Are There Age Restrictions for Obtaining a Large Vehicle Driver's License?
3 Answers
Age requirements for obtaining a large vehicle driver's license are as follows: 1. A1 license: Applicants must be between 26 and 50 years old, hold an A3, B1, or B2 license for at least 5 years or an A2 license for at least 2 years, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in any of the last five scoring cycles before application. 2. A2 license: Applicants must be between 24 and 50 years old, hold a B1 or B2 license for at least 3 years, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in any of the last three scoring cycles before application. 3. A3 license: Applicants must be between 21 and 50 years old, can apply directly, or hold any driver's license for at least 1 year, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the last scoring cycle before application.
As a veteran driving instructor, I've seen many students unable to take the commercial driver's license test due to age restrictions. Commercial licenses are divided into four categories: A1, A2, B1, and B2. For the A1 large bus license, applicants must be between 26 and 60 years old. The A2 tractor-trailer license requires applicants to be 24 to 60 years old. The B1 medium-sized bus license requires applicants to be 21 to 60 years old, while the B2 heavy truck license has the simplest age requirement of at least 20 years old. Why these age limits? Young drivers lack the experience to safely operate large vehicles, while older drivers may have slower reaction times. Last year, I encountered a 19-year-old who wanted to get a heavy truck license but had to settle for a Class C license first. Applicants over 60 are strictly prohibited from testing. The ideal age to get a commercial license is around 25 - when drivers have both physical stamina and maturity. Before registering at the DMV, make sure to bring your ID to verify your age.
I just passed my B2 heavy truck driving test, and I have a deep personal understanding of the age requirements. To get a B2 license, you must be at least 20 years old, and the requirements for driving passenger vehicles are even stricter—for example, a bus license requires you to be at least 26 years old. I was once held back for two months because I was just shy of the age limit and had to wait until after my birthday to apply. Being overage is also an issue—those over 60 years old are outright barred from taking the heavy vehicle test. I remember when I applied, the driving school required my original ID card, and Uncle Wang next door, who was 62, was turned away when he tried to upgrade his license. The age restrictions make sense—heavy truck steering wheels are incredibly stiff, and even as a young and strong person, I was exhausted just practicing reverse parking. I’d advise anyone considering the test to first check the requirements for the specific license they’re aiming for, so they don’t waste time like I did by making unnecessary trips.
