How many types of driver's licenses are there and what vehicles do they allow you to drive?
3 Answers
There are 16 types of driver's licenses, and the specific vehicles they allow you to drive are as follows: 1. A1 (Large Passenger Vehicle): Permitted vehicles: Large passenger vehicles. Other permitted vehicle types: A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M. 2. A2 (Tractor Trailer): Heavy and medium-sized full trailers and semi-trailers. Other permitted vehicle types: B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M. 3. A3 (City Bus): Permitted vehicles: City buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers. Other permitted vehicle types: C1, C2, C3, C4. 4. B1 (Medium Passenger Vehicle): Permitted vehicles: Medium passenger vehicles (including city buses with a capacity of 10 to 19 passengers).
I remember when I first got my driver's license, I was most concerned about what vehicles each license type allows you to drive. The C1 is the most common, permitting manual transmission small cars like family sedans, SUVs, or minivans; C2 is the automatic version, applicable to the same vehicle types. The B1 license allows driving medium-sized buses, such as minibuses with more than seven seats; B2 is exclusive to large trucks, suitable for freight drivers. Class A licenses are even more specialized—A1 for large buses like city buses, A2 for semi-trailer trucks, but those require additional training and testing. For beginners, Class C licenses are great to start with. I struggled a bit when learning C1, but mastering gear shifting made driving more flexible. Driving a vehicle beyond your license scope not only risks fines but also accidents, so it's best to consult a driving school before choosing a license type. Oh, and the D license is for motorcycles and electric tricycles—a completely separate system, so don’t confuse them.
A veteran driver with over a decade of experience talks about driver's licenses. Let's briefly categorize the main types. Class C mainly covers small passenger vehicles - C1 is for manual transmission, C2 for automatic, basically encompassing most sedans on the road. Class B involves larger vehicles - B1 allows you to drive medium-sized buses with up to 19 seats, while B2 is for heavy trucks hauling cargo over long distances. Class A is the professional level - A1 covers large buses like coaches, and A2 is for semi-trailers or tractor heads. Why does this matter? Driving the wrong vehicle type isn't just about traffic violations and points deduction, it could lead to serious accidents. I've seen cases where people got caught driving trucks without B2 licenses and were fined thousands. Obtaining these requires both practical tests and theory exams, with varying difficulty levels. Regular checks of your license's expiration date are recommended to avoid having to retake tests.
