CACES 1 3 5: how much does training cost in 2026?

Expect between €700 and €1,100 excl. VAT per category for initial CACES R489 training (category 1, 3 or 5), and between €450 and €750 excl. VAT for a refresher, over 3 to 5 days (source: caces.fr). The “CACES 1 3 5” package, which combines pallet truck/ride-on order picker, front-loading truck and reach truck, is the classic loss-leader product for training providers. What remains is who pays: employer, OPCO, CPF or France Travail depending on your situation.

Direct answer: the CACES 1 3 5 price at a glance

CACES R489 is billed by category, not as a single flat fee. Each category — 1 (pallet truck and order picker, ride-on), 3 (front-loading truck up to 6 t) or 5 (reach truck) — follows the same range: €700 to €1,100 excl. VAT for initial training, €450 to €750 excl. VAT for a refresher (source: caces.fr, asap.work).

The well-known “1 3 5 package” is not a separate rate with a single public price: it's a commercial bundling of three courses, sold by most providers as a loss-leader product. Adding up the three categories taken separately, the theoretical range therefore sits around €2,100 to €3,300 excl. VAT for a complete set of initial training, with providers generally applying a discount on the package compared with three courses bought individually, though no single figure is publicly standardised.

CACES 1 3 5 price table by category

Source: caces.fr, asap.work. The available data does not document a price grid per training provider (AFTRAL, ECF, etc.): these figures remain market ballpark estimates, to be confirmed with local quotes.

For comparison, an R485 category (accompanying stacker) is significantly cheaper: from €250, with a usual range of €350 to €600 excl. VAT, since the syllabus is shorter (2 to 3 days).

What do categories 1, 3 and 5 of CACES R489 cover?

The “1 3 5” trio isn't chosen at random: it matches the three most sought-after driving profiles in warehouses and industry.

• Category 1: ride-on pallet trucks and order pickers, with a lift height up to 1.20 m (1A) or beyond (1B). This is the entry level for handling pallets on the ground or picking orders at limited height.
• Category 3: front-loading trucks up to 6 tonnes, the most requested category on the market (source: csi-formation.com). This is the “forklift” in the most common sense of the term, for loading/unloading trucks and moving around a warehouse.
• Category 5: reach trucks, used for high-level rack storage in narrow aisles.

Bringing these three categories together lets a single operator cover most of the handling positions in a typical warehouse, which explains the commercial appeal of the package for both training providers and employers recruiting versatile forklift operators.

Duration of a CACES 1 3 5 training course

Initial CACES R489 training, category by category, generally lasts 3 to 5 days (source: caces.fr), depending on the candidate's level (novice or already experienced on that type of truck) and the training centre. For a package of three categories, the total duration adds up in practice, sometimes with some pooling of the shared theoretical core from one category to another, depending on the provider.

The available data does not specify a particular duration for the refresher course: it is structurally shorter than initial training, since it only revalidates skills already acquired rather than teaching them from scratch.

Who pays for CACES 1 3 5 training: employer, OPCO, CPF, France Travail?

Three main funding routes exist for CACES training, none of which is free by default.

• The employer, via its OPCO. This is the most common case for an employee already in post: the company funds the training as part of its skills development plan, with possible support from its skills operator (OPCO).
• The CPF (Personal Training Account). CACES is eligible for CPF funding, with an out-of-pocket cost of around €100 for the account holder (source: caces.fr). This is an option for an employee using their personal training rights, alone or alongside employer funding.
• France Travail, via the AIF. For a jobseeker, France Travail's Individual Training Aid (AIF) can cover all or part of the cost, as part of a return-to-work approach for skills-shortage occupations such as forklift operator.

The choice of funder therefore depends on the candidate's status: employee in post, employee in career transition, or jobseeker. In every case, it's best to confirm eligibility and the amount covered directly with the provider or funder before committing.

Validity and refresher training: when to retake the CACES?

CACES R489 is valid for 5 years, like recommendations R484, R485 and R486; only R482 (construction equipment) has a 10-year validity period (source: preventionbtp.fr). After this period, the operator must retake refresher training to keep driving legitimately, under a valid driving authorisation.

A refresher costs less than initial training — €450 to €750 excl. VAT per category versus €700 to €1,100 excl. VAT — because it revalidates skills already mastered rather than teaching them from scratch. For an operator holding the “1 3 5” package, the refresher is paid for and scheduled category by category, each with its own 5-year expiry date if the initial courses weren't taken on the same day.

Initial training vs. refresher: what are the differences?

Don't confuse a refresher with retraining after an accident or a long break from driving: in that case, the employer may require additional training before renewing the driving authorisation, even if the CACES is technically still valid.

FAQ

How much does the CACES 1 3 5 cost in total?

Adding up the three R489 categories taken separately as initial training, expect around €2,100 to €3,300 excl. VAT, based on €700 to €1,100 excl. VAT per category (source: caces.fr). Training providers often bundle this trio into a package with a commercial discount, though there is no single, publicly documented price.

Who pays for CACES training at a company?

Most often, the employer funds the training through its skills development plan, with support from its OPCO. An employee can also use their CPF (Personal Training Account), with an out-of-pocket cost of around €100, and a jobseeker can apply for France Travail's AIF depending on their career plan and skills-shortage occupations.

What is the difference between CACES 3 and CACES 5?

Category 3 covers front-loading trucks up to 6 tonnes, the most common format for loading and unloading trucks or moving around a warehouse. Category 5 covers reach trucks, dedicated to high-level storage in narrow aisles. These are two distinct uses, often combined in the same versatile forklift operator.

How much does a CACES refresher cost?

A refresher for one CACES R489 category costs between €450 and €750 excl. VAT (source: caces.fr), versus €700 to €1,100 excl. VAT for initial training. It must be completed before the 5-year validity period expires so the operator keeps a valid driving authorisation, with no interruption to their work.

Is CACES eligible for CPF funding?

Yes, CACES is eligible for the Personal Training Account (CPF), with an out-of-pocket cost of around €100 for the account holder (source: caces.fr). It's a complementary or alternative option to employer funding via the OPCO, useful in particular for an employee who wants to add categories on their own.

Related reading

• CACES R489: the guide to the 9 categories, a complete overview of CACES truck categories, uses and validity periods.
• Can you drive a forklift without CACES?, what the regulations really say about the driving authorisation.
• Do you need a CACES certificate for an electric or autonomous pallet truck?, the special case of pallet trucks, manual, accompanying and autonomous.
• Forklift operator salary: pay scale by experience, region and bonuses, what a CACES actually earns you once on the job.
• Forklift price: new, used, rental, the equipment budget to weigh against the training budget.

For some pallet flows, part of the training budget can be redirected toward automation. The autonomous pallet truck, an autonomous pallet truck distributed in France by Easy to Carry, takes over moving pallets with no ride-on operator, while your trained forklift operators focus on higher value-added tasks. Discover the robot or request the free site pre-assessment to evaluate what, in your warehouse, could shift to automation.