Decoding driver's license categories
Each category and subcategory has its own individual requirements for road transport. A breakdown of the driver's license categories is given below.
A
A category A transport license allows you to drive the following motor vehicles:
- motorized strollers;
- motorcycles;
- motorcycles with motorcycle trailers.
The definition of a motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine capacity of 50 cubic centimeters or more and a maximum speed of more than fifty km/h. A side stroller is allowed. Motorcycles also include three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles whose weight does not exceed 0.4 tons, excluding the battery.
A1
Letter A1 allows you to drive only motorcycles. These licenses are issued for driving a scooter or ATV. Transport must meet the following characteristics:
- power up to eleven kilowatts;
- engine capacity from 50 to 125 cubic meters;
- lack of a motorcycle trailer.
B
Category B includes passenger vehicles. It must meet the following requirements:
- weight no more than three and a half tons;
- nine seats including the driver's seat;
- it is possible to carry a load of up to 0.75 tons;
- a trailer can have more weight, but then it must be smaller than a car.
BE
This group includes passenger vehicles with heavy loads. In 2021, a citizen has the right to drive a car with a trailer that meets these characteristics:
- weight more than 0.75 tons;
- total weight more than 3.5 tons;
- the mass of the cargo is greater than the mass of the vehicle without load.
To obtain a VE, you must pass an additional exam, since the certificate belongs to a separate group.
B1
This is a subcategory that appeared relatively recently. There is practically no clear information in official documents about what fits the definition of this car. Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 states that this includes tricycles and ATVs.
C
Category C includes trucks of various capacities:
- weighing from three and a half tons;
- vehicles with trailers less than 0.75 tons.
Letter C includes all road transport used for cargo transportation.
C.E.
Category CE includes vehicles with a trailer weighing more than 0.75 tons. The vehicle requires certain driving skills, because it is difficult to maneuver with such a heavy vehicle. There is a traffic ban on some roads.
C1
C1 includes lightweight vehicles for cargo transportation. Parameters for these cars:
- weight from three and a half to seven and a half tons;
- vehicle with a load of up to 0.75 tons.
When a citizen receives a category C license, C1 is automatically assigned. In 2021, it becomes possible to take subcategory C1 separately.
C1E
This includes vehicles with a trailer, for which there are clear requirements. This is a lighter version of the CE, because here the weight of the trailer can be more than 0.75 tons, but only if the following conditions are met:
- total weight less than twelve tons;
- The weight of the load must not exceed the unladen weight of the main vehicle.
The subcategory is obtained when passing the CE, but there is an opportunity to pass it separately.
D
D is a motor vehicle designed to transport passengers. The main emphasis of the rights is the number of seats. There are certain weight requirements here. Trams and trolleybuses are not included in these driving categories.
DE
The letter E usually indicates the presence of a trailer, but passenger buses with a cargo trailer are extremely rare on the roads. Articulated buses mainly fall into this subcategory.
D1
This subcategory includes minibuses that have from 9 to 17 seats including the driver’s seat. This vehicle can have a trailer for transporting goods weighing 0.75 tons.
D1E
This subcategory includes various passenger vehicles that have the following parameters:
- from nine to seventeen seats, including the driver's seat;
- the total weight of the vehicle with cargo should not exceed twelve tons;
- there is a special trailer for transporting various cargoes less than 0.75 tons.
M
This group has appeared recently and is designed to regulate moped riding. In 2021, this includes lightweight ATVs. A moped is a type of two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle that meets the following parameters:
- maximum speed – no more than fifty kilometers per hour;
- engine volume – up to fifty centimeters cubed;
- power up to four kilowatts.
A certificate marked M is obtained when passing a license for absolutely any other type of license. It is worth noting that in addition to mopeds, this includes electric bicycles and other means of transportation.
Tm
This category includes trams. Both single and articulated models can be controlled.
How to obtain rights to this category?
The Category B driver training program lasts approximately 3 months. The full period depends on whether you want to get a license only to drive a car with an automatic transmission or a manual one, and whether you will simultaneously open other categories and subcategories that require additional training.
