How many seats can a B1 license drive for a bus?
2 Answers
Vehicle length less than 6 meters. A B1 driver's license allows driving "medium-sized buses" (medium passenger vehicles) and small cars. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," in China, passenger vehicles with 8 to 19 seats are classified as medium-sized buses. Small cars refer to vehicles with a total mass of 4.5 tons (inclusive), seating capacity (excluding the driver) of 9 people (exclusive), or a vehicle length of less than 6 meters (exclusive). Below is an introduction to the B1 driver's license: 1. Vehicle types permitted by B1 license: medium-sized buses; 2. Permitted vehicles: medium-sized passenger vehicles (including urban buses with a capacity of 10 to 19 people); 3. Other vehicle types allowed: C1, C2, C3, C4, M.
When I first got my B1 driver's license, I was also curious about this question. Through practice and research, I learned that the B1 license mainly restricts the number of passenger seats to no more than 9, including the driver's seat. This means you can drive small commercial vehicles or vans that seat seven or eight people, such as common models like the Jinbei or Transit. If the number exceeds this limit, such as more than 10 seats, you would need to obtain a higher-level license like B2 or C1. I think this regulation is quite reasonable because vehicles with more seats can be harder for beginners to control, increasing the risk of accidents. Nowadays, when I drive my family out for trips, I always make sure not to exceed the seating capacity—safety first. Also, remember to check the vehicle's registration details when renting or borrowing a car to ensure the seating capacity complies with the regulations, so you can drive with peace of mind.
