Is There an Age Limit for Getting a Driver's License?
3 Answers
There are age restrictions for obtaining a driver's license. All driver's licenses have age limits. Generally, a regular driver's license can be obtained between the ages of 18 and 70. However, the age limit for an A1 driver's license is stricter, requiring applicants to be between 26 and 50 years old. According to Article 11 of the Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 71), applicants for a motor vehicle driver's license must meet the following age requirements: Applicants for small cars, small automatic transmission cars, or light motorcycles must be between 18 and 70 years old; applicants for low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, or wheeled self-propelled machinery must be between 18 and 60 years old; applicants for city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams must be between 21 and 50 years old; applicants for tractor-trailers must be between 24 and 50 years old; and applicants for large passenger vehicles must be between 26 and 50 years old.
Of course, there are age restrictions for getting a driver's license. When I signed up last year, I specifically checked the regulations. For small vehicle licenses like C1 and C2, the minimum age is 18 with no upper limit—my dad just got his license at 60. However, the rules are much stricter for large trucks and buses: B2 requires you to be at least 20 years old, and A3 for city buses even requires 21. The most unique is motorcycles—a D license requires you to be 18, while the F license for light motorcycles is more lenient, allowing ages 18 to 70. A reminder: those over 60 must submit an annual health certificate and pass reaction tests. It's best to check with the local DMV for the latest policies before taking the test, as some places have additional training requirements for older learners.
I've been a driving instructor at a driving school for five years, and the age range of my students has been quite wide. I've taught both 18-year-old students and 70-year-old grandpas, but the vehicle type determines the entry threshold. To drive a truck, you must be at least 20 years old, and to drive a bus, you need to be at least 21. Elderly people can definitely take the Class C license test—last year, I coached a 72-year-old aunt for her C2 automatic transmission license, though she spent two months reviewing for the theory test. The key isn't age but physical condition; those over 60 need an annual medical checkup, focusing on vision and reaction time. If you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, you can take the test for a light motorcycle at 16, but for a regular motorcycle, you must be an adult. Don’t blindly choose a vehicle type—first, check if your age meets the driving standards.