Theoretical training takes place in specially equipped classrooms. Future drivers learn the rules of the road and driving vehicles of the selected category. The acquired knowledge is consolidated during practical classes. The license is obtained after exams at the traffic police, to which our teachers accompany the graduates. On the website of the driving school in Moscow you will find more detailed information about courses, tuition fees and additional classes that we also offer to our clients.
Basic manual transmission course
- Full course of theoretical studies
- 28 hours of practice
What's included in the program:
- 2 lessons at VEC
- Exam in the traffic police
- Educational literature
- Petrol
- Registration and submission of documents to the traffic police
- Submitting a car for an exam
RUB 27,000
Submit your application
Full manual transmission course
- Full course of theoretical studies
- 56 hours of practice
What's included in the program:
- 2 lessons at VEC
- Exam in the traffic police
- Educational literature
- Petrol
- Registration and submission of documents to the traffic police
- Submitting a car for an exam
RUB 36,000
Submit your application
Basic automatic transmission course
- Full course of theoretical studies
- 28 hours of practice
What's included in the program:
- 2 lessons at VEC
- Exam in the traffic police
- Educational literature
- Petrol
- Registration and submission of documents to the traffic police
- Submitting a car for an exam
28,000 rub.
Submit your application
Full automatic transmission course
- Full course of theoretical studies
- 54 hours of practice
What category of license is needed to drive a limousine, the number of passengers and the weight of the limousine
On domestic roads you can often find vehicles that are difficult to unambiguously assign to one category or another. One of such vehicles is considered to be a limousine. At first glance, this is a passenger car, and initially one might assume that you need to open B for it, but this is not entirely true. This article will help you understand what category the driver of this exotic car should have and how to avoid a fine if you do not have the necessary license.
Driver's license and categories
When traveling in a limousine, the driver must have with him and, at the request of the authorities, present to them:
- A certificate of the required category, giving the right to drive this vehicle.
- Power of attorney for the use or disposal of a specific car, if it is not yours.
- Technical passport (a document confirming the passage of state technical control).
- Insurance policy.
As for what class of license is required for a limousine, the driver requires confirmation to drive passenger transport, that is, D. This is explained by the fact that, according to customs documents, this type of transport is a bonnet bus, the interior of which can accommodate more than 8 seats.
How is the category calculated?
The vehicle category is calculated based on the following data:
- Dimensions of the vehicle.
- Machine weight.
- Number of wheels.
- The speed that a given vehicle can reach.
The braking distance, acceleration time and other parameters depend on these data. It should be understood that assigning a vehicle a certain category is not a bureaucratic trick, but a vital necessity. The fact is that in a driving school a person is taught to drive a certain type of vehicle. Let’s say a person has received a driver’s license category B (passenger cars) - if such a person is put behind the wheel of a truck (category C), then there is a high probability that the person will lose control and have an accident.
Category B license
“B” licenses allow you to drive a car weighing less than 3,500 kg with no more than 8 passenger seats (excluding the driver’s seat). Minivans, such as Mitsubishi Grandis, are still passenger cars, and even many GAZelle owners live quietly with “B” certificates. It is important to remember that for these vehicles the permissible maximum weight (GMM) of the trailer is 750 kg . Documents are issued from the age of 18.
Thus, the previous point remained almost familiar. However, there is a point that more fully reflects which trailer can be towed with category B.
BE Rights
Subcategory BE applies to drivers who plan to equip their vehicle with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg . If the vehicle for cargo transportation meets the acceptable parameters, you will not have to change your rights.
What other trailers fall under category B? The driver will not be fined if the total weight of the train with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg remains within 3.5 tons. You can obtain a BE license from the age of 19, provided that your driving experience is at least 12 months.
So, we figured out which trailer can be driven with category B. It remains to figure out how to obtain the missing permit in case subcategory BE is required. The law obliges you to go to a driving school again, take exams and, based on their results, become the owner of a new certificate.
Fortune on two wheels
We are talking about amendments to the Law “On Road Safety”.
