What Driving License is Required for Operating a Tractor Head Only?
4 Answers
To operate a tractor head only, an A2 driving license is required. The A2 license is specifically for tractor vehicles, and due to the unique nature of these vehicles, the A2 license can only be obtained through an upgrade. The requirements for applying for an A2 license are as follows: Age must be between 22 and 50 years old; height must be at least 155 cm, with both thumbs intact and at least three functional fingers on each hand, along with normal hand mobility; no red-green color blindness, with uncorrected or corrected vision of at least 5.0; normal body and neck mobility, sound lower limbs with a leg length difference not exceeding 5 cm; holding a B1 license for at least three years, with no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the last three scoring cycles; or holding a B2 license for at least two years, with no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the corresponding scoring cycle; or holding an A1 license for at least one year, with no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent scoring cycle. The learning content covers subjects one to four. Generally, after passing subject one, a driving skill learning certificate is issued, valid for three years. Within this period, subjects one and four can be taken an unlimited number of times, while subjects two and three can be taken no more than five times.
I've been driving big trucks on the road for years, and I know that tractor heads specifically require that kind of trailer license, commonly known as the A2 license, because the cab is designed to tow things, with large size and difficult handling, ordinary B or C licenses can't handle it. I remember a buddy tried driving with a regular license before, but the steering was too heavy to control, almost causing an accident, luckily it was discovered in time. Driving this kind of vehicle requires special training, learning to deal with emergency braking and hill starts, and also involves safety regulations, with traffic police checking very strictly. Without that special license, insurance won't cover the full amount. When renewing my license, I specifically asked the driving school instructor for details, he said the load changes of the tractor are significant, and it's very dangerous for beginners to start directly. In short, make sure you have the A2 license before hitting the road, don't take risks to save trouble.
I just got my driver's license not long ago. During driving lessons, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that driving only a tractor unit requires a heavy trailer driver's license, which is the A2 level. At the time, I was curious why a regular license wouldn't suffice. The instructor explained that the tractor unit itself is designed for towing, with weight and length exceeding standard limits, which a regular car license doesn't cover. We practiced simulated operations in class, and I noticed the throttle and steering feedback were quite different—any slight mistake could lead to a tailspin. I also looked into legal updates and found that illegal driving could result in points deduction, fines, or even license suspension. Considering safety, with so many large trucks on the road and the high accident rate of tractor units, it's best to get an A2 license in advance—both legal and peace of mind. In the future, if I have the money, I'd like to try driving a professional tractor unit, but I'll definitely get the proper license first.
As an ordinary person who often cares about driving safety, I know that driving a tractor head requires a specialized A2 driver's license. When I see big truck heads on the road, my driver friends tell me that they are very different from ordinary cars, and a regular driver's license is invalid—you must obtain a special trailer license. This is related to the difficulty of control and public safety, such as the high center of gravity making it prone to losing control during sharp turns. My husband works at a transportation company and has mentioned dangerous examples of illegal driving, saying that the accident rate doubles when novices mistakenly use a B license to drive a tractor. It is recommended to consult driving schools about the courses in advance, as both the theoretical and practical tests are strict. Ensuring the safety of yourself and others is the most important thing—don't cut corners by skipping the proper licensing.
