Can a C1 driver's license be used to drive a blue-plate truck?
2 Answers
Holders of a C1 driver's license can drive blue-plate trucks, which include trucks with a total mass below 4500KG (excluding), vehicles seating 9 people or fewer, and vehicles with a body length under 6 meters (excluding). Permitted vehicle types: The C1 driver's license allows driving small and mini passenger vehicles, light and mini cargo trucks, and light, small, and mini special-purpose vehicles. Small passenger vehicles must seat 9 people or fewer. C1 driver's license holders cannot drive: large buses, tractors, city buses, medium buses, large trucks, regular three-wheel motorcycles, regular two-wheel motorcycles, mopeds, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. Additionally, C1 license holders cannot drive vehicles with more than 9 seats or trucks exceeding 6 meters in total length. What type of transmission is C1: C1 is for manual transmission.
As an ordinary car owner with over a decade of driving experience, I have a decent understanding of driver's license usage scope. A C1 license does allow driving blue-plate trucks, but three key conditions must be met: First, the truck's gross weight must not exceed 4.5 tons—this number is crucial to remember; second, the overall vehicle length should be within 6 meters, which most common small box trucks satisfy; and finally, the load capacity cannot exceed 1.5 tons. Last time I helped a friend move, I drove such a truck and noticed the DMV had labeled it as 'light-duty flatbed truck' during registration. However, I must remind new drivers to pay special attention: if the truck's cargo compartment is modified or extended beyond limits, or if purchasing a used truck without verifying parameters, a B2 license might be required. It's best to always check the vehicle type on the registration certificate before each trip to avoid a 12-point penalty for driving without proper license authorization.
