailer. Stefan, on the other hand, could only do so after completing the mandatory course and passing the internal exam at the OSK.
How did the WORD exam go?
B96 Code. Leszek obtained his Candidate Driver Profile (PKK) at the communications department, then paid the exam fee (288 PLN) and scheduled a specific date. When he took the exam, he was very confident. He thought it was just a formality. He soon discovered he was wrong. He failed the exam while reversing on a curve, hitting a cone. The driver had to go back to the OSK to log more hours behind the wheel. As it turned out, he ended up completing almost as many driving hours as Stefan. So his total training cost, including the additional exam, ended up being the same as the cost of the B+E category course.
B+E License. Stefan also obtained his profile and paid the fee (288 PLN), but his confidence stemmed from having logged a sufficient number of driving hours. That’s why he performed the reverse-on-a-curve maneuver perfectly, followed by perpendicular parking (forward entry, reverse exit) and starting off on an incline. He also handled driving in traffic excellently. He passed the exam on his first attempt.
Step 4: Driving with a Trailer on Polish and Foreign Roads. Warsaw Driving School Assesses What’s Better: B96 Code or B+E License
Obtaining the B96 and B+E categories allowed the friends to purchase camping trailers. That summer, they took their families on a dream vacation. They first traveled to Georgia, then stopped in Croatia on the way back.
A year passed, and once again the idea came up for a joint family road trip vacation. This time, they decided to trade in their cars for newer models and purchase more modern camping trailers so the trip could proceed in more comfortable conditions.
What’s better: B96 code or B+E license?
B96 Code. Swapping the car and trailer turned out to be a self-inflicted setback for Leszek. Since newer models tend to be larger, their dimensions exceeded the 4,250 kg GVW limit. This meant Leszek had to take a course for the B+E category to obtain qualifications to drive this combination.
B+E License. Meanwhile, Stefan happily embraced the change of car and trailer. As it turned out, the B+E license gave him the ability to drive this new combination without needing any additional qualifications. So the driver eagerly awaited his vacation to take his family on the road.
Summary: Warsaw Driving School Explains Why It’s Worth Choosing B+E License Over B96 Code
In the end, Leszek took the course for category B+E and passed the exam at the WORD. Fortunately, he managed to finish before the vacation. However, when he calculated how much this all cost him, he lost his appetite for the trip. He was in a foul mood throughout the entire vacation.
He simply regretted not getting the B+E license right away, and instead — hoping to save time and money — chose the B96 code. As it turned out, he still had to complete the mandatory 15 hours at the driving school, pass the internal exam there, and pay for the exam at the Warsaw WORD. Because of this poor decision, he ended up spending twice as much on trailer-towing qualifications as Stefan did.

