What level of driver's license is required for a bus?
2 Answers
Buses with more than 19 seats require an A1 driver's license, while medium-sized buses with 10 to 19 seats require a B1 driver's license (A1 and A2 licenses are also acceptable). However, A1 and B1 licenses cannot be obtained directly; applicants must first obtain a B2 or A3 license and then upgrade. To upgrade to a B1 license, one must have held a B2 or A3 license for at least three years. To upgrade to an A1 license, one must have held a B2 or A3 license for at least five years. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": 1. Article 14 states that for first-time applicants of a motor vehicle driver's license, the permitted vehicle types include urban buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, small automatic transmission cars for the disabled, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. 2. For those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to add permitted vehicle types, the additional permitted vehicle types include large buses, tractors, urban buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams.
As a veteran long-haul driver with over a decade of experience, let me talk about the license requirements for driving buses. Operating a bus requires an A1 driver's license, which is the highest class of driving license. You must meet the basic requirements: be at least 26 years old, previously hold a Class B or A2 license, and have no serious traffic violations. When I took the test years ago, it was particularly challenging. First, I enrolled in a driving school for several months of training, which cost around ten thousand yuan, focusing on large vehicle control, reverse parking, and night driving. The exam consists of four subjects, with Subject 2 (reverse parking) being the most difficult—fail it, and you have to retake it. After obtaining my A1 license, I started driving buses for a tourism company, carrying dozens of passengers, which comes with great responsibility—safety always comes first. I advise newcomers to practice braking and emergency handling extensively, as steep slopes and rainy or foggy weather really test your skills. The pay is decent, but don’t just think about the money—life is more important than anything.
