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Driver's license categories with explanation

10.04.2021

People who do not have a driver's license often believe that the latter have only three categories "A", "B" and "C". In fact, everything is much more complicated in this matter and the driver's license has much more varieties. Let's figure out what aredriving license categories for 2018 with a breakdown the latter.

What are driving license categories and what are they

So, every driver is required to have a driver's license that allows him to drive a vehicle. And the category of this document indicates which type of transport is available for driving to a citizen.

For 2018, a citizen of the Russian Federation has the right to obtain the rights of 5 main categories:

  • A - motorcycles of different models;
  • B - cars;
  • C - freight transport;
  • D - buses and fixed-route taxis;
  • M - mopeds.

In addition to the main divisions, the first four varieties have additional branches A1-D1, respectively. Auxiliary categories provide for the possibility of driving a similar type of transport, but with some differences. It is also not uncommon to find categories of rights with the addition of the letter E, the latter meaning that a trailer can be attached to the main vehicle. Without an additional letter in the certificate, the driver with a heavy trailer will receive a fine.

The car owner is allowed to drive vehicles corresponding to the specified category. If the traffic police inspector sees a discrepancy, then the motorist will receive a fine in the amount of 5-15 thousand rubles.

Driver's license categories 2018 with explanation

Let's talk in more detail about what kind of transport a driver of each category can drive. The necessary information is indicated in a special table on the back of the driver's license. One person can have several open categories at will.

Category A - motorcycles

The driver of this category has the right to drive motorcycles with or without a cradle. It is also permissible to drive ATVs and motorized carriages, the latter are extremely rare today. An important condition is that the vehicle in running order should not exceed a weight of 400 kg, otherwise a license of a different category is required.

Subcategory A1 is suitable for driving light, low-power motorcycles with an engine capacity of not more than 125 cubic centimeters and a power of not more than 11 kW. If the driver has the main category open, then the secondary category is also available to him in this case. The peculiarity of these rights is that they are issued to citizens over the age of 16.


The presence of such rights does not mean that the driver is able to control the motorcycle. This license allows you to drive the following vehicles:

  • cars with a mass of not more than 35 centners, the number of passenger seats in which is not more than 8;
  • vehicles with a trailer, the maximum capacity of the latter is not more than 750 kg;
  • cars with a trailer, the load of which is more than 750 kg, but not more than the mass of the vehicle itself without additional load, and the total mass of the train is not more than 3.5 tons.

Thus, this includes cars, SUVs and minibuses that meet the requirements.

A B1 license is required to drive tricycles and quadricycles. Do not confuse the latter with an ATV, this is a fundamentally different transport.


We continue to describecategories of driver's license 2018 with decoding.The owner of this variety has the right to drive heavy vehicles. These are medium and heavy trucks whose weight varies from 3500 to 7500 kg or more, coupled with a trailer with a carrying capacity of not more than 750 kg or without it.

Subcategories CE and C1E, similarly to the previous description, allow driving the same transport with heavy trailers (more than 750 kg). For C1E there is a restriction in the total weight of the composition - no more than 12 tons.


Such a driver's license allows you to drive a passenger transport with more than 8 seats with a small trailer. That is, these are fixed-route buses, fixed-route taxis and large tourist buses. Articulated buses and "accordions" do not fall into this category. As well as trolleybuses and trams, separate categories of rights were allocated for the latter in 2018.

Articulated buses require a DE license category. It is also necessary in the case of towing a heavy trailer by bus or minibus.

Subcategory D1 is sufficient if the driver plans to drive a vehicle with a number of passenger seats from 8 to 16. Coupling with a trailer with a total weight of not more than 750 kg is permissible. That is, this category of rights is most appropriate for drivers of minibuses and small buses RAF-2203, popularly referred to as "Rafiks".

Category D1E is required for driving a passenger vehicle coupled with a trailer weighing more than 7.5 centners. In this case, the trailer must not be used for the transport of passengers. And the total weight of the composition should not exceed 12 tons.


Such rights are required to drive mopeds and light ATVs. Drivers with any other category of rights can drive all vehicles belonging to this type.

The Tb and Tm category licenses open up the possibility of driving a tram and a trolleybus. Previously, this transport was not separately allocated, and the right to drive was determined by a special note in the corresponding column.

It's all driving license categories 2018 with explanation. The driver has the right to open access to driving even for all modes of transport. To do this, it is enough to undergo training and pass an exam at the traffic police, but in general, nothing new.