Can a C1 driver's license operate agricultural vehicles?
2 Answers
No, because agricultural vehicles generally require a C3 driver's license. The specific details are as follows: 1. Driver's license classification: The Ministry of Public Security has further classified the three types of permitted driving models currently endorsed on driver's licenses, namely A license (large buses), B license (large trucks), and C license (small cars), into seven categories based on the driving difficulty and safety requirements of different vehicle models, to enhance the pertinence of management. 2. C license models: The refined C license (small cars) will be specifically divided into four types: C1, C2, C3, and C4. Among them, C1 is for manual transmission small car licenses, C2 is for automatic transmission small car licenses, while C3 and C4 cover small trucks, three-wheeled motorcycles, four-wheeled agricultural transport vehicles, three-wheeled agricultural transport vehicles, and other permitted driving models.
I remember being curious about this when I first got my C1 license. Agricultural vehicles are divided into two types: one is farm machinery like steering wheel tractors and combine harvesters, which absolutely cannot be driven with a C1 license—you need to obtain a specialized G-class license from the agricultural machinery department. The other type is agricultural transport vehicles, such as three-wheeled cars or small four-wheel trucks, and it depends on the specific model. If you see a vehicle with a green 'agricultural plate' and labeled as a 'low-speed cargo vehicle' on the body, a C1 license is indeed sufficient. However, many places have now reclassified agricultural vehicles under regular yellow-plate truck management, which requires at least a B-class license to drive. I recommend checking the 'permitted vehicles' section on the vehicle registration certificate or taking a photo of the license plate and calling 12123 for advice—don’t take the risk. Last time I went back to my hometown to help relatives harvest vegetables, I almost drove the wrong vehicle.
