Obtaining a driver's license requires passing a driving test. In particular, Ukraine has its own categories of driver's license, which differ from the standards of other countries. Find out more about the categories of driver's license in Ukraine and the world and how they differ

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A driver's license is a mandatory document for driving a vehicle. Usually, to get it, you need to pass an exam on knowledge of traffic rules and confirm practical driving skills. We talked about the rules for issuing a driver's license in different countries of the world here and here.

Today we will find out what categories of driver's licenses are approved in Ukraine and how they differ from the standards of various countries around the world.

What is a driver's license category?

The category of driver's license is a separate "permit" to drive a certain type of vehicle. Usually, each category has to be "discovered" separately: study at a driving school, pass theoretical and practical exams. Also, each category has its own requirements and restrictions.

What categories of driver's licenses are approved in Ukraine?

Ukraine joined the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968, which includes a total of 74 states, including EU countries, Great Britain, Armenia, Israel, Kenya, UAE and Chile.

Thanks to this, in our country, the modern driver's license is divided into 15 categories, the main ones of which are:

● A - motorcycles.

A category A license is required to drive a motorcycle, including sidecar models. It also includes category A1 licenses for driving mopeds, scooters and other 2-wheeled vehicles.

You can get the rights of categories A and A1 from the age of 16.

● B – passenger cars.

Cars weighing up to 3,500 kg, with no more than 9 seats (including the driver's seat).

Persons over 18 years of age can obtain category B1 and B rights.

Importantly! From 2021, the license may be marked "78", which means that its owner has the right to drive a car only with an automatic transmission.

● C – trucks.

Category C1 is opened for driving trucks weighing 3.5-7.5 tons. Open category E truck licenses allow you to tow heavy trailers and semi-trailers weighing more than 750 kg.

Categories C1 and C can be held by persons who are over 18 years old. To add category E to them, you need to wait another year - it is opened from the age of 19.

● D – passenger buses.

Category D1 is intended for driving minibuses with no more than 17 seats, including the driver (16 passengers). Category D is required for driving a large bus with 17 or more passengers.

These categories can be obtained after reaching the age of 21.

● BE – cars with a trailer.

Category of rights for towing a trailer weighing more than 750 kg on a passenger car.

● CE – trucks with trailers;

To drive a tractor with a semi-trailer, you need to open the CE category.

● DE – passenger buses with a trailer.

Driving a bus with a trailer.

● T – for trams and trolleybuses.

Category T licenses are intended for driving trams and trolleybuses.

They can be obtained at the age of 21.

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When traveling to Ukraine under martial law, it is necessary to take care of insurance, which covers military risks and compensates for losses in the event of an accident due to military actions. Read more details about the benefits of military risk insurance in Ukraine in our material. You can quickly and easily issue an insurance policy by following the link.

Categories of rights in the European Union

In general, the categories of driving licenses in EU countries are practically the same as in Ukraine, but there are several differences and additional categories:

AM – for 2- and 3-wheel vehicles whose maximum speed does not exceed 45 km/h;

A1 - for motorcycles with a working volume of cylinders no more than 125 cm3;

A2 - for motorcycles with a power of up to 35 kW;

C1E – for vehicles of category C1 or B towing a heavy-duty trailer, the total weight of which is up to 12,000 kg.

SE - for working as a truck driver in Europe.

Category of driver's license in the USA

In the United States of America, a completely different classification of driver's license categories has been approved:

- Class D is the most common type of license, which gives the right to drive cars and to tow trailers, the weight of which does not exceed 4.5 tons.

- Class DJ – approved for young drivers who have just passed their driving test. This category has restrictions on the weight of the vehicle and even a ban on driving during certain hours, which can vary from state to state.

- A CDL or commercial driver's license is required to operate vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 26,000 lbs (11,790 kg). They are also further divided into 3 classes:

1. Class A - for driving a tractor with a semi-trailer, a double or a folded bus.

2. Class B - for driving a single truck or bus, as well as a tractor unit weighing up to 26,000 pounds (11,790 kg).

3. Class C - to drive a vehicle with 15 or more passengers, dangerous goods, and vehicles weighing 16,000 to 26,000 pounds (7,300 to 11,800 kg).

- Class E – even in the era of shared rides, taxis still remain an integral part of city life. In order to get the right to drive this vehicle, you need to have a special license.

Categories of driver's licenses in Canada

In Canada, licenses are administered at the provincial level. Depending on where you live in the country, you will probably need one of several different classes of license. They are usually numbered numerically, starting with 1.

Depending on the class of license you receive, you may be eligible to drive:

- traditional vehicles for personal use (motorcycles, cars, etc.);

- light commercial vehicles;

- commercial vehicles intended for certain purposes (for example, passenger transportation).

Commercial license holders are additionally required to comply with the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) to ensure that your vehicle complies with all legal requirements.

In different countries of the world, different classifications of driver's license categories have been approved, but they are usually divided by the type of vehicle (motorcycle, car, truck, etc.) or by the way of use (for personal needs or commercial).

We remind you that in order to travel abroad in a car with Ukrainian registration, you must have a "Green Card" policy. Lack of or overdue insurance threatens not only with fines that are several dozen times higher than the cost of the insurance policy per year, but also with seizure of the car and deportation from the country with a subsequent ban on entry. Also, the document is capable of easing the financial consequences of an accident that happens abroad. Therefore, when planning to travel in your own car, be sure to take out a "Green Card" policy.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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