Can a C1 driver's license be used to ride an electric bike?
3 Answers
C1 driver's license cannot be used to ride an electric bike. The details are as follows: Vehicles allowed to drive: small and mini passenger cars, light and mini cargo trucks; light, small, and mini special operation vehicles; small and mini automatic transmission passenger cars and light, mini automatic transmission cargo trucks; low-speed cargo trucks (formerly four-wheel agricultural transport vehicles; formerly three-wheel agricultural transport vehicles). Penalty: Riding an electric bike will result in a 12-point deduction from the C1 driver's license. According to Article 19 of the Road Traffic Safety Law: A driver's license is issued by the traffic management department of the public security authority after passing the test. Drivers must operate motor vehicles according to the vehicle types specified on their driver's license. Driving a motor vehicle that does not match the vehicle type specified on the driver's license is considered unlicensed driving in nature; in terms of penalties, based on the principle of matching penalties to offenses, appropriate leniency may be applied according to the penalties for driving without a license.
I was also curious about this before and specifically looked up the regulations. A C1 driver's license is for driving cars, but riding an electric vehicle depends on the model. For the new national standard electric bicycles, which have pedals and a speed not exceeding 25 km/h, these are considered non-motor vehicles and do not require a license. However, for those over-the-limit electric motorcycles that exceed 25 km/h or lack pedals, they are classified as motorcycles in the eyes of traffic police. Riding these requires a D, E, or F license. Using a C1 license to ride them is considered unlicensed driving, and if caught, the vehicle may be impounded, and fines could be imposed. It's recommended to carefully check the classification on the vehicle's certificate of conformity when purchasing.
A friend just got fined for this and wanted to share his experience: Regular electric bicycles with pedals, even with temporary plates, can be ridden freely with a C1 driver's license. However, if your bike looks like a motorcycle, goes fast, or can carry passengers, it's likely classified as a motor vehicle. Last time, he was stopped riding an electric bike without pedals because the vehicle certification stated it was an electric moped, resulting in 9 points deducted from his C1 license. The traffic police reminded that when buying an electric vehicle, you should check the vehicle conformity certificate—only those labeled 'electric bicycle' are acceptable, while those labeled 'motorcycle' require an additional license.
