Decoding of all categories on a driver's license 2021

Table of driving license categories in 2018

A new driver's license is issued for driving one or more of 16 categories of vehicles. Added to the 5 types of rights that existed before 2014 (A, B, C, D and E):

• separate types of documents for each type of vehicle with trailer;
• rights to drive part of the transport within one group (light motorcycles, buses with a limited number of passengers, etc.) - these are subcategories of driver’s licenses containing the number “1” in the name;
• documents for driving trams and trolleybuses;
• certificate for moped owners.

Groups of modes of transport that require a driver’s license to drive in 2021, and the breakdown of driver’s license categories are discussed in the table:

When replacing an old-style car driving document with a new license, the following principles are used:

• the license of group E corresponds to the marks in the license of the new sample BE, CE, C1E, DE, D1E;
• along with the check marks for passing categories A, B, C, D, on the back of the license, marks are placed on admission to driving vehicles of types A1, B1, C1, D1, respectively;
• owners of any type of license are allowed to ride a moped (vehicle of group M), which is recorded on the back of the document;
• holders of old rights of group A, when replacing a document, are given an additional mark B1.

Driver's license - appearance and information

For more than five years, licenses of a new type have been issued - made in the form of a rectangular plastic card, the size of which resembles a bank card. The background color palette is purple, blue and pink. On the front side at the top there is the mark “RUS” and the name of the document.

You can also see a photo of the owner and the following information:

1. last name, first name and patronymic of the owner of the certificate (full name);
2. date and place of his birth (region or country indicated);
3. date of issue of the certificate and expiration date of its legal validity;
4. the state body that issued the document (the specific traffic police department is indicated);
5. the categories of vehicles that the driver has the right to drive are listed;
6. The driver's personal signature is located.

On the reverse side, as already mentioned, you can see a plate. In the first column, the designation of letters (sometimes with numbers) and small transport symbols are indicated, which indicate the categories of rights. In the second column - the date of receipt of the right to drive vehicles of this category. The third is the expiration date of such right.

Important! In accordance with the 2021 traffic rules, new categories, as well as subcategories, have been introduced. The list was significantly expanded, which led to disputes between drivers and authorities.

Driving license category A

This document allows the driver to ride a motorcycle with an engine volume of more than 125 cm³, including two-wheelers, two-wheelers with a sidecar, three- and four-wheelers (weight limit - up to 400 kg).

Citizens aged 18 years and older are allowed to take the exam for such rights; training can be completed from the age of 17. The theory test is the same as that provided for future drivers of Type B cars. Therefore, you will not need to retake the theory test to drive a motorcycle if you have a license to drive a passenger car. The motorcycle driving test is carried out only at the race track.

A category A document also guarantees the ability to drive vehicles of types A1 and M.

Difference between old and new driver's licenses

Since 2014, the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate has introduced a new model of driver's license. No significant changes were introduced, but the general appearance of the certificate in some respects changed slightly:

1. The old-style driver's license is distinguished from the new one by its color: the first was yellow, and the second has a pink-lilac tint.
2. On the reverse side there is a sign that explains the open categories and their validity period.
3. Improved document security system.
4. On the reverse side there is a barcode that allows you to find out the driver’s personal data.

Driving license category B

With a license you can drive cars weighing up to 3500 kg. The maximum permissible number of seats excluding the driver's seat is 8. Motorized strollers with a trailer, if their weight is over 400 kg, are considered in the same row as cars.

In addition, a trailer may be attached to a motor vehicle if it:

• weighs up to 750 kg;
• weighs more than 750 kg, but less than the car to which it is attached, when unladen and their total mass is less than 3500 kg.

A special feature of this category of license is that it can be used in a car with an automatic transmission. A corresponding note (AT) is made in the document. When replacing a car with a manual transmission brand, you must retake the driving test at the site.

If the driver has the right to drive only a manually controlled car, the MC mark is affixed.

BE

Type BE licenses are issued for driving a passenger car, minibus, jeep, small truck (mode of transport corresponding to the parameters of group B) with a trailer. The exception is a small trailer: it is allowed to be coupled to a machine, which will continue to be classified as type B.

