What do AS and MS marks mean on a driver's license?

What does the AS mark mean?

Abbreviation AS

in English it stands for “
A
utomotive
S
teering”, that is, an automobile type of control.

Official information about the AS mark is specified in Appendix No. 3 to Order No. 365 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation dated May 13, 2009 “On the entry into force of a driver’s license”:

“If there is a driver’s license of category “B” and there is no category “A”, in section 12 for subcategory “B1” an o is entered, confirming the presence of restrictions on driving vehicles of subcategory “B1” with a motorcycle seat or a motorcycle-type handlebar.”

Let's break it down point by point:

1. AS applies exclusively to category B1

and is entered opposite it in column 12 of the table

2.

AS means that
the driver can operate quadricycles and tricycles EXCLUSIVELY with car-type control.
That is, a vehicle of category B1 must have a “wheel” steering wheel, like a car, and a car seat position.

3. AS is placed in open category B and closed category A.

It is prohibited to drive a vehicle of category B1 with a motorcycle type of control (steering wheel and seating position, like a motorcycle)!

If caught, there will be an impressive fine, which is discussed below.

Basic information

The abbreviation AS stands for “automotive steering”, which means “automotive control”. This mark is placed in paragraph 12 of the driver’s license and means that the driver is allowed to drive a vehicle with a car steering wheel and seat. In other words, he is allowed to use vehicles equipped with steering.

Some people confuse the AS designation with AT, which only allows the vehicle to be driven with an automatic transmission. “AS” does not affect the type of gearbox in any way, but allows the use of a vehicle with a steering wheel.

Mark opposite B1

The AS mark on the driver's license is located on the back of the document, and, most often, is placed opposite point B or B1. You can see it only on driver’s licenses that do not have a mark indicating permission to drive category A vehicles, since both steering options are allowed in the Russian Federation.

"B1" allows the driver to drive a passenger vehicle. The AS mark is permission for the driver to drive all types of transport with a round steering wheel. Upon receipt of a license with B1 and AS marks, a person can drive such types of transport as:

• Buggy;
• ATVs;
• Tricycles;
• Motorcycles with steering wheel.

If there are both categories A and B1, o is not included in the document. You can see it only if you have permission for categories B and B1.

Other marks

In column 12 of the driver’s license you can see other marks. For example, the abbreviation "MS" means that the driver is allowed to drive a vehicle with a backless seat and motorcycle handlebars. You should also pay attention to the following notes:

• AT – permission to use vehicles with automatic transmission;
• ML – prohibition on driving mopeds (in the presence of medical contraindications);
• MC – permission to drive a vehicle with manual controls;
• GCL – prohibition of driving a car without glasses or optical lenses;
• HA/CF – prohibition on driving without a hearing aid.

These marks are most often indicated on driving licenses with categories B, D and E after drivers undergoing a medical examination are diagnosed with any health problems. If the requirements prescribed by these notes are not met, the driver may face a fine or loss of his driver's license.

What does the MS mark mean?

Abbreviation MS

in
English it stands for “
Motorcycle S
teering”, that is, a motorcycle type of control.

Official information about the MS mark is also stated in Order No. 365 “On the implementation of a driver’s license” (link above):

“If there is a driver’s license of category “A” and there is no category “B”, in section 12 for the subcategory “B1” an o is entered, confirming the right to drive vehicles of the subcategory “B1” only with a motorcycle seat or a motorcycle-type handlebar.”

That is, the essence of the MS mark is similar to AS:

1. MS applies exclusively to category B1

and is entered opposite it in column 12 of the table

2.

MS means that
the driver can drive quadricycles and tricycles EXCLUSIVELY with motorcycle control.
That is, a vehicle of category B1 must have a steering wheel and a riding position on the seat, like a motorcycle.

3. AS is assigned to open category A and closed category M.

It is prohibited to drive a vehicle of category B1 with automobile type of control!

If you break it and are caught, you will be issued a fine.

Why is it needed and what does the AS mark look like on a driver’s license?

For experienced car enthusiasts, the mark in point 12 AS on the license raised many questions. Motorists who replaced their old license with an updated version mistakenly assumed that this mark allowed them to drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

This abbreviation can be deciphered as “automotivesteering” or “automotive steering”. The basis of this inscription is that the vehicle being driven must have a car seat and steering wheel.

Before the introduction of new rules, according to the requirements for the main document of car owners, it was necessary to present special documents in order to be able to drive ATVs. Now, if a driver has a license with such a special mark, he does not need to present additional documents.

At the beginning of 2011, the member countries of the Vienna Convention decided to change the old format of the driving license. The updated version of the document meets the international standard and makes it possible to drive vehicles on the territory of the countries participating in the convention. Now citizens of the Russian Federation can travel abroad (in the territory of some countries) in their own car or rent a vehicle.

An improved version of the driver's license looks like an ordinary plastic card. Despite its modest size, it contains all the data about the motorist necessary for Russian and foreign road services.

This document also has several degrees of protection:

1. A special barcode that can be seen on the back of the document. The code contains complete information about the car owner, as well as the presence of fines for violations.
2. Colorful tints without sharp transitions or stripes.
3. Changes the color of rights when the document is positioned at a certain angle.
4. Hidden images.
5. Outlined and defective microtext. The first contains data about the government organization that issued and issued the certificate. The defective microtext contains the name of the ID.
6. Patterned mesh on the back.
7. Changing the color of luminescent paint to orange under the influence of UV rays. This paint is used to print letters, series numbers and numbers on a document.

