Can the A3 driver's license be obtained directly?
4 Answers
A3 driver's license cannot be obtained directly. You must first register for knowledge learning before taking the test. The application conditions for the A3 driver's license include being at least 21 years old or having held any driver's license for at least one year without any full-point violation records. Registration and learning must be done at the applicant's registered residence. Meeting these conditions allows you to apply. The learning content mainly includes driving techniques for vehicles such as A, C1, C2, C3, and C4, as well as methods for handling various road conditions. Night driving tests are also required. The process includes tests for Subject 1, Subject 2, and Subject 3. Subject 1 test content includes: road traffic rules, traffic signals, handling of traffic safety violations and accidents, regulations on the application and use of motor vehicle driver's licenses, motor vehicle registration, and other road traffic safety laws, regulations, and rules. Subject 2 test content includes: for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, and large trucks—pile test, slope parking and starting, parallel parking, single-plank bridge crossing, curve driving, right-angle turning, passing through width-limited gates, passing through continuous obstacles, driving on bumpy roads, narrow road U-turns, as well as simulated highway driving, continuous sharp turns on mountain roads, tunnels, driving in rain (fog), slippery roads, and emergency handling. Subject 3 road driving skills test content includes: for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, and small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled—preparation before driving, starting, straight-line driving, gear shifting operations, lane changing, parking by the roadside, going straight through intersections, left turns at intersections, right turns at intersections, passing through pedestrian crossings, passing through school zones, passing through bus stops, meeting vehicles, overtaking, U-turns, and night driving. The test content for other vehicle types is determined by the provincial traffic management departments of the public security authorities.
I just got my A3 driver's license last year by applying directly. As long as you're between 20 and 60 years old, you can just bring your ID card to the DMV for a physical exam and registration - no need to obtain other licenses first. However, the test is much harder than the regular C license. The second subject has 16 test items, and I practiced the continuous obstacle course for half a month alone. I recommend enrolling in a formal driving school - they have special training grounds for large vehicles. Three people in my class failed their first attempt. After getting the license, I applied to the bus company very smoothly, and now I drive a 12-meter-long bus on routes every day.
You can directly apply for an A3 driver's license. My cousin just turned 20 and went to sign up. A vision test is required during registration, and color weakness is not allowed. The test consists of four subjects, with parallel parking being the most challenging part of Subject 2 - you need to park a 10-meter-long vehicle into a space only 30 cm larger than the vehicle body. The tuition fee is about 2,000 yuan more expensive than a regular license, and the training cycle lasts three months, requiring daily attendance at the training ground. It's recommended to choose a driving school partnered with bus companies, as their training materials are more tailored to bus operations and even include maintenance lessons for fare boxes.
You can directly apply for the A3 license by bringing your ID card and medical examination form to the DMV. You must pass all four subjects of the test. The most challenging part for me during Subject 3 was the use of nighttime lights, as the bus's low beams were too far-reaching and could easily dazzle oncoming vehicles. It's best to choose summer for learning to drive, as practicing with the large vehicle's steering wheel in winter can be extremely cold on the hands. After obtaining the license, you cannot drive interprovincial routes during the probationary period.
