Can a C1 license drive a 9-seater blue-plate vehicle?
2 Answers
9-seater blue-plate vehicles can be driven with a C1 license. Below are the relevant details about the vehicle types permitted with a C1 license: 1. C1-permitted vehicle types: A C1 driver's license allows driving micro/small passenger vehicles (including sedans, SUVs, and MPVs) with 9 seats or fewer and a length under 6 meters; light/micro cargo vehicles with a total weight under 4500KG (including 4500KG), length under 6 meters (including 6 meters), and approved load capacity under 1500KG (including 1500KG); and light/small/micro special operation vehicles (such as pickup trucks); both manual and automatic transmissions are allowed for the above. 2. C1-compatible vehicle types: C2 small automatic transmission vehicles, as well as C3 low-speed cargo vehicles and C4 three-wheeled vehicles.
I'm a big car enthusiast and usually enjoy studying vehicle regulations. A C1 driver's license indeed allows driving 9-seater blue-plate vehicles. Blue plates represent small passenger vehicles - those with 9 seats or fewer, under 6 meters in length, and weighing less than 4.5 tons fall under C1 license coverage. I've personally driven 9-seater business vans without issues. But remember the seat count includes the driver's seat, and you must confirm the factory design is for 9 seats - no overloading or aftermarket seat additions. When purchasing, check the vehicle identification plate or manual, and ensure all documents are complete for road inspections. Many common vans on the road like Jinbei are 9-seaters that C1 license holders can drive. I recommend beginners start practicing with 7-seaters first to get familiar with larger vehicle handling - safety comes first.
