Can an A3 driver's license drive a C1 vehicle?
2 Answers
A3 driver's license can drive C1 vehicles. Relevant information: According to Order No. 123 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": A3 driver's license permitted vehicle types: city buses. Permitted vehicles: city buses with a capacity of 10 or more people. Other permitted vehicle types: C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (agricultural four-wheel vehicles), C4 (agricultural three-wheel vehicles). Application requirements: To apply for city buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or tram permitted vehicle types, applicants must be between 20 and 50 years old; to apply for medium-sized passenger vehicle permitted vehicle types, applicants must be between 21 and 50 years old.
As a former bus driver, I can confidently say that an A3 license allows you to drive passenger cars. Driving a bus daily with an A3 license, which permits operating both buses and cars, our training was far more rigorous than C1—covering various road conditions and vehicle handling. We learned skills like emergency braking and managing large vehicle blind spots, which make transitioning to smaller cars much easier. The policy is designed this way: higher-tier licenses cover lower-class vehicles to prevent inexperienced drivers from recklessly operating large vehicles and causing accidents. Always remember to account for different braking distances and turning radii between vehicles—it’s not trivial, safety comes first. Regular vehicle maintenance matters too; don’t let minor issues escalate. In short, A3 holders can legally drive C1 cars, but respect the rules—no reckless behavior, because roads aren’t playgrounds.
