
D license is a motorcycle driver's license, which is the most comprehensive motorcycle license in terms of permitted vehicle types. It allows the holder to operate three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 50cc or a maximum design speed exceeding 50km/h, as well as the vehicle types permitted by Class E and F licenses. In simple terms, it authorizes the operation of ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, and light motorcycles. Below is an introduction to motorcycle driver's licenses: Requirements for applying for a Class D license: In some second and third-tier cities where motorcycles are not banned, applications for the Class D license exam can be made at the local vehicle office. Chinese citizens who are at least 18 years old and pass the physical examination can apply. The Class D license can only be applied for and processed in the applicant's registered residence area and cannot be handled in other locations. Exam requirements for the Class D license: The motorcycle driver's license exam, similar to the car driver's license exam, is divided into four sections: Section 1 to Section 4. Section 1 covers theoretical knowledge about motorcycles, consisting of 50 questions with 2 points each, and a passing score of 90. After passing Section 1, the applicant proceeds to Section 2, which includes tasks such as motorcycle slalom and curve riding. Section 3 is taken simultaneously with Section 2, where the applicant follows a route specified by the examiner. Section 4, like Section 1, is a theoretical test focusing on civilized driving and traffic rules.

















That day at the driving school, I heard the instructor talking about the Class D license. Simply put, it's a special license for large buses, allowing you to drive buses with a capacity of 19 or more passengers. My cousin makes a living by operating long-distance passenger transport with this license, which is significantly more challenging than a regular private car license. The test involves handling large vehicle dimensions, complex road conditions, and emergency evasion. To qualify for this license, you must first have two years of experience with a Class B license and undergo training at designated driving schools. The driving test alone includes tough maneuvers like hill starts, right-angle turns, and narrow gate limits. Only after completing the training can you get behind the wheel of a three-tiered tourist coach, which has a heavy steering wheel and requires dividing the rearview mirror into three sections to monitor while reversing.

The notice posted at our driving school's registration office states that the D license allows driving all passenger vehicles, including double-decker buses and articulated coaches. Applicants must be at least 26 years old, with a minimum height of 155cm and corrected visual acuity of 5.0 or above. The training vehicles for the test are all 10-meter-long coaches, with a turning radius three times larger than family cars. For Subject 2, candidates must complete continuous obstacle courses and simulated tunnel tests. Last time I accompanied a friend to practice, watching him pass through the width-restricted gate with only two fingers' space left between the rearview mirror and the pole, his palms were drenched in sweat.

A friend who drives tour buses told me that drivers with a D license earn 30% more than regular truck drivers, but they have to check fire extinguishers, safety hammers, and emergency exits every day. The driver's seat is over a meter higher than in a car, so they must check height limit signs before passing under bridges. These vehicles have a braking distance 20 meters longer than cars, requiring earlier deceleration, especially in rainy weather. Last year, while transporting 40 students on a spring outing, he encountered a landslide on a provincial highway and safely reversed to turn around thanks to the emergency response training from his license course.

To obtain a D license, first submit the medical examination form at the vehicle office, where color vision will be tested to prevent red-green color blindness. The theoretical exam includes 50 additional questions on passenger transport topics compared to the C license, such as how to handle sudden passenger illnesses. The road test uses a bus with air suspension, which causes the entire body to tilt when turning. The tuition fee is approximately 8,000 yuan, including 20 hours of practical road driving training. Special attention should be paid to learning emergency procedures for tire blowouts, as the lives of dozens of passengers are at stake.

Last time I heard on the traffic radio that more and more women are getting their Class D licenses. Sister Wang, a school bus driver, mentioned that their fleet has specially designed seat cushions to help female drivers operate the vehicles with ease. These types of vehicles are most prone to inner wheel difference accidents, where the front wheels clear the curb but the rear wheels might scrape pedestrians when turning. Class D license training emphasizes the 'three checks' when turning: check the rearview mirror, check the blind spot, and watch the vehicle's swing trajectory. During the Spring Festival travel season, their fleet operates on mountainous routes and must also pass an additional test on installing anti-slip chains.