The exam for such a license can be taken if you have at least 1 year of driving experience.

A type B or BE document allows you to drive passenger cars and additionally type B1 vehicles.

Types of costs for obtaining rights

The VU course includes several main stages, each of which may require a certain amount of money from the future driver. Moreover, this list includes not only DOSAAF, but also other related structures. So that they don’t charge you too much, we will find out how much a car license costs in detail.

Basic training

As with most educational institutions,

In driving school everything is based on theory. On average, it takes about 54 hours to study traffic rules, markings, signs and vehicle control mechanisms (3 sessions per week, 1.5 hours each). And this is about 3 months of classes with an instructor.

If a person has driving experience and only undergoes re-certification, then he is allowed not to attend courses. But you still have to pay for them. And this stage can cost (depending on the region and city) from 15 to 25 thousand rubles.

The situation with driving is completely similar. The minimum amount of time that each student must travel is 30 hours for manual and 15 hours for automatic. If a citizen does not learn anything during the allotted period, then he will take all subsequent classes on an individual basis (the cost of such lessons is set by the instructor, based on the fuel and time spent).

Additional class hours

Those drivers who were unable to answer the trial exam papers should be most interested in the question of how much it costs to learn a license for a passenger car. Indeed, in this case, the driving school provides additional courses for a separate payment (from 300 to 500 rubles per session). And this also applies to driving lessons. But the price for the second category of classes will be higher (500-1000 rubles per hour for a car with an automatic transmission and 1000-1500 rubles for a car with a manual transmission).

Benefits

In addition to theoretical studies, specialized manuals that allow the driver to test his knowledge at home also help in passing the license. It can be:

• A brochure with traffic rules (in order for the traffic rules to be up-to-date, you should take the latest edition. Otherwise, unpleasant snags may occur during the exam);
• Problem book (a small book with illustrations and test questions that outlines the most common situations on the road);
• State tickets from MREO (on average, 100 tickets are distributed to driving school students, it is advisable to study each of them in advance. And this can be done remotely, via the Internet);
• Brochure with comments (a very good assistant for a novice driver, shedding light on all controversial issues in tickets).

Such a set will cost DOSAAF students about 700 rubles. But if you pass the exam the first time, a person will save a lot more money. Therefore, such an investment, as a safety net, can be considered minimal.

Medical commission

Studying for a driver's license is not only practice and theory. In order to obtain the appropriate license to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle, a citizen also needs to pass a mandatory medical commission, which will determine three main criteria:

• Psychological condition;
• Presence of drug habits;
• Possible vision problems.

In practice, if a person applies for a temporary residence permit for the first time, doctors often issue him a certificate without any checks, for a modest fee (about 700-1200 rubles).

But if we are talking about drivers with a specialty (excavator operator, bulldozer operator, or driving a road train), then they receive permission from a doctor only after a thorough examination. Moreover, this procedure is repeated even when registering an experienced driver of the highest category, or when retraining him.

State duty

Payment of the state fee is a mandatory step for any citizen eager to learn his license. How much such a tax will cost for the current year can be found out online by going to the official website of the traffic police (as of 2021, the current amount is considered to be 2,000 rubles). You should pay the state fee before taking the exams at the traffic police, since without a receipt you simply will not be allowed to appear.

Photos

According to the law (namely order No. 365 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation), in order to obtain a driver’s license, a citizen must provide MREO employees with two color photographs measuring 21x30 mm. In addition, the driving school student will also need a couple of photographs for medical certificates. In total, a collage of four images will cost approximately 150 rubles, which is also included in the cost of studying for a license.

Exam costs

After a person completes the practical and theoretical training courses, receives all the signatures and pays the state fee, she only has one step left before being issued a driving license - passing the exam. But even this stage will require financial investments from the driver. Namely:

• Electronic tickets – 60 rubles;
• Driving – 100 rubles (for scooters, mopeds, ATVs and other motor vehicles, the cost of the practical exam will be slightly less).

At the same time, you need to pay the listed amounts, as well as the state duty, through the cashier, 1-2 days before the event itself (the bank is not responsible for transferring checks to the MREO, so you will have to provide them in person).

Subcategory B1

Subcategory B1 is quadricycles and tricycles.

The back of the driver's license may contain the mark AS, it refers to this type of vehicle. The abbreviation means that it is allowed to ride quadricycles and tricycles with automobile-type control (its indicator is the presence of a steering wheel). Drivers with additional category A do not need this entry; they have the right to drive motorcycles and quadricycles with any type of control.

There is also an MS mark - about permission only to drive type B1 vehicles with a seat and handlebars like a motorcycle.

It is important to keep in mind that ATVs and ATVs are different modes of transportation. The former are used for driving on public roads, the latter - off-road. To drive an ATV, you must be a holder of an A1 tractor driver's license.

Additional courses and retraining features

You can only get a driver's license at the traffic police department. This document is the main one, since only upon presentation of it can you safely travel without fear of receiving a fine. This certificate has two types: national and international. Usually people get national.

Every 10 years there is a mandatory replacement of rights, since without changes after this period they are considered invalid. The driver must remember that this procedure should not be complicated, so you must not lose the documents that will have to be attached to the license. If a citizen of the Russian Federation decides to go abroad not temporarily, but for permanent residence, he is forced to replace and obtain a driver’s license before this action. There are times when the ID is lost. Then a paper is issued with the mark “Duplicate”, and the old document loses its relevance.

When a duplicate is received, there is a possibility that the driver will be asked to familiarize himself with the traffic rules, but this does not always happen. It should be remembered that if it is officially recorded that a driver’s license has been lost since the age of 16 as a result of theft, fire or other accident, then you will definitely not have to confirm your knowledge of traffic rules.

In order to raise your category, for example, to select a vehicle category that allows you to drive vehicles weighing more than 3 tons, buses, trucks with trailers (CE, D, D1, etc.), you must take additional courses. Retraining requires special skills. For example, in order to learn how to perform the technique “Turning a truck with a trailer on a section of road with limited dimensions,” a special training ground is required.

For this reason, many cities may not have a site for training specialists. This often requires traveling to another city. Separately, we should consider the categories of the new driver’s license; these licenses already include categories M (moped), Tm (tram), Tb (trolleybus). Please note that licenses of categories C and D (with subcategories) are issued only to persons over 21 years of age.

Driving license category C

C and C1 are categories for truck drivers. With a type C license you can drive a vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons.

The minimum age to take the certification exam is 18 years.

Trucks can also be coupled to a trailer. Its weight cannot be more than 750 kg. There is no exception for a trailer if its weight is over 750 kilograms, but does not exceed the weight of the car without cargo.

SE

To drive a truck towing a trailer that weighs more than 750 kg, regardless of the weight of the truck in relation to the weight of the trailer and the weight of the entire train, a CE type certificate is required. You can get it if you have more than 1 year of experience driving a car weighing 3.5 tons or more.

Subcategories on a driver's license - what do they mean? Main characteristics

In addition to the main categories of vehicles, there is also a list of subcategories. Since the concept of “subcategory” is quite new, it raises quite a lot of questions among motorists. Therefore, let’s figure out what the term “subcategory” means and what vehicles it refers to.

Subcategory A1 – light motorcycle

A light motorcycle is a motorcycle with an engine capacity of no more than 125 cm3. You can obtain a subcategory from the age of 16 by completing a course at a driving school and passing the appropriate exams.

Subcategory B1 – tricycle, quadricycle

This subcategory of rights includes quadricycles and tricycles whose engine capacity is more than 50 cm3 and their weight is less than 550 kilograms. To open B1, you do not need to pass exams at a driving school; you become the owner of this subcategory of rights automatically after completing training and passing exams in categories A and B.

When studying subcategory B1, it is important not to confuse a quadricycle and an ATV.

Their differences are as follows:

Subcategory C1 – small or medium truck

You can drive a car weighing from 3.5 to 7.5 tons only if you have an open subcategory C1 in your driver’s license. If the car is with a trailer, then the weight of the second one should be no more than 750 kilograms. You can open this subcategory from the age of 18 after completing training at a driving school.

Subcategory C1E – cars of subcategory C1 + trailer

Subcategory C1E gives the right to drive a car of subcategory C1 (small or medium truck, weighing from 3.5 to 7.5 tons) with a trailer whose weight is more than 750 kg, but does not exceed the weight of the car itself without load. For this subcategory, the maximum permitted vehicle weight should not exceed 12,000 kilograms. This subcategory can be opened from the age of 18, and an experience of category C or subcategory C1 of 12 months is also required.

Subcategory D1 – bus with sixteen seats

A bus that has from eight to sixteen passenger seats (excluding the driver's seat) is included in subcategory D1. Within this subcategory, a trailer weighing up to 0.75 kilograms can be attached to the bus. You can open D1 only after reaching the age of twenty-one.

Subcategory D1E – car of subcategory D1 + trailer

If you drive a vehicle that transports people (category D1), but the vehicle has a trailer whose weight exceeds 0.75 tons, but is less than the weight of the bus itself, then your license subcategory is D1E.

The total weight of a car in this subcategory must not exceed 12,000 kilograms. It is important! If you need this subcategory, you must first obtain 12 months of driving experience in a D or D1 car.

Subcategory C1

A driver's document type C1 gives the right to drive a truck with one caveat: the permitted maximum weight of the vehicle is 7.5 tons. To drive vehicles with a larger axle load, the main category is required - C (it does not include vehicle weight limits).

Driving trucks with a trailer is regulated according to the same principle as for type C vehicles: a trailer weighing up to 750 kg is allowed.

C1E

If a truck trailer is heavier than 750 kg, but not heavier than an empty vehicle, you need a C1E license to drive it. The document is used for driving a vehicle, provided that its total weight with a trailer is up to 12 tons. When the specified value is exceeded or the trailer weighs more than the car, a CE mark is required.

Opening additional categories

If a driver wants to open new categories in his license, he will have to undergo training at a driving school and pass qualifying exams in theory and practice. There are different exams for each. You cannot prepare for the exams on your own; to be admitted to the exam, you need a certificate from the driving school of completion of the course.

To open categories A, A1, M and B1, you must pass a theoretical exam and pass driving on a race track:

• perform a figure eight, a snake, demonstrate high-speed movement;
• hand over parking and exit from the parking space;
• correctly stop vehicles to pick up or unload passengers.

To open category B, you must additionally complete the “Controlled intersection” exercise on an automated racing track; the instructor will ask you to drive along an overpass, drive downhill, reverse into a conditional garage, park, make 90-degree turns, and turn the car around in a limited area.

To open C, D and subcategories C1, D1, in addition to theory, you need to demonstrate skills in driving a cargo vehicle on the site and in real urban conditions: perform standard exercises on training vehicles of the requested category, coupling and uncoupling, parking at the platform for unloading.

If you studied at a driving school in a car with an automatic transmission, but there is a need to drive a car with a manual transmission, you will have to retake the driving test at the race track. Only after a successful retake will you receive a license without an AT mark.

Driving license category D

This type of document allows you to drive a bus with a capacity of 9 people or more without a driver. Citizens at least 21 years old have the right to drive a bus.

The exception is for the military - they can obtain a license and drive vehicles belonging to the military department from the age of 19.

A trailer can also be attached to such a vehicle if it is lighter than 750 kg. Buses with a trailer are considered articulated and must be driven in category E.

DE

Citizens who have driven a bus for more than a year have the opportunity to pass to the next category - DE. If you have it, you are allowed to drive articulated vehicles of this type, buses with large trailers, buses of types D1 and D1E.

As for trailers for this type of transport, you need to remember that, regardless of their weight, cargo trailers and caravan trailers cannot carry people.

How and where to get a new driver's license?

A new type of license can be obtained in three ways:

1. Contact any traffic police department.
2. Through the government services website (https://www.gosuslugi.ru/10056/2).
3. At any public assistance center “My Documents”.

It will be most convenient for citizens to use the second and third options. This way you can avoid queues. To submit documents for a new driver's license, you will need:

1. Passport.
2. Old ID (if not lost).
3. Matte photographs 35 by 45 millimeters, b/w or color.
4. Medical certificate in form No. 003-В/у
5. Receipt for payment of state duty in the amount of 2000 rubles. If you apply for new rights electronically, there is a 30% discount on the government services website (1,400 instead of 2,000 rubles).

