Can an A3 License Drive a C1 Vehicle?
2 Answers
An A3 driver's license can drive a C1 vehicle. According to Appendix 1 of China's "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," which outlines the permitted vehicle types and their corresponding codes: An A3 license allows the holder to drive urban buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers, and it also permits driving other vehicle types, including C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (agricultural four-wheel vehicles), and C4 (agricultural three-wheel vehicles). Requirements for applying for an A3 license: Age must be between 21 and 50 years old; Height must be at least 155 cm, with naked or corrected vision reaching 5.0 or above, no red-green color blindness, and the ability to distinguish the direction of sound sources with each ear hearing a tuning fork at 50 cm; Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have three fingers intact and functioning normally; Normal movement of the torso and neck, normal lower limb movement, and a leg length difference of no more than 5 cm. Training must be conducted in the place of residence (within the prefecture-level city of the registered household), not in temporary residence locations. If the original driver's license is from another region, it must be transferred back to the original place of residence for training. The A3 license test includes four sections: Section 1 (traffic rules), Section 2 (single-plank bridge), Section 3 (road test), and Section 4 (safety knowledge). Below is an introduction to the A3 test items: Section 1: Traffic rules, 100 questions, passing score of 90; Section 2: Small road test (includes 16 items), such as single-plank bridge, parallel parking, bumpy road, width-restricted gate, simulated tunnel, simulated highway, emergency stop, S-curve, obstacle avoidance, slope parking, narrow road U-turn, simulated mountain road, right-angle turn, and slippery road; Section 3: Road test (actual road conditions assessment); Section 4: Safe and civilized driving, 50 questions, each worth 2 points. Additionally, according to Article 19 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law": Driving a motor vehicle requires legally obtaining a driver's license. Applying for a driver's license must meet the driving permit conditions stipulated by the public security department under the State Council; after passing the test, the corresponding category of driver's license is issued by the traffic management department of the public security authority. Drivers must operate vehicles according to the permitted types specified on their licenses and must carry their licenses while driving. Therefore, it is clear that both driving without a license and driving a vehicle that does not match the permitted type on the license are illegal. According to the first provision of the reply from the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council regarding the interpretation and application of the "Road Traffic Safety Law" and its implementation regulations: Driving a vehicle that does not match the permitted type on the license is considered equivalent to driving without a license. In terms of penalties, based on the principle of proportionality, it may be treated similarly to driving without a license but with a lighter penalty. Thus, both driving without a license and driving a mismatched vehicle type are subject to Article 99, Paragraph 1 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law": Driving without a license, with a revoked license, or during the suspension period may result in a fine imposed by the public security traffic management department and may also include detention of up to 15 days.
When I was learning to drive, I also thought about similar questions and later figured it out. The A3 license is for city bus drivers, and driving those large buses is quite different. The C1 license is specifically designed for private cars like sedans and SUVs, which have fewer seats. If you use an A3 license to drive a C1 vehicle, it's a violation of traffic regulations and can result in fines or license suspension. I once had a friend who accidentally did this and ended up getting points deducted, plus having to retake the C1 license test, which was quite troublesome. Always check the vehicle types your license allows before driving—don’t cut corners. Additionally, different vehicle types handle very differently; buses involve more long-distance driving, while private cars are much more agile—don’t take safety risks. It’s best to consult a driving school or check official regulations directly to avoid regrets later.