From 2025, a B1 driver’s license will no longer allow driving cars
According to the current regulations, specifically Clause 4, Article 59 of the 2008 Law on Road Traffic and Clause 5 and Clause 6, Article 16 of Circular No. 12/2017/TT-BGTVT on the classification of driver’s licenses, a B1 license allows driving the following vehicles:
– B1 automatic category is granted to non-professional drivers to operate the following vehicles:
+ Automatic passenger cars with up to 9 seats, including the driver’s seat;
+ Automatic trucks, including specialized trucks, with a designed load capacity of less than 3,500 kg;
+ Vehicles for people with disabilities.
– B1 category is granted to non-professional drivers to operate the following vehicles:
+ Passenger cars with up to 9 seats, including the driver’s seat;
+ Trucks, including specialized trucks, with a designed load capacity of less than 3,500 kg;
+ Tractors pulling a trailer with a designed load capacity of less than 3,500 kg.
In addition, holders of B1 driver’s licenses are allowed to tow an additional trailer with a designed load capacity of no more than 750 kg when driving the corresponding vehicle types.
However, the National Assembly has recently issued the Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order, which will take effect from January 1, 2025 (except for cases prescribed in Clause 2, Article 88 of the 2024 Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order) and includes new provisions on B1 licenses not being valid for driving cars.
Accordingly, Clause 1, Article 57 of the 2024 Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order stipulates that the B1 category will be granted to drivers of three-wheeled motorcycles and vehicles prescribed for the A1 driver’s license. Instead, holders of a B1 driver’s license will be allowed to drive the following vehicles:
– Three-wheeled motorcycles;
– Two-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of up to 125 cm3 or an electric motor power of up to 11 kW.
How will driver’s licenses be classified from 2025?
Also, according to the 2025 Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order, from 2025, the number of driver’s license categories will increase to 15, namely A1, A, B1, B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE (while currently, according to the 2008 Law on Road Traffic, there are 13 categories: A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, C, D, E, FB2, FD, FC, and FE.)
At point d, Clause 1, Article 57 of the 2024 Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order, the categories of driver’s licenses for cars from January 1, 2025, include: B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE.
These include:
– Category B driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of passenger cars with up to 08 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); trucks and specialized vehicles with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 3,500 kg; and vehicles in category B pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg.
– Category C1 driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of trucks and specialized vehicles with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 3,500 kg to 7,500 kg; trucks in category C1 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg; and vehicles prescribed for category B driver’s licenses.
– Category C driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of trucks and specialized vehicles with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 7,500 kg; trucks in category C pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg; and vehicles prescribed for category B and C1 driver’s licenses.
– Category D1 driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of passenger cars with over 08 seats (excluding the driver’s seat) to 16 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); passenger cars in category D1 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg; and vehicles prescribed for category B, C1, and C driver’s licenses.
– Category D2 driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of passenger cars (including buses) with over 16 seats (excluding the driver’s seat) to 29 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); passenger cars in category D2 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg; and vehicles prescribed for category B, C1, C, and D1 driver’s licenses.
– Category D driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of passenger cars (including buses) with over 29 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); passenger cars with sleeping berths; passenger cars in category D pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg; and vehicles prescribed for category B, C1, C, D1, and D2 driver’s licenses.
– Category BE driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category B pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg.
– Category C1E driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category C1 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg.
– Category CE driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category C pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg; and tractor-trailers.
– Category D1E driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category D1 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg.
– Category D2E driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category D2 pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg.
– Category DE driver’s license:
Granted to drivers of vehicles in category D pulling a trailer with a designed gross vehicle weight of over 750 kg; and articulated passenger cars.
Do B1 license holders need to retake the test for a B license?
Article 89 of the 2024 Law on Road Traffic and Safety Order stipulates that driver’s licenses issued before the effective date of this Law remain valid according to the expiration date stated on the license.
In the case of driver’s licenses issued before the effective date of this Law, if they have not been renewed or reissued in accordance with the provisions of this Law, their validity will be as follows:
– B1 automatic category licenses granted to non-professional drivers will remain valid for driving automatic passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); automatic trucks, including specialized trucks, with a load capacity of less than 3,500 kg.
– B1 category licenses granted to non-professional drivers will remain valid for driving passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver’s seat); trucks, including specialized trucks, and tractors with a load capacity of less than 3,500 kg.
Thus, individuals who obtained a B1 driver’s license before January 1, 2025, can continue using it without having to retake the test for a B license.
However, there are changes in the scope of vehicle operation allowed for B1 license holders. Specifically:
– B1 automatic licenses are valid for driving automatic passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver’s seat) and automatic trucks, including specialized trucks, with a load capacity of less than 3,500 kg.
– B1 licenses are valid for driving passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver’s seat), trucks, including specialized trucks, and tractors with a load capacity of less than 3,500 kg.
Nevertheless, when the B1 license expires, the driver will have to take the test again to obtain a B category driver’s license.