If you are applying through My Documents or the traffic police department, you will be asked to fill out an application.

It is also important to remember that obtaining a new driver's license does not exempt you from the need to obtain an international driver's license if you intend to travel by car in all countries where it is required.

Home » Blog » Driver's license categories with explanation

01.05.2018

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A driver's license allows a motorist to drive the type of transport whose category is indicated on the license. After all, cars differ in engine size, load capacity, availability of passenger seats, complexity and degree of danger of driving. To drive a certain type of vehicle, you must obtain a license with the appropriate marking. In this article we will look at all categories of driver's licenses with decoding, taking into account all the innovations.

Subcategory D1

A separate group of transport consists of buses that can accommodate 9-16 passengers. A driver's document of subcategory D1 is used to drive a small bus with a trailer (if it is lighter than 750 kg).

D1E

Certificate type D1E is provided for drivers of a bus whose trailer weighs more than 750 kg, but less than the tractor itself.

When driving a bus designed for 9-16 passenger seats with a tow hitch, 2 conditions must be met:

• the total weight of the vehicle cannot be more than 12 tons;
• It is prohibited to transport people in a trailer.

Citizens who have passed the DE type driving test will be added to the D1E type automatically.

Driver's license photo requirements

Every car owner should know what photos are needed for a driver’s license. There are many criteria, they are set out in Appendix 1 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 390 dated April 27, 2002.

The main thing is that the photo is digital.

As for the facial expression and direction of gaze, the traffic police officer responsible for the procedure will explain.

The photo on the new device is placed in a field whose size is 2.1 x 3 cm. This is exactly the size the photo should be. The computer program used by the traffic police is responsible for this, so there is nothing to worry about.

It can be noted that the photograph is taken from the front, only in color and only on a light gray background. The face occupies at least 80% of the photo area, and hair should not hide part of the face or ears in the frame. The free margin above the head is 2-4 mm.

The sharpness and contrast settings are standard, as they are programmed. The digital format makes it easy to make adjustments if necessary.

The face should be completely centered. Tilts and turns of the head are not allowed, and the gaze must be directed directly at the lens. The eyes need to be open enough so that determining their color does not become a problem. If there is a diagnosis of vision, the photo is taken with glasses, but only those with not too massive frames. Sunglasses must be removed. You must be photographed without a headdress. This is not prohibited only for citizens with certain religious views.

As for makeup, it should not be flashy. Only neutral tones are allowed that do not hide or change the main features of the face. Earrings, pendants and chains are not acceptable.

But in order not to return home because of trifles, it is important to understand what clothes the photo should be taken in. If possible, in a strict, formal manner. Of course, without deep necklines and frivolously open shoulders.

Category E

The new driver's license does not contain the universal category E, which previously allowed driving all types of vehicles with a trailer.

Holders of a previous type of license for driving vehicles with a trailer, if it is replaced, will be given marks indicating the ability to drive the following types of cars and buses:

• BE - a passenger car that weighs up to 3.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle;
• CE - a truck that weighs from 3.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle;
• C1E is a truck that weighs from 3.5 to 7.5 tons, with a towbar weighing from 750 kg, exceeding the weight of the empty vehicle, with a total weight of up to 12 tons;
• DE - bus connected to a trailer weighing from 750 kg;
• D1E is a bus for 9-16 passengers with a towbar weighing from 750 kg.

Since 2014, each of these marks in the certificate is affixed after passing a separate exam (with the exception of the automatic assignment of the C1E or D1E mark upon receipt of category C or D, respectively).

A special feature of obtaining a document to drive a vehicle with a trailer is the mandatory requirement of at least 1 year of driving experience while driving the same type of vehicle without a trailer.

What does a driver's license look like and what information is included on the license?

A driver's license confirms the right to drive a vehicle and contains complete information about the owner, except perhaps the registration address - which is different from a passport. By the way, your license can also be used as an identification document.

This is understandable, because the new sample document contains:

• photograph and full name of the owner;
• date and place of birth;
• information about assigned categories;
• document number and validity period;
• date of issue and name of organization;
• owner's signature and additional information about him.

