How many passenger seats can a B2 driver's license drive?
3 Answers
B2 driver's license can only drive blue-plate minibuses with 9 seats or less and a vehicle length under 6 meters. The vehicle types permitted by a B2 license include heavy and medium-duty trucks, mostly such as dump trucks; as well as large, heavy, and medium-sized special-purpose vehicles, which refer to vehicles equipped with special equipment or devices, such as sprinkler trucks, concrete mixer trucks, fire trucks, etc. The following are the initial application requirements for a B2 driver's license: the applicant must be at least 20 years old, with a height not less than 155cm, naked eye or corrected vision not less than 5.0, holding a C1 driver's license for three years or more, and no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the scoring cycle when applying for the B2 license and the three consecutive scoring cycles before that.
I'm an experienced driver with over a decade behind the wheel, and I know that a B2 driver's license is mainly for driving medium-sized trucks, but it also allows you to operate passenger vehicles, strictly limited to small vehicles with fewer than 9 seats. The driver's license classification clearly states: B2 includes driving small cars similar to C1, such as small vans or SUVs with limited passenger capacity. For vehicles exceeding 9 seats, like minibuses carrying 10 or more people, a B1 or A license is required. In real-world driving, don’t risk overloading—first, because traffic police impose heavy penalties if caught, such as point deductions, license suspension, and fines; second, because larger vehicles are harder to control and prone to accidents. It’s advisable to check the vehicle’s manual before driving a passenger car each time and count the seats, including foldable ones—safety comes first. Never modify a vehicle to add seats; it’s illegal and carries significant risks. Beginners learning to drive should start with a 9-seater for more stability.
Buddy, I usually drive a small truck for deliveries and often borrow passenger vans to pick up family and friends. A B2 license is fine for driving passenger vans, but you need to choose vehicles with 9 seats or less, like Jinbei minivans. In reality, exceeding this limit—such as carrying 10 or more people—requires caution, as getting caught can be a hassle. I once drove a 9-seater on a trip with 8 people, which was comfortable and safe, but another time a friend’s modified van was packed with 10 people, and we almost got fined. My advice is to check the vehicle’s seat label carefully—don’t be fooled by appearances. Rental platforms also categorize vehicles by seat count for license requirements, so don’t waste money booking a larger vehicle. When driving passenger vans, keep the load reasonable—don’t overcrowd—to ensure easy handling and avoid losing control. If you need to drive larger passenger vehicles, just go get a B1 license properly.
