Question about quad bikes

[MattA7]

Do you need a car (cat B) or motorcycle (cat A) license to ride a quad bike. I was having this argument with someone who said it had 4 wheels so requires a car license but I thought common sense would dictate that a motorcycle license is required as it had motorcycle type controls.

does anyone know the answer to this? The DVLA guidelines are quite confusing (as usual)

 

[Nym]

Is quite clear.
Cat B1 up to 400/550kg or Cat B


If it has 4 wheels its a car. Hence all the microcars in the UK having 3 wheels.

Category B1​

You can drive motor vehicles with 4 wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if they’re designed for carrying goods.

Cars​

Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997​

You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

Category B - if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997​

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).

You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg.

You can drive motor tricycles with a power output higher than 15kW if you are over 21 years old.

Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement will also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles.

 

[EssexGonzo]

You also need a hoodie, an unfeasibly small number plate and to ride it mostly on two wheels down the local high street.

They’re called Chav Bikes around here. (Apologies if you’re about to ride one in good faith and in the manner for which it was created).

 

[Gloster]

You also need a hoodie, an unfeasibly small number plate and to ride it mostly on two wheels down the local high street.

Number plate...What’s that?

 

[ABB125]

Apologies for derailing the thread slightly, but, for cars, it says the following:

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).

You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg.

The first paragraph is slightly unclear: does it mean a vehicle up to 3500kg plus a trailer up to 750kg (ie: 4250kg total), or including a trailer up to 750kg? I assume it's the latter, especially when considering the contents of the second paragraph, but you would have thought they could word it more clearly?

As for quad bikes, I went to school in a rural area, and a few children had quad bikes (those whose parents worked for the estate which owned all the surrounding land, villages etc (including the school!), so their children would often be involved/help out with work). I don't know what age you needed to be to drive a quad bike on the road though. Although I believe you can drive a tractor at 16!