Driver's license categories in 2020 with explanation

New driving license categories in 2020

In 2020, drivers can obtain the following categories of driving license.

Full table of driving license categories:

Thus, in 2020 it became possible to obtain a license from the age of 16, but if a future driver wants to drive a bus, he will only be allowed to drive such a vehicle from the age of 21.

The innovation in the law is intended to simplify the procedure for obtaining a driver's license. Now, to drive a small minivan, you don’t have to get category “D” and master the skills of driving a large bus; it will be enough to master category “D1”. Thus, the legislator recognized the actual expansion of the model range of manufacturers and took into account the needs of real citizens.

If you already have an open senior category of driver's license that you received before 2014, then you have an automatic right to drive a junior category car. Example: when category “B” is open, you automatically open category “B1”.

Driving license categories: A, B, C, D, M, BE, CE, DE

All drivers of motor vehicles have a special document - a driver’s license of any category of vehicle. But not all of them know the 2020 driver’s license categories with transcripts. The category of rights means the type of vehicle that the owner of this document can drive. When driving a vehicle that does not fit a certain classification of categories, it is considered an offense and is equivalent to driving without a license.

Some categories of educational institutions underwent changes in the 15th year of this century. To avoid some negative situations, every driver must know these amendments.

What are the marks on the new license?

This year, the VU contains all the information about its owner. This document can be used as confirmation of the identity of its owner; it contains the following data:

• Full Name;
• date, month, year of birth;
• city ​​of birth;
• date, month, year of issue;
• until what date are they valid;
• name of the authority that issued the document;
• serial number;
• painting;
• photo of the owner;
• categories;
• Additional Information.

Description of the new driver's license format

A driver's license contains information about the driver on both sides. On the front side are the personal details of the owner, on the back side - the classification to which the driver is admitted.

Right side of the new ID

The upper part of the document has its own name and a mark about the territorial location of the subject who squeezed out the document. On the left there is a photo of the driver in color. The size of the photo is 3 by 4. By law, it is allowed to take photos with glasses if the driver has vision problems, and this accessory must not have tinted lenses. Photos wearing a headdress are permitted only for persons of a certain religion.

The driver's signature is under the photo. Personal information is indicated to the right of the photo. It is written in Russian, below in English. On the right side of the certificate the place of issue and its series and number are indicated. Also on the front part there is information about the region in which the owner lives. At the very bottom of the license are the categories that are assigned to the driver after graduating from a driving school and passing exams at the traffic police.

Back of the document

On all driver's licenses of the new format there is a special code on the left that contains the necessary information about the owner of the license. The rest of the space is occupied by a table where the categories are indicated, and there are marks indicating what types of vehicles the driver is allowed to drive.

The validity period of the category is also indicated here. If necessary, special additional information, as well as driving experience, is indicated at the very bottom.

Types of driving license categories

All separate categories of motorist's rights must be studied separately. But subcategories can be opened automatically.

For example, absolutely all drivers can drive M-category vehicles. Each category is assigned its own type of vehicle.

Table indicating the types of categories

It is worth knowing that the trailer cannot be used to transport people! There are separate categories for tractors and special equipment. (A, B, D, E, F, C) - depending on the technical characteristics of the product.

Special designations

New driver's licenses have special marks consisting of several letters. Every driver needs to know what these encrypted points in the VU mean.

Designation - AT.

This mark indicates that the driver can only drive vehicles with an automatic transmission.

Designation- M S.

This mark relates only to B1 category. It makes it possible to get behind the wheel of tricycles and ATVs, which are equipped with a motorcycle seat and steering wheel.

Designation-AS.

The complete opposite of the previous mark. That is, it gives the right to drive ATVs and tricycles without motorcycle structures.

Designation-ML.

Indicates that the driver has medical indications for driving a moped. This mark prohibits driving an M-category vehicle.

Designation-MS.

You can drive vehicles that have a manual transmission.

Designation: APS.

Can drive vehicles with a chambered chamber.

Designation - GСL.

Allows drivers who use vision correction devices to drive vehicles.

