Driver's License or commonly referred to as a driving license, is classified into different categories according to regulations. To assist our valued customers and members in conveniently monitoring and understanding the current legal provisions, Thu Ky Luat would like to compile the types of driver's licenses and their specific validity periods in the article below.
Article table of contents
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1. Types of Class A Driver's Licenses
Class A1: Basic license, the lowest among driving licenses, issued to motorcycle drivers with an engine capacity from 50 cm³ to under 175 cm³ and to disabled individuals driving three-wheeled motorcycles for the disabled.
Class A2: Issued to drivers for motorcycles with an engine capacity from 175 cm³ and above and for vehicles specified for Class A1 driver's licenses.
Class A3: Issued to drivers for three-wheeled motorcycles, including three-wheeled Lambros, motorized rickshaws, and vehicles specified for Class A1 driver's licenses.
Class A4: Issued to drivers for tractors with a load capacity of up to 1,000 kg.
Validity period:
- Class A1, A2, A3 driver's licenses have no expiration date.- Class A4 driver's licenses are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 16; Clauses 1 and 3 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
2. Types of Class B Driver's Licenses
Automatic Class B1 issued to non-professional drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Automatic transmission cars with up to 9 seats, including the driver's seat;- Automatic transmission trucks, including specially designed automatic trucks with a design load of under 3,500 kg;- Cars for the disabled.
Class B1 issued to non-professional drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Cars with up to 9 seats, including the driver's seat;- Trucks, including specially designed trucks with a design load of under 3,500 kg;- Tractors towing one trailer with a design load of under 3,500 kg.
Class B2 issued to professional drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Special-use vehicles with a design load of under 3,500 kg;- Vehicles specified for Class B1 driver's licenses.
Validity period:
- Class B1 driver's licenses are valid until the driver reaches 55 years old for women and 60 years old for men; if the driver is over 45 years old for women and over 50 years old for men, then the license is valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.- Class B2 driver's licenses are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clauses 5, 6, and 7 of Article 16 and Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
3. Class C Driver's License
Class C issued to drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Trucks, including specially designed trucks and special-use vehicles with a design load from 3,500 kg and above;- Tractors towing one trailer with a design load from 3,500 kg and above;- Vehicles specified for Class B1, B2 driver's licenses.
Validity period:
Class C driver's licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clause 8 of Article 16 and Clause 4 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
4. Class D Driver's License
Class D issued to drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Cars with between 10 and 30 seats, including the driver's seat;- Vehicles specified for Class B1, B2, and C driver's licenses.
Validity period:
Class D driver's licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clause 9 of Article 16 and Clause 4 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
5. Class E Driver's License
Class E issued to drivers for the following types of vehicles:
- Cars with over 30 seats;- Vehicles specified for Class B1, B2, C, and D driver's licenses.
Validity period:
Class E driver's licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clause 10 of Article 16 and Clause 4 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
6. Types of Class F Driver's Licenses
Class F issued to holders of Class B2, C, D, and E driver's licenses to drive corresponding cars pulling trailers with a design load greater than 750 kg, semi-trailers, articulated buses, specifically as follows:
Class FB2 issued to automobile drivers to drive vehicles specified in Class B2 driver's licenses with trailers and to drive vehicles specified for Class B1 and B2 driver's licenses;
Class FC issued to automobile drivers to drive vehicles specified in Class C driver's licenses with trailers, semi-trailer tractors, and to drive vehicles specified for Class B1, B2, C, and FB2 driver's licenses;
Class FD issued to automobile drivers to drive vehicles specified in Class D driver's licenses with trailers and to drive vehicles specified for Class B1, B2, C, D, and FB2 driver's licenses;
Class FE issued to automobile drivers to drive vehicles specified in Class E driver's licenses with trailers, articulated buses, and to drive vehicles specified for Class B1, B2, C, D, E, FB2, FD driver's licenses.
Validity period:
Class FB2, FC, FD, FE driver's licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Legal basis: Clause 12 of Article 16 and Clause 4 of Article 17 Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT regulating training, testing, and issuing road motor vehicle driver's licenses issued by the Minister of Transport.
Toan Trung
