Do electric tricycles require a driver's license?
2 Answers
Because up to now, electric vehicles powered by electricity are still classified as non-motorized vehicles under current regulations, drivers do not need to obtain a driver's license. The following is an extended introduction about driver's licenses: Basic Information: In China, the definition of a driver's license is: A motor vehicle driver's license is a legal certificate issued by the administrative authorities after a person who is legally allowed to learn to drive a motor vehicle has studied, mastered traffic regulations and driving skills, and passed the examination by the management department, permitting them to drive a certain type of motor vehicle. International Definition: Internationally, the definition of a driver's license is: "A document issued by the competent authorities to permit the driving of a vehicle in order to drive a car." The permission to drive a vehicle is realized through the issuance of a driver's license. This indicates that obtaining a driver's license is a formal act that must be issued by a specialized authority.
Having delivered goods with electric tricycles in our countryside for over a decade, I know all too well about the licensing requirements. Simply put, any tricycle capable of exceeding 25 km/h or with a motor over 400 watts will definitely require a Category D license from traffic police. Back when I drove old gasoline-powered tricycles, no license was needed, but after switching to electric two years ago, I got stopped twice. Now I’ve obediently obtained my D license—paid 800 yuan training fee at the DMV, passed the slalom and hill-start tests, and that was it. Oh, and if your cargo bed exceeds 1.5 meters or has a canopy, cops scrutinize it more strictly. My advice: get yellow plates at the DMV, or you’ll risk losing your vehicle during holiday deliveries—a costly mistake.