Designation: CF/HA.

A driver who uses hearing aids can drive a vehicle. Limitation of hearing abilities.

REMEMBER! Each case is individual. It may be better to consult a specialist to avoid time and money costs.

Ask a Question

How to open new categories and subcategories of VU

To open a new category on your driver's license, you need to undergo training and then pass exams. Some motorists have a question about how to open category B if they already have category C. Sometimes such questions are asked by drivers with category B who want to have category A.

To do this, you must pass the theoretical part and the exam. Then show your driving skills in a populated area to the traffic police inspector.

There are some nuances to consider when opening new categories:

• To obtain an E-category, a driver must have experience driving a vehicle of category B, C, D (one of them);
• For category DE you need to drive a category D car for more than 12 months.

And also to have a license to drive a car only with an automatic transmission. But in order to control the mechanics, you will have to take the driving test again.

How to change old rights to new ones

It is possible to replace a driver's license only at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. This can be done at any time. Citizens of our country can make a replacement at any traffic police department, but foreigners can only do so at their place of registration. To do this, you need to collect the necessary documents:

a medical certificate is only required if your old document is about to expire;

• photo;
• application (a sample of which can be downloaded from the official website of the traffic police);
• state duty is paid.

All these documents are submitted to the government agency. After verification, you will be issued new licenses.

To reduce time, you can use the services of the State Services website and submit all documentation electronically. You will be given a time and location to confirm picking up your new document. It is important that you will still need to submit the originals to the traffic police.

How much does this procedure cost?

The cost of replacing your license directly depends on whether you need a medical certificate or not. Medical examination in each region of Russia has its own price category.

For certificates from a narcologist and a psychiatrist you will have to fork out around 700 rubles.

They will take a photo of you for your driver’s license for just two hundred rubles.

The state duty has a set price of two thousand rubles. It is the same in all regions of our country.

If you do not take into account the medical certificate, then the cost of a new driving license will cost the driver three thousand, and together with the certificate - a little more than five thousand.

Things to remember

• A medical examination should be carried out if the exchange of rights occurs on time.
• Driving a car of a different category is prohibited.
• You can obtain new licenses at any traffic police department, regardless of your place of residence.
• It will not be possible to buy new rights from the cunning people this year. A special chip is built into every document and carries all the information.
• There are rumors that it is necessary to convert the right-hand drive to left-hand drive. At the moment, this information does not have any legal basis.

Main categories of rights

Category A

Allows you to drive any motorcycles and motorcycles with a sidecar, or motorized strollers. If you already have an open category “A”, when you replace your license, you will be given a category “A1”.

Category B

With a category B license, you can drive a car whose weight does not exceed 3500 kg and the number of seats does not exceed 8 in addition to the driver’s seat. If the driver drives a car with a heavy trailer, it is necessary to open the “BE” category. If you already have an open category “B”, then category “B1” opens automatically.

Category C

With this category you have access to driving trucks weighing more than 3500 kg. But having this category you cannot drive light (less than 3500 kg) trucks and cars.

To drive a category “C” car with a heavy (over 750 kg) trailer, you must have a category “CE” license. If you already have category “C” rights, category “C1” opens automatically.

Category D

Category “D” is intended for driving vehicles with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver. To drive a car with a heavy trailer, you must open the “DE” category.

Opening category "D" automatically opens category "D1".

Category M

Having a license in this category, you can drive scooters and mopeds. I have any open category of license and the driver is allowed to drive a moped.

Category Tm

Designed for tram control.

Category Tb

Designed to control a trolleybus.

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.

Subcategories of driver's licenses in 2020

Subcategory A1

Having this subcategory, you can drive motorcycles whose internal combustion engine displacement does not exceed 125 cubic meters. cm, and the maximum power is 11 kW.

Subcategory B1

For driving quadricycles and tricycles.

Quadricycles, unlike ATVs, can travel on public roads.

Subcategory C1

This category includes vehicles weighing more than 3500 but less than 7500 kg.

Subcategory C1E

Designed for driving a C1 category car with a heavy trailer.

Subcategory D1

This category includes cars with more than 8 but less than 16 seats.

Subcategory D1E

Designed for driving a category D1 vehicle with a heavy trailer.

Categories of rights for driving with a trailer.

Category BE

Designed for driving category B cars with a heavy trailer.

Category CE

Designed for driving category “C” cars with a heavy trailer.

Category DE

Designed for driving category “D” cars with a heavy trailer.

Description of each category

The introduced expanded classification strictly distinguishes vehicles by power, carrying capacity and passenger capacity, and accordingly, the choice of an iron horse now needs to be approached even more carefully, taking into account open categories.

For example, the Hummer H1, according to the vehicle title, falls into category C (total weight of almost 5 tons), and the Land Cruiser 105, according to the number of passengers (10 seats), falls into category D.

Let's go over all types of vehicles again and consider some points, restrictions and differences by category in more detail.

Motorcycle technology

Category M – moped vehicles, scooters and light ATVs with low power and a total engine volume of no more than 50 sq. cm. This type of transport has gained popularity due to its accessibility to a wide segment of the population and its small dimensions. And of course, all traffic participants would like scooter drivers to have the necessary knowledge of traffic rules when driving on public roads.

Category A – heavy motorcycle vehicles. The curb weight of such motor vehicles can reach up to 400 kg, and the engine displacement must exceed 125 cubic meters. see Category A allows you to drive any type of motorcycle, including motor vehicles of subcategory A1 .

Subcategory A1 – lightweight and low-power motorcycles with an engine capacity of 50-125 cc and power up to 11 kW.

Cars

This is the most common class of vehicles on our roads:

Category B – Passenger vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons and a number of passenger seats of up to 8. Allows you to tow a trailer weighing up to 750 kg or a trailer of greater weight, subject to the condition that the weight of the entire train also falls within 3.5 tons.

Subcategory BE is permission to drive the same category B , but with a trailer that exceeds the weight of the car itself (trailer weight more than 750 kg). The total mass of such a composition can exceed 3.5 tons.

Subcategory B1 – This subcategory has nothing to do with passenger cars of category B. It is required for driving tricycles and quadricycles.

Subcategory B1 if you have categories A or B .

However, the types of vehicles are different:

• Category A opens access to driving quadricycles with a motorcycle seat (controls and steering wheel like a motorcycle) and in this case the MS ;
• category B allows you to drive a quadricycle with a car seat (steering wheel, seats, pedals, car-type switches), in this case the license will have the corresponding AS mark;
• if the driver had both categories ( A and B ), he will have access to transport of subcategory B1 without any restrictions.

Special marks MS and AS on the license allow the traffic police officer to easily determine the legality of the driver’s movement on a particular type of equipment.

Freight transport

If your field of activity is related to the transportation of goods, you should open a category corresponding to the carrying capacity of your transport.

Category C – Trucks with a total weight of over 3.5 tons. This category is suitable for driving all types of heavy cargo transport, for example, dump trucks and trucks.

Subcategory C1 - Medium freight vehicles weighing 3.5 - 7.5 tons, suitable for transporting small and small cargo.

Subcategory CE - Driving a category C with a heavy towbar weighing over 750 kg.

Subcategory C1E – Driving a freight vehicle coupled to a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the cargo train in this case should not exceed 12 tons.

Category C also includes large SUVs, the total weight of which does not fall within the limit of category B.

Buses

Category D – Bus-type passenger transport with more than 8 seats for passengers. Category D allows you to drive buses of various sizes, regardless of the permissible maximum weight of the vehicle. It is this category that is necessary, for example, for driving regular buses.

Subcategory D1 – Driving a passenger car, with seats for passengers from 8 to 16. The familiar gazelles and other minibuses fall into this category.

Subcategory DE – Bus transport with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg.

Subcategory D1E – Trailed buses with a total weight of up to 12 tons.

Categories Tm and Tb do not require description. These categories can be seen on the driver’s licenses of those people who have chosen to work as a tram or trolleybus driver as their profession.