What kind of driver's license is required for right-hand drive vehicles?
3 Answers
Right-hand drive vehicles require a driver's license above C1. Right-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side. Due to the left-hand traffic rule implemented in countries or regions such as the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong (mainly Commonwealth countries), their vehicles have right-hand steering wheels for easier passing. Right-hand drive vehicles cannot be driven in mainland China, and driving a right-hand drive vehicle in China is illegal. Driving a right-hand drive vehicle on the mainland poses significant risks, as the driving method for domestic motor vehicles is right-hand traffic, while right-hand drive vehicles are designed for left-hand traffic. When drivers get accustomed to the right-hand drive mode, it greatly increases the probability of traffic accidents. The driving systems of right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles are not very different. From left to right, they are the clutch, brake, and accelerator. The lever position is still in the middle, and the gear sequence is the same. The biggest difference, apart from operating with the left hand, is that the driver's seat moves from the left to the right.
The matter of a driver's license is essentially the same for right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles, mainly depending on the vehicle type. For example, for regular passenger cars in China, a C1 or C2 license is required. The steering wheel being on the right doesn't affect the license type; the DMV issues licenses based on vehicle classification. Personally, I find driving a right-hand drive car quite interesting. Last year, I tried a friend's imported car—though the position is different, as long as you have a license, you just need some time to adapt, with the key being to practice the feel for turns and overtaking. Some countries, like Japan, allow right-hand drive vehicles on the road, with similar license requirements. Don’t worry about compliance—just use your existing license to drive. If you ever go to a left-hand traffic country, just check the rules in advance. The core of a driver's license is safe driving skills.
There's nothing particularly special about the license required to drive right-hand drive vehicles. For ordinary private cars, regardless of which side the steering wheel is on, as long as the vehicle classification is the same, China uses a Class C1 driver's license to cover it. I've switched between several cars, including a used right-hand drive vehicle, and during roadside checks by traffic police, as long as the license was valid, everything was fine. However, it's important to note that right-hand drive vehicles have different handling habits, and changing lanes or parking on left-hand traffic roads might be a bit awkward. It's advisable for beginners to practice in an open area first. Additionally, if driving a right-hand drive vehicle abroad, an international version of the driver's license is needed, but the core still depends on the original license type. Simply put, the driver's license is based on the vehicle type, not the steering wheel position.