A police officer, using a special device, can easily scan the necessary data about the car owner and identify a fake.

Why AS and MS marks?

The principles of driving tricycles and quadricycles with automobile and motorcycle type of control differ significantly. Automotive controls - steering wheel, clutch using a pedal, gears are switched by hand. Motorcycle controls - clutch on the handlebars, gears are switched by foot.

That is, to drive a vehicle with an automobile type, you need the skills to drive a car, and with a motorcycle, you need a motorcycle. Hence the meaning of the AS and MS marks - in order to drive a vehicle with a certain type of control, you need to undergo appropriate training and pass exams.

Mark AS for subcategory B1

A residence permit with an open subcategory B1 can be issued to a person who has reached the age of majority. The main thing is to study at an accredited institution and successfully pass the exams. Subcategory B1 allows you to drive the vehicles listed below:

• Tricycles with an engine capacity of up to 50 cm3, capable of accelerating to 50 km/h or more.
• Light quadricycles weighing up to 350 kg, capable of speeds up to 50 km/h inclusive.
• Quadricycles with a weight up to 400 kg inclusive and a power unit up to 15 kW. The weight of cargo models in this case can reach 550 kg.

New type of rights

The vehicle categories listed above are considered relatively new. It is not surprising that most adult drivers have never had the opportunity to drive one. However, time does not stand still, and motor vehicles (tricycles, ATVs) are rapidly gaining popularity.

To reduce the number of road accidents, it was decided to introduce subcategory B1. If the designation AS is present next to this subcategory, a person gets the opportunity to ride a motorcycle with a car type of control.

Age restrictions

To open any category, a person must meet acceptable conditions regarding age and driving experience:

• categories A1 and M can be opened very first, upon reaching the age of 16. It is also possible to operate vehicles belonging to the categories under consideration starting from the age of 16;
• You can open categories B and C starting from the age of 17, but obtaining a document and access to management is possible only after reaching the age of majority. That is, at the age of 17 you can undergo training at a driving school and pass all parts of the exam (theory, platform, practice), and you can receive the corresponding document on the day you turn 18 or a little later. In this way, the right to drive a car is realized from the age of 18;
• training in categories B1 and C1, and accordingly obtaining a license, is possible only from the age of 18;
• to begin training in categories D1, D, Tm and Tb you must be 21 years old;
• for subcategories with the letter E, you must have at least 1 year of driving experience in the corresponding categories. This is the only condition. There are no other requirements for drivers.

Categories and subcategories

A special place on the back of the certificate is given to existing and open categories (and subcategories) of vehicles.

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What it looks like and main points

The AS mark is placed on the back of the driver's license in column 12. The mark will always be opposite category B1 if the driver has opened this category, but categories A and A1 are not open.
Such marks help traffic police officers quickly determine whether you have the right to drive a particular type of vehicle, since the inscriptions are located in a separate column dedicated to this.

The driver's license is made of plastic. The size of the document fully complies with the requirements of the Convention on Road Traffic and is 85.6 * 54 mm. The corners of the ID are slightly rounded.

The color of the front side of the document is a smooth transition from blue to pink. The reverse side contains the reverse color design, that is, a transition from pink to blue. A background grid is applied to each side, which is a protective mark.

The following information is indicated on the front side of the certificate (the list items correspond to the items in the document):

1. Last name of the owner of the document.
2. First name and, if available, patronymic of the driver.
3. Date of birth and locality in which the person was born - the owner of the document.
4. Certificate information:
   date of issue of rights;
5. expiration date of the document;
6. the authority where the certificate was issued and issued. In addition to the name of the organization that issued the document (usually a traffic police department), the numerical designation of the department, consisting of 4 digits, is also indicated.
7. Number and series of the document. These data completely coincide with the numbers reflected in the lower right corner on the back of the ID.
8. Photo of the owner. The photo is taken directly at the traffic police department that issues the document. The color photograph must have a size of 21*30 mm. It is not allowed to post photos with your face covered. If religious rules require not removing the headdress, then the hat should not cover the face. If a person has the right to drive a vehicle exclusively with glasses, then the photo must be taken with glasses.
9. Owner's signature. The personal signature must be identical to the signature on the civil passport.
10. Region of permanent residence of a citizen.
11. Available categories (including subcategories) that the driver can use.
12. At the top of the front part there must be the name of the document (“Driver’s License”), which is painted in lilac paint. Above the photo there is a sign of Russia – RUS. At the bottom of the main side of the document there is an image of a road surface with marking lines in gray.
13. All lettering is made in Russian and duplicated in English.

The reverse side of the ID contains:

• barcode measuring 10*42 mm, which encrypts all information about the owner of the document. This field is intended for automatic identity verification;
• series and number of driver's license printed in red;
• document manufacturer's data.

The table opposite each category indicates:

1. Date of authorization to drive the vehicle.
2. The expiration date of the previously received permit.
3. Existing restrictions on the category (subcategory) in question.
   For example, the decoding of a driver’s license of the new type AS, placed opposite category B1, means that a person can operate vehicles of this subcategory, equipped exclusively with an automobile type steering wheel.
4. The line is missing.
5. Additional Information. The column may indicate: total driving experience, previous license number, restrictions that apply to all categories at once, additional information about the owner of the document, and so on.