Can an A2 license holder drive an A3 vehicle?
2 Answers
A2 is a tractor driving license and does not permit driving A3 city buses. To drive city buses, one needs to apply for an additional license, either A3 or A1. The resulting license type would be A2A3 or A1A2. Regulations for applying for an additional license: If you already hold a motor vehicle driving license and wish to add a permitted vehicle type, you must not have any full-score records in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle prior to the application. For A2 license holders applying to add an A3 license, they must have no full-score (12 points) record in the previous scoring cycle, no full-score record in the current scoring cycle at the time of application, and be between 21 and 50 years old. Permitted vehicle types: Permitted vehicle types for A2 include: heavy and medium-sized full trailers, semi-trailer combinations, medium-sized passenger vehicles (including city buses with a capacity of 10-19 people), large trucks, and small cars, among others. Permitted vehicle types for A3 include: city buses with a capacity of 10 or more people, small cars, etc. (but not large passenger buses).
I have driven various types of vehicles before and am quite familiar with different driver's license categories. Holders of an A2 license cannot directly drive A3 vehicles. The A2 license is primarily for operating heavy trailers, like those used for hauling cargo, while the A3 license is specifically designed for city buses. The operational differences between the two are significant—trucks emphasize load-bearing and reversing, whereas buses focus more on passenger safety and station stops. Regulations strictly prohibit driving across license types, which is considered unlicensed driving. If caught by traffic police, penalties may include point deductions, fines, or even license revocation. I once encountered a colleague who tried driving a bus without the proper license and ended up in a minor accident, regretting not upgrading their license. For A2 license holders interested in driving buses, I recommend enrolling in an A3 license upgrade program at a driving school first. The process includes a theory exam and practical bus-driving training, usually taking about two to three months. Safe driving should always come first—don’t risk it to save money or time.
