Can an A1 license holder drive an A2 vehicle?

[LeRichard]

No. The permitted vehicle types for an A1 license include: large buses with more than 20 passengers, as well as passenger vehicles with a body length exceeding 6 meters, which also require an A1 license. Other vehicle types permitted under an A1 license are: A3 (city buses), B1 (medium-sized buses), B2 (large trucks), C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). According to the appendix of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," the driving license classification standards include 16 categories: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, D, E, F, M, N, P. The Ministry of Public Security issued the "Regulations" to further subdivide driving licenses into 15 categories, with new licenses to be replaced during annual inspections or reviews. C1 license: Many people think a C1 license only allows driving small vehicles with fewer than 7 seats. However, C1 license holders can drive small vehicles with up to 9 seats and a body length not exceeding 6 meters, such as Jinbei and Ruifeng models, as long as the seat count does not exceed 9 and the body length is under 6 meters. Other permitted vehicle types under a C1 license are C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), and C4 (three-wheeled vehicles). C2 license: The C2 license is also a common one, allowing the holder to drive automatic transmission cars with up to 9 seats and a body length not exceeding 6 meters. Note that C2 license holders cannot drive manual transmission vehicles. B1 license: The B1 license permits driving medium-sized buses, defined as vehicles not exceeding 6 meters in length with a rated passenger capacity of 10 (inclusive) to 19 (inclusive). Other permitted vehicle types are C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). B1 licenses do not include B2 vehicles. B2 license: The B2 license allows driving heavy or medium-sized trucks or large, heavy, or medium-sized specialized operation vehicles. Heavy and medium-sized trucks are mainly freight vehicles, such as the large trucks commonly seen carrying construction debris. Other permitted vehicle types under a B2 license are C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery), which is the same as the B1 license. A2 license: The A2 license permits driving tractor-trailers, which can only be driven by holders of an A2 license—even A1 license holders cannot drive them. Other permitted vehicle types under an A2 license are B1 (medium-sized buses), B2 (large trucks), C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). A3 license: The A3 license is somewhat unique, as it permits driving city buses, which are commonly used by the public. Other permitted vehicle types are C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), and C4 (three-wheeled vehicles). However, A3 license holders cannot drive B1 or B2 vehicles. Although buses and large passenger vehicles may look similar, and some buses are even longer, A3 license holders cannot drive large passenger vehicles. The above 16 driving license categories are classified based on the driving difficulty and safety requirements of different vehicle types. They further subdivide the existing A (large buses), B (large trucks), and C (small cars) licenses, adding D, E, F, M, N, and P levels. Under the new regulations, first-time applicants for a driving license cannot apply for an A1 (large bus) license. The eligible vehicle types for first-time applicants are city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled vehicles, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. For first-time applicants in temporary residence areas, only C-series licenses (small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, and three-wheeled vehicles) are available—motorcycle licenses are not eligible. Holders of the newly added D license can drive ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml or a maximum design speed exceeding 50km/h. E license holders can drive ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml or a maximum design speed exceeding 50km/h. F license holders can drive light motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50ml or less and a maximum design speed of 50km/h or less. M license holders can drive wheeled self-propelled machinery, N license holders can drive trolleybuses, and P license holders can drive trams.