Not so long ago there were a driver’s license, the categories of which included the management of five modes of transport. In 2013, perhaps, based on the experience of Western countries, not only the names changed, but also subcategories, as well as the conditions and rules for obtaining certificates, were added.
In order to have the right to operate the vehicle, in 2015 a new system for assessing the psychophysiological state of the driver is introduced. This will take into account not only the results of the medical commission, but also a separate check. It includes an assessment of the reaction rate, memory, spatial perception, as well as the eye (not to be confused with visual acuity) and mental stability.
Currently, there are 16 categories of certificates for driving various vehicles, including trolleybuses and trams.
Category M
Driving license category M can get teenagers from 16 years. This gives you the right to drive a scooter or moped. But since the corresponding educational program does not yet exist, this type of certificate has not yet been issued. In the near future, the Ministry of Education plans to form an appropriate base for driver training.
Category A and Subcategories
Any resident of the country who has reached the age of 18 years for A and 16 years for A1 can get permission to drive a motorcycle.
The difference between the main category and the subcategory is that, having a certificate with an A1 mark, you can drive motor vehicles with an engine power of no more than 125 cubic meters. see. In this case, an additional subcategory will be A1, the main - category A driver’s license. The price for taking a course in a driving school depends on the region, and on average is 8-9 thousand rubles.
The training provides for the passage of theory and practice only in the automotive school. Self-preparation from November 5, 2013 is possible for personal development, but will not be counted as passing specialized courses. Therefore, in order not to waste time, it is still better to get knowledge in an institution intended for this.
When the driving experience is one year, and at the same time the driver is 18 years old, it is possible to retake to the main category A. Having this certificate, the driver has the right to ride motorcycles without restrictions on engine power.
It will be necessary to surrender the theory, practice and driving. Retraining for a category is an average of 25 hours for any rights.
A separate category of self-propelled vehicles - tractors and ATVs - implies the existence of the rights of category AI.
For those who study from scratch, category A driver's license (price for a full course of study) can cost several times more than for drivers with experience in driving.
In and subcategories
A citizen who has received the rights to a motorcycle can move on ATVs and tricycles, which belong to category B1.
At the age of 18, any person who is fit for health has the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license, which gives the right to use cars with an authorized mass of 3.5 tons and with the number of passengers not exceeding 8 people.
Also, vehicles with trailers that should not be more than 750 kg in weight are classified in the B-category. If the trailer weight exceeds the last value, the total weight should be no more than 3.5 tons. A composite structure of this type is classified as BE.
C and derivatives
The next category of vehicles that require driving rights to a C-class vehicle is a vehicle with a mass of less than 3,500 kg and / or a trailer whose weight should not exceed 750 kg.
The C1 – category in the driver’s license allows you to drive a car with a trailer with a total weight of 3,500 to 7,500 kg - light trucks. If the maximum trailer weight in the composition exceeds 750 kg, CE must be opened.
C1E - C1 vehicles with a trailer weight of 750 kg and a total mass of not more than 12 tons.
You can open this category in the certificate only from the age of 20.
D and subcategories
The presence of a category D driver's license will allow you to drive a vehicle for the carriage of passengers. The number of seats may exceed the value in the previous category. Citizens with D rights can work on minibuses and buses, that is, professionally involved in the transportation of people. Obtaining the right to manage such a vehicle is possible with an experience of more than 12 months.
In niche D1 are passenger vehicles of smaller dimensions, where from eight to sixteen seats, as well as with a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg.
Category DE allows the driver to drive D with a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg. These vehicles include articulated buses.
Further, the D1E - category includes D1 cars that are not intended for transporting people, and whose total mass is not more than 12 tons, and the trailer weighs more than 750 kg.
It will be possible to open category D and its derivatives, according to the new rules, upon reaching the age of 21.
Tm and Tb
This category is intended for trams and trolleybuses. A citizen who has the rights of this class cannot control other vehicles. Training for a tram or trolley bus driver is provided at the depot, exams are taken there. As a rule, duration courses exceed terms in a driving school and amount to 5-6 months.
The ability to move on another type of car depends on how many categories of driver’s licenses are open to the driver.
If the driver did not drive behind the wheel during the year, he will need to pass the exams again.
Category E
Separately from the rest of the steps, the E-category is not considered in current legislation, but goes as an addition to the main ones. The innovation allows drivers to drive, for example, in a passenger car with a trailer, which exceeds 750 kg in weight. You will not have to take exams for a new category and change your rights.
Previously, a separate category E of driver's license was required to drive a train. At the moment, a letter can be assigned in addition to any step.
However, addition is not always as necessary as it seems. In cases where a car carries a trailer weighing less than 750 kg or more of this weight, but the total weight is not more than 3500 kg, category B is sufficient.
Opening Subcategories
Since today there are many main and additional categories, and some arise from others, there is the opportunity not to open subcategories using only the main one. Subspecies open automatically:
- With category A rights, you can control a vehicle that belongs to A1.
- C-category allows you to use the car C1, with open CE, you can control C1E.
- The D-category certificate is also suitable for transport D1, DE rights allow you to control machines of class D1E.
- Rights B make it possible to operate quadricycles and tricycles, which belong to category B1.
Obtaining rights of a higher category implies the existence of those of a lower level. For example, a future driver of category D must have aircraft rights. Separately, a higher category does not open, except for C and B, for which you can pass the exam without first having rights. Although in practice there is also a separately open category D. Basically, these are old-style certificates where only the main categories were registered.
Documents in the traffic police
After training in a driving school passed and exams in the traffic police, you need to get a certificate. It is worth noting that the rights are issued taking into account which vehicle the training was carried out - manual transmission or automatic transmission. This fact is indicated in the certificate. The student on the "mechanics