What do driving license categories C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 mean?
2 Answers
Here is an introduction to driving license categories: C1: Small vehicles, including C2 and C3 (passenger vehicles with fewer than 9 seats, such as sedans, are considered small vehicles). C2: Small automatic transmission vehicles. C3: Low-speed trucks and C4. C4: Three-wheeled vehicles. Age requirements: The minimum age for a C1 driving license is 18 years old, with no upper age limit. However, applicants aged 70 or older must pass tests for memory, judgment, and reaction abilities. Medical examination requirements: Drivers aged 70 or older (including 70) must undergo an annual physical examination, while those under 70 are not required to do so. Permitted vehicle types: The C1 driving license allows the operation of small and mini passenger vehicles, light and mini cargo vehicles; light, small, and mini special-purpose vehicles; and small passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of 9 or fewer people.
The C1 to C5 driver's licenses refer to the classification of small vehicle driving licenses, with each category targeting different vehicle types. As a recent driving school graduate, I can share that C1 is the most common, allowing the operation of manual transmission small cars, such as family sedans; C2 is restricted to automatic transmission small cars; C3 is for low-speed cargo vehicles, like small tractors or low-speed trucks; C4 is designated for three-wheeled vehicles, commonly seen in motorcycles or three-wheeled cargo vehicles; and C5 is specifically for disabled individuals to operate automatic transmission small cars. When obtaining my driver's license, I chose C1 for its flexibility, as it covers C2, but opting directly for C2 is more straightforward. Understanding these categories helps in selecting the right one based on your needs—choosing the wrong one could mean not being able to drive the intended vehicle, wasting both time and money.
