What are the classifications of driver's licenses?
2 Answers
According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," the types of driver's licenses in China include: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, Class F, Class M, Class N, and Class P. Among these, Class A and Class C are further divided into 3 subcategories each, and Class B is divided into 2 subcategories. Large Bus A1 License: Permits driving large passenger vehicles and vehicles under A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Tractor A2 License: Permits driving heavy and medium-duty full trailers, semi-trailer combinations, and vehicles under B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. City Bus A3 License: Permits driving city buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers and vehicles under C1, C2, C3, and C4. Medium Bus B1 License: Permits driving medium-sized passenger vehicles and vehicles under C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Heavy Truck B2 License: Permits driving heavy and medium-duty trucks; large, heavy, and medium-duty special-purpose vehicles and vehicles under C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Small Car C1 License: Permits driving manual or automatic transmission small and micro passenger vehicles with up to 9 seats, light and micro trucks, light, small, and micro special-purpose vehicles, small automatic transmission cars (C2), low-speed trucks (C3), and three-wheeled vehicles (C4). Small Automatic Car C2 License: Permits driving small and micro automatic transmission passenger vehicles and light and micro automatic transmission trucks. Low-Speed Truck C3 License: Permits driving low-speed trucks and C4 vehicles. Three-Wheeled Vehicle C4 License: Permits driving three-wheeled vehicles. Ordinary Three-Wheeled Motorcycle D License: Permits driving three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement greater than 50ml or a maximum design speed greater than 50km/h and vehicles under E and F. Ordinary Two-Wheeled Motorcycle E License: Permits driving two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement greater than 50ml or a maximum design speed greater than 50km/h and vehicles under F.
When I took my driver's license test for the first time, I was really torn about which type to choose. Domestic driver's licenses are divided into several categories, such as C1 for manual transmission cars, which allows driving general private cars and vans; C2 is for automatic transmission cars, making it easier for beginners to operate. There are also Class A and B licenses, like A1 for large buses that can carry many people; A2 is for tractor-trailers, specifically designed for driving articulated trucks. I remember I took the C1 test, so I wouldn't be restricted if I needed to drive a manual car in the future. Additionally, motorcycles have different categories: Class D for three-wheeled motorcycles, Class E for regular two-wheeled motorcycles, and Class F for lightweight motorcycles. Younger friends may find it easier to start with E or F. There are over a dozen classifications in total, each corresponding to different vehicle types and driving requirements. Choosing the wrong one means you'll have to retake the test later, wasting time. Back then, I chose C1, spent months learning to drive, and was nervous during the test. But after getting the license, I felt it was highly practical and could handle various car scenarios. Looking back now, beginners should choose based on their daily needs—don't bite off more than you can chew. Safety first, after all.
