What vehicles can be driven with an A-class driver's license?

[DelJosiah]

A-class driver's licenses are divided into three types: A1, A2, and A3. The vehicles permitted for an A1 license are: buses carrying more than 20 passengers, passenger vehicles with a body length exceeding 6 meters, A3 (city buses), B1 (medium-sized buses), B2 (large trucks), C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). The vehicles permitted for an A2 license are: heavy and medium-sized full trailers, semi-trailer combinations, as well as vehicles permitted by B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. The vehicles permitted for an A3 license are: buses, C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), and C4 (three-wheeled vehicles).

[LaMolly]

In China, Class A driver's licenses refer to categories like A1, A2, and A3, which generally authorize the operation of large vehicles. An A1 license primarily allows driving large buses with over 20 seats, such as the long-distance coaches you see during travel or company shuttle buses for employees. The A2 license corresponds to tractor units, specifically those hauling semi-trailers, commonly driven by logistics truck drivers. The A3 license is for medium-sized buses like urban public transit vehicles. Driving these vehicles requires some experience due to their large size, slow acceleration, and long braking distances—especially needing extra caution for blind spots when turning. When I was younger, I drove buses a few times and found the visibility good but the handling cumbersome, making them suitable for patient drivers. For daily use, Class A licenses are quite common for operating large vehicles like freight trucks or passenger carriers, though parking difficulties in cities are a frequent challenge.

[OZachary]

I've been driving city buses for years, operating those large A3 license-level vehicles in urban areas daily. The elevated cab position provides good visibility, but the steering wheel is much heavier than in a passenger car, requiring precise anticipation for turns or emergency stops. Driving a bus isn't as free as driving a car - you follow fixed routes but bear greater responsibility, especially during rush hours with many passengers when instability could easily lead to problems. Many new buses are electric now, making the ride slightly quieter. In my opinion, when driving large vehicles, safety must come first - pay extra attention to blind spots in mirrors and minimize sudden acceleration.

[LaAlyssa]

Holding an A-class driver's license typically refers to licenses of levels A1, A2, or A3, which authorize the operation of heavy vehicles such as large buses, tractors, and city buses. Due to their large size and heavy weight, safety is of particular importance when driving these vehicles. Extra attention must be paid to details that smaller vehicles might easily overlook, such as avoiding curbs when turning and refraining from sudden acceleration to prevent loss of control. The strict regulations and difficulty in obtaining these licenses are designed to reduce risks. In daily driving, performing pre-trip checks on small details like tires and lights can save a lot of trouble.