Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. One or more UEs communicating over sidelink may indicate transmit and receive categories to other UEs. A first UE may receive, in a sidelink communication message, an indication of a receive category of a second wireless device. The first UE may then transmit a shared sidelink channel message to the second wireless device based on the receive category of the second wireless device. In another case, a first UE may receive, in a sidelink communication message, an indication of a transmit category of a second wireless device. The first wireless device may then compare the transmit category of the second wireless device with a receive category of the first wireless device. The first wireless device may determine whether to decode a shared sidelink channel message from the second UE based on the comparing.