Can an A3 license holder drive a B1 vehicle?

[McSarah]

An A3 driver's license does not permit the holder to drive vehicles under the B1 category. The A3 license is designated for urban buses, while the B1 license is for medium-sized passenger vehicles. The A3 license allows driving other vehicle types such as C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (agricultural four-wheel vehicles), and C4 (agricultural three-wheel vehicles). Holders of an A3 license may upgrade to a B1 license if they meet the following conditions: They must have held the A3 license for at least one year with no full-point demerit records in the most recent scoring cycle; they must not have been involved in any fatal accidents where they were primarily responsible; they must have no records of drunk driving; they must have no records of driving under the influence in the last three scoring cycles; and they must have no records of speeding over 50% resulting in license revocation. Below are the examination subjects for obtaining a B1 license: Subject 1: The test covers road traffic rules, traffic signals, handling of traffic violations and accidents, application and use of motor vehicle driver's licenses, motor vehicle registration regulations, and other road traffic safety laws, regulations, and rules. Subject 2: The test includes skills such as driving large buses, tractors, urban buses, medium-sized passenger vehicles, and large trucks; parking on slopes and starting; parallel parking; crossing single-plank bridges; curve driving; right-angle turns; passing through narrow gates; navigating continuous obstacles; driving on bumpy roads; making U-turns on narrow roads; and simulations of highway driving, continuous sharp turns on mountain roads, tunnels, rainy (foggy) conditions, slippery roads, and emergency handling. Subject 3: The road driving skills test covers preparation before starting, starting, driving straight, gear shifting, lane changing, pulling over, passing through intersections straight, turning left or right at intersections, crossing pedestrian crossings, passing through school zones and bus stops, meeting vehicles, overtaking, making U-turns, and night driving for large buses, tractors, urban buses, medium-sized passenger vehicles, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, and small automatic transmission cars for the disabled. Subject 4: The safety knowledge test lasts 45 minutes, with a perfect score of 100 and a passing score of 90. Those who fail must wait 10 days before retaking the test. According to the "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Business Work Standards" issued by the public security department, driver's licenses are classified into 15 levels: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, D, E, F, M, N, and P. The vehicle types permitted for each license level are as follows: The A1 license permits driving large passenger vehicles. The A2 license permits driving tractors and heavy or medium-sized full or semi-trailer combinations. The A3 license permits driving urban buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers. The B1 license permits driving heavy passenger vehicles. The B2 license permits driving heavy or medium-sized trucks. The C2 license permits driving small or micro automatic transmission passenger vehicles. The C3 license permits driving low-speed trucks (originally four-wheel agricultural transport vehicles). The C4 license permits driving three-wheeled vehicles (originally three-wheel agricultural transport vehicles). The D license permits driving three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml. The E license permits driving two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml. The M license permits driving wheeled self-propelled machinery. The N license permits driving trolleybuses. The P license permits driving trams.

[Edith]

I've been driving for over ten years with an A3 license, mainly driving city buses in urban areas. Many friends ask if I can drive B1 vehicles like medium-sized tourist coaches or business vans. The answer is no. The A3 license only permits driving city buses, and operating a B1 medium-sized coach would exceed the authorized scope, posing significant risks of illegal driving. If caught by traffic police, you could face over 9 demerit points, fines of one to two thousand yuan, or even license suspension in severe cases. As an experienced driver, I advise against taking such risks—safety comes first. Different vehicle types handle quite differently; buses have a higher center of gravity while medium-sized coaches have more responsive brakes, making accidents more likely if driven incorrectly. If you really want to drive those vehicles, go for a B1 license upgrade—study the theory, practice driving, and take the test once a month, costing a few thousand yuan. Always check the authorized vehicle types listed on the back of your license before hitting the road.