How many passengers can a B1 driver's license drive?
2 Answers
B1 driver's license is authorized to drive medium-sized buses, which are defined as medium-sized passenger vehicles with a length not exceeding 6 meters and a certified passenger capacity of 10 (inclusive) to 19 (inclusive) people. The following is relevant information about the B1 driver's license: 1. Introduction: The B1 driver's license is authorized to drive medium-sized buses, defined as medium-sized passenger vehicles with a length not exceeding 6 meters and a certified passenger capacity of 10 (inclusive) to 19 (inclusive) people. Other authorized vehicle types include C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled cars), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). It is important to note that the B1 driver's license does not include B2 among its authorized vehicle types. If a driver holding a B1 license wishes to drive large trucks, they can upgrade their license to a B1B2 license (or A1, A2, A1A2, etc.). 2. Conditions for upgrading to B1: The applicant must have held a (C1) driver's license for more than three years and be between 21 and 50 years old. To apply for an upgrade to (B1), the applicant must have no record of a full score (12 points) in the current scoring cycle (this year) and the most recent scoring cycle (last year) before applying. They can then apply for the upgrade at the vehicle management office in their registered residence, as regulations stipulate that the upgrade (B1) can only be applied for at the vehicle management office in the driver's registered residence, not at a temporary residence.
When it comes to how many seats a B1 driver's license allows you to operate for passenger vehicles, I've been driving for over a decade, from minibuses to tour coaches. According to China's traffic laws, a B1 license permits driving medium-sized passenger vehicles, specifically those with a certified passenger capacity of more than 10 but fewer than 19 people, meaning the maximum number of seats is 19 (including the driver). For example, when driving a minivan to pick up friends for a team-building event, just make sure the seating is properly arranged and doesn't exceed 18 passengers. Going over this limit is illegal, and encountering a traffic police check could lead to fines or even point deductions. In practice, I've also encountered misunderstandings when renting vehicles—some people think a B1 license allows driving large coaches, only to run into problems when renting a 20-seater. So, I recommend regularly reviewing the driver's license manual or the classification chart in the app to prevent mishaps. When driving passenger vehicles, it's not just about the number of seats—you also need to pay attention to vehicle maintenance, regularly checking the braking system. Overloading makes it harder to stop, which is extremely dangerous. Safety always comes first, and that's never wrong.