Let us remind you that these amendments introduce new categories into driver’s licenses, as well as subcategories. In addition to the usual “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “BE”, “CE”, “DE”, the “M” category has appeared - mopeds and scooters. From today, you can only ride a moped on the roads with a license. And with anyone. Any open category allows you to drive this two-wheeler. And without a license, you can no longer drive such vehicles. This is the first of two provisions of the law that will actually come into effect from the moment it comes into force.
However, for now, for driving a moped without a license, the driver only faces a fine of 800 rubles. And if he drove a moped without a license and while drunk, then the maximum punishment for this is a fine of one thousand to one and a half thousand rubles.
For driving a moped without a license, the driver only faces a fine of 800 rubles.
The law also introduces subcategories "A1" - light motorcycles with an engine capacity of up to 125 cubic centimeters, "B1" - ATVs and tricycles, "C1" - trucks up to 7.5 tons, "D1" - buses up to 16 seats. Subcategories such as “C1E” and “D1E” also appear. They make it possible to drive vehicles of the corresponding categories with trailers.
These innovations were introduced to simplify the process of training drivers and passing exams at the traffic police. Why would a driver who only plans to drive a pickup truck, such as a Toyota Tundra, need to learn the requirements for dump trucks? It is enough to go through the simplified program and pass the exam for category “C1”. Or why should a father of a family with many children learn all the intricacies of transporting passengers if he is not going to transport anyone except his own family and friends? Category “D1” is enough for him. True, this same category is also enough for minibus drivers, but that’s a different story.
To further facilitate the fate of driver candidates, amendments to the same law introduced the opportunity to study and take the test in a car with an automatic transmission.
In the future, such drivers will only be able to drive cars with such a transmission. To do this, the rights in the “restrictions” column will include o. Those who have trained and passed the test in a car with a manual transmission will be able to drive a car of this category with any gearbox.
You can get a license for a moped and light motorcycles from the age of 16. But for now, those who have a moped, but no license, will have to lay it down. Because driving schools, despite the entry into force of the law, cannot yet teach for this category, as well as for subcategories. In the same way, the State Traffic Inspectorate cannot accept exams on them. Because there are still no necessary by-laws.
Programs are required to train drivers. However, the government decree that will instruct one or another department to develop these programs has not yet been signed. The development of the programs was undertaken by the Ministry of Education. However, this happened just a couple of weeks ago. The programs are expected to be ready in December. Only after they are approved will driving schools be able to obtain licenses to train drivers in category “M” and subcategories.
It is noteworthy that from today no one will be able to pass the so-called self-preparation exam at the traffic police. This is the second and last innovation of the new law, which will work from the moment it comes into force. The law specifically prohibits driver self-training. Now you can pass the driver's license exam only after completing the appropriate course of study at an educational institution with the appropriate license. And before the exam, the traffic police will need to present a certificate of driver’s profession, prepared on a form protected from counterfeiting, which will be issued by a driving school.
A draft government resolution on allowing drivers to drive vehicles has now been developed. It makes significant changes to the examination procedure.
An exam at a driving school will count toward the exam at the traffic police if it has an automated racing track.
So, for example, motorcyclists and scooter riders, according to this document, will have to submit to the traffic police not only the theory and the platform, as was previously the case. They will also accept driving in the city. How this will be accomplished purely physically is still unknown. Perhaps the examiner will ride nearby and give commands via radio. The subtleties of taking exams should be spelled out in another document - administrative regulations. It will appear after this government decree is signed.
The internal exam at a driving school - theory and platform - will count towards the exam at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate if this driving school has an automated race track. This is also spelled out in the draft government resolution on admission to driving a vehicle. There are now about 30 such driving schools in the country.
Driving schools that do not have automated racing tracks, but have computer classes and areas for teaching basic skills that meet the requirements of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, will be able to invite inspectors to take the first two exams at their premises.
At the same time, the traffic police will monitor such exams for six months. And if the percentage of passing the theory the first time is below 30, and the percentage of passing the platform the first time is below 20, then the traffic police will deprive the driving school of such a privilege, and its students will have to take the exam directly to the State Traffic Inspectorate.
How many and what kind of exercises will be performed on the site is also unknown. This should also be specified in the administrative regulations.
The traffic police still administers the driving test in the city. However, the vehicle will have to be provided by the candidate for the license.
