How many seats can a B1 driver's license drive?
2 Answers
A B1 driver's license allows the holder to drive medium-sized passenger vehicles (including city buses with a capacity of 10 to 19 passengers). Other vehicle types permitted under a B1 license are: C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). A driver's license, also known as a 'driving license,' is an official document issued by the government's transportation department to individuals who qualify to drive. It is typically a card. To obtain a driver's license, one must meet the minimum age requirement and pass a driving test. The license usually specifies the types of motor vehicles the holder is permitted to drive, such as motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, and buses.
I remember when I first got my B1 driver's license, the most frequently asked question was about the seating capacity. Simply put, vehicles that can be driven with a B1 license must have a seating capacity exceeding 9 people, but the upper limit is within 20 people. For example, common 11-seat Coasters or some 15-seat minibuses are perfectly fine for me to drive when picking up and dropping off team activities. Why this range? Because during driver training, we learned that the B1 license is mainly for medium-sized buses, which have high safety requirements and require proficient driving skills. If driving a 19-seat tourist bus, you must pay attention not to exceed the speed limit, which is capped at 90 km/h on highways. Before taking my colleagues on company trips, I always check the vehicle registration to confirm the seating capacity to avoid violations. One more thing, don’t mistakenly think you can drive a 9-seater—that’s the job of a C1 license. With a B1 license, it’s only legal to drive vehicles with at least 10 seats. In short, understanding this can help avoid fines or accidents. Using a B1 license for daily driving is quite convenient, especially for shuttling people or transporting small groups.
