How many seats can a C-class license drive?
2 Answers
According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses", a Class C1 license for small cars can drive manual or automatic transmission small and mini passenger vehicles with 9 seats or fewer (including 9 seats), as well as light and mini cargo vehicles (all small trucks with blue license plates), light, small, and mini special operation vehicles, and small automatic transmission cars (Class C2), low-speed cargo vehicles (Class C3), and three-wheeled vehicles (Class C4). Here is a related introduction about the differences between Class A, B, and C licenses: 1. Permitted vehicle types. Class A can drive large buses, tractors, and city buses; Class B can drive medium-sized buses and large trucks; Class C can drive small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles, and small automatic transmission passenger vehicles for the disabled. 2. Age restrictions for application. Those aged 21 or older can apply for city buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers (Class A3); those aged 24 or older can apply for heavy and medium-sized full trailers or semi-trailers (Class A2); those aged 26 or older can apply for large passenger vehicles (Class A1). Those aged 21 or older can apply for medium-sized passenger vehicles (Class B1) or heavy and medium-sized cargo vehicles, large, heavy, and medium-sized special operation vehicles (Class B2). 3. Initial application age restrictions. The age for applying for a learner's permit for large buses and trolleybuses is 21 to 45 years; for large trucks, it is 18 to 50 years; for other vehicle types, it is 18 to 60 years. For those over 60 years old, the permitted vehicle types A, B, N, and P will be revoked. 4. Driving test passing standards. For Class C vehicles, a score of 80 or above is passing; for Class A and B vehicles, a score of 90 or above is passing. Tests for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, and large trucks include additional items such as simulated highways, continuous sharp mountain roads, tunnels, emergency handling, and narrow road U-turns. 5. Application conditions. Applicants for large buses, large trucks, or trolleybuses must be at least 155 cm tall; for other vehicle types, the minimum height requirement is 150 cm.
When I was getting my driver's license for the Class C permit, the instructor specifically told me that I could only drive small vehicles with a maximum of 9 seats. The term '9 seats' means the total number, including the driver's seat, must not exceed 9. For example, my family's Mercedes-Benz V-Class has exactly 9 seats, making it very convenient for outings. Why the limit of 9 seats? It’s mainly for safety reasons—smaller cars have less engine power, and too many seats can lead to overloading and accidents. Additionally, regulations state that the total weight must not exceed 4,500 kg; if it does, you’ll need a Class B license to drive larger buses. I remember once when I wanted to help a friend move, I considered driving an 11-seater minivan, but without a Class B license, I had to give up. New drivers should be careful—always count the seats before driving to avoid violations. Getting fined or penalized by traffic police isn’t worth the hassle. The Class C license is actually quite practical, perfectly suitable for city commuting or family trips.