Additional information may be provided about your previous license, overall driving experience, blood type, as well as restrictions that apply to each category of rights. All information on the driver's license is written in Cyrillic and duplicated in Latin letters.

The new driver's license is a double-sided plastic card measuring 5.5 x 8.5 cm. One side of the document contains information about the driver, and the other side contains information about the categories of vehicles available for driving.

Front side rights

• The name of the document and its territorial affiliation are indicated at the top.
• Below on the left there is space for a color photograph measuring 3x4 cm of the owner of the rights.

The law prohibits the use of photographs wearing a headdress in documents (exceptions are allowed only for religious reasons). And citizens with poor eyesight need to be photographed wearing glasses with transparent lenses.

• The image is complemented by the owner's signature in the lower left corner of the plastic card.
• On the right, immediately below the name of the document, full name, date of birth and registration information (series, number, name of organization and period of validity of the certificate) are indicated.
• Below is the home region and the list of permitted vehicle categories.

The flip side of rights

• One of the main innovations is the presence of a barcode that duplicates complete information about the owner. It is located on the back of the left side of your driver's license. The remaining space is allocated for a form with a breakdown of categories.
• Opposite the types of transport available for driving, the period of validity of the driver's license is indicated.
• The last item is additional information about the owner. In the absence of special information, the duration of the total driving experience is usually entered there.

Category M

Citizens who have any type of license (except for a tractor driver's license) are allowed to drive vehicles belonging to category M.

When replacing an old-style document, the corresponding mark is placed automatically.

The exception is the ban on driving a moped for medical reasons (ML is written on the back of the license). Such an entry can be made not only due to illness, but also due to the lack of a medical certificate of fitness to drive a moped.

In addition to a moped, all drivers are allowed to drive a light quadricycle. As a general rule, the B1 mark allows you to ride a quadricycle, but if its engine capacity is less than 50 cm³, then it is not necessary to pass the subcategory.

You can ride a moped and a light quadricycle if you have a driver's license from the age of 16.

Rules for obtaining rights with new categories for non-resident citizens

Those who do not live at the registration address may well receive a new category in another city. Nonresident residents must submit an expanded package of documents to the traffic police department:

• passport of a Russian citizen;
• medical certificate;
• document confirming local registration;
• a certificate from the traffic police at the place of registration, confirming the absence of violations and deprivation of a driver’s license.

Procedure for replacing rights

Drivers who renew their license due to its expiration date do not need to take the exam. Driving licenses are issued for 10 years. The motorist must independently monitor the validity of the document and reissue the license in a timely manner. The Code of Administrative Offenses provides for liability for driving with an expired license in the form of a fine.

To replace an expired license, you should contact the State Traffic Inspectorate, MFC, or fill out an application through the State Services portal. For the exchange of documents, you must pay a state fee of 2000 rubles. If you use the services of the State Services website, you can get a 30% discount on the fee amount.

To replace a document, the driver must present:

• application in the prescribed form 003-В/у;
• old ID;
• passport;
• certificate of completion of a medical examination;
• receipt of payment of state duty.

There is no need to submit a photograph; you will be photographed directly at the traffic police department or MFC. A medical certificate will not be required for those who change their license for a reason not related to the expiration of the license: due to wear and tear, loss of a document, change of surname, other personal data, change in medical indications.

A motorist who wishes to become a full-fledged participant in road traffic is required to pass a theoretical course and practical exams at the police department that controls road safety. Skills, knowledge, and level of proficiency must meet the requirements set by the government authority.

Contraindications for mental health reasons

There is a fixed list of contraindications that are based on the mental nature of specific diseases or disorders:

• Mental retardation, post-traumatic or senile dementia.
• Epilepsy in a severe form without the possibility of stopping attacks with special drugs.
• Alcoholism in a confirmed severe form.
• Taking drugs.
• Substance abuse.

If a special commission is involved in checking a person’s ability to drive a vehicle, it can forcibly prohibit this action, but the restriction is set for no longer than 5 years. The duration is influenced by the severity of the disease and the individual opinion of doctors.

Combining categories

Having a driver's license for the right to drive vehicles of a certain category in some cases allows you to drive vehicles of a different category: