What are the differences between driver's licenses?

[McQuinn]

A driver's license, short for motor vehicle driving license, is a certificate required by law for individuals to operate motor vehicles. It serves as proof that the holder possesses the necessary skills to drive a motor vehicle on public roads. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," China classifies driver's licenses into the following categories: Class A, B, C, D, E, F, M, N, and P. Among these, Class A and C are further divided into three subcategories each, while Class B is divided into two subcategories. 1. Class A1 License: Permits driving large buses, including large passenger vehicles and vehicles under Class A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 2. Class A2 License: Permits driving tractor-trailers, including heavy and medium-sized full trailers, semi-trailers, and vehicles under Class B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 3. Class A3 License: Permits driving urban buses, including city buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers and vehicles under Class C1, C2, C3, and C4. 4. Class B1 License: Permits driving medium-sized buses, including medium-sized passenger vehicles (such as city buses with a capacity of 10-19 passengers) and vehicles under Class C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 5. Class B2 License: Permits driving large trucks, including heavy and medium-sized cargo vehicles, as well as large, heavy, and medium-sized specialized operation vehicles and vehicles under Class C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. 6. Class C1 License: Permits driving small cars, including small and micro passenger vehicles, light and micro cargo vehicles, and light, small, and micro specialized operation vehicles, as well as vehicles under Class C2, C3, and C4. 7. Class C2 License: Permits driving small automatic transmission cars, including small and micro automatic transmission passenger vehicles and light and micro automatic transmission cargo vehicles. 8. Class C3 License: Permits driving low-speed cargo vehicles, including low-speed cargo vehicles (originally four-wheel agricultural transport vehicles) and vehicles under Class C4. 9. Class C4 License: Permits driving three-wheeled cars, including three-wheeled cars (originally three-wheeled agricultural transport vehicles). 10. Class D License: Permits driving ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, including three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml or a maximum design speed exceeding 50km/h, as well as vehicles under Class E and F. 11. Class E License: Permits driving ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, including two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50ml or a maximum design speed exceeding 50km/h, as well as vehicles under Class F. 12. Class F License: Permits driving light motorcycles, including motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50ml or less and a maximum design speed of 50km/h or less. 13. Class M License: Permits driving wheeled self-propelled machinery, limited to wheeled self-propelled machinery only. 14. Class N License: Permits driving trolleybuses, limited to trolleybuses only. 15. Class P License: Permits driving trams, limited to trams only.

[MarcusRose]

I just turned 18 and got my driver's license, and I realized there are significant differences! In China, driver's licenses are categorized by vehicle type. For example, a C1 license allows you to drive both manual and automatic transmission vehicles, with the exam focusing on clutch control as the main challenge. A C2 license only permits driving automatic transmission cars—easier to learn but less flexible. There are also separate motorcycle licenses, like D and E, while a heavy truck B2 license requires you to be at least 20 years old. Choosing the wrong license type can be troublesome: a C2-licensed driver wanting to drive a manual transmission vehicle would need to retake the exam for a C1. The International Driving Permit (IDP) is essentially a translation document used to assist with car rentals when traveling abroad, but it’s only valid for one year and becomes invalid upon returning home. It’s best to start with a C1 license based on personal needs—it offers broader coverage and fewer regrets. Safety comes first when driving, and choosing the right license type helps avoid risks like being unable to drive or driving the wrong vehicle.