Can a C1 License Drive All Blue Plate Trucks?

[Donovan]

C1 license does not necessarily allow driving all blue plate trucks. A C1 license can drive trucks up to 4.5 meters in length because the total length of trucks that a C1 license can drive must not exceed 6 meters. If the truck exceeds 6 meters in length, it is considered a large truck, which a C1 license cannot drive. In addition to large trucks, a C1 license also cannot drive tractor trucks, large buses, city buses, medium-sized buses, regular three-wheeled motorcycles, regular two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. The driving scope of a C1 license includes small and micro passenger cars, light and micro trucks, and light, small, and micro special operation vehicles. Small passenger cars must have a seating capacity of 9 or fewer people.

[LaBrayden]

As a seasoned driver, let me share a practical lesson: When I first started freight transport, I also thought C1 blue-plate trucks could be driven freely, but I learned the hard way after getting fined. The key points are: the total mass on the vehicle registration must not exceed 4.5 tons, the load capacity must not exceed 1.5 tons, and the vehicle length must be under 6 meters. My 4.2-meter box truck just meets the limit, but my neighbor's refrigerated truck exceeded the weight limit and couldn't be driven. Also, pay attention to the seating capacity—a buddy driving a logistics vehicle rated for 10 people got checked recently, as C1 licenses only allow up to 9-seaters. I've seen those extended emergency engineering vehicles on the road with blue plates, but even with a C1 license, you can't touch them.

[LaMadeline]

Last month, I researched this issue when helping my uncle choose a car. It's clearly stated in the traffic management app: for a blue-plate truck that a C1 license can drive, it must meet three conditions simultaneously. First, the vehicle type must be light/mini, and the height from the cargo bed floor to the ground cannot exceed 1.5 meters. The double-row mini truck my uncle was interested in, with a load capacity of only 0.8 tons, is permissible, but a dealer had one with raised side panels that didn't comply. Pay special attention to used trucks with modified cargo boxes—last time I saw one with hydraulic rods added to the rear box, and even modifying the vehicle registration wouldn't help. When buying a new truck, choosing a factory-compliant model like the Jianghuai Kangling is the most worry-free option.

[DeCora]

Driving instructors repeatedly emphasize: A blue license plate doesn't mean you can drive anything! I always use that Foton Times light truck as an example when teaching students - you can drive the 5.8-meter version, but must avoid the 6.2-meter one. The most common pitfall is passenger capacity standards in the cab - only trucks marked '2 persons' on the co-driver seat can be driven with a C license, while three-seater trucks require a B license even with blue plates. Construction material haulers should pay special attention - dump trucks generally require at least a B2 license. Last year, a student got 9 points deducted for driving the wrong vehicle, wasting his 5,000 yuan tuition.