  a large goods vehicle (also heavy goods vehicle, medium goods vehicle, lgv and hgv), is the european union term for any truck with a gross combination mass (gcm) of over . sub-category n2 is used for vehicles between  and  and n3 for all goods vehicles over  as defined in directive 2001/116/ec. the term medium goods vehicle is used within parts of the uk government to refer to goods vehicles of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes which according to the eu are also 'large goods vehicles'. commercial carrier vehicles of under  are referred to as light commercial vehicles and come into category n1. confusingly though, parts of the uk government refer to these as 'light goods vehicles' (also abbreviated 'lgv'), with the term 'lgv' appearing on tax disks for these smaller vehicles. tax discs use the term 'hgv' for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. ==driver's licensing== ===european union=== it is necessary to have an appropriate european driving licence to drive a large goods vehicle in the european union. there are four categories: *category c1 allows the holder to drive a large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (gross vehicle weight) of up to  with a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of up to . this licence can be obtained at 18 years of age and is the replacement for the hgv class 3 in the uk [the old hgv class 3 being any two-axle goods vehicle over ]. *category c1+e allows the holder to drive a large goods vehicle with a maximum
Trucks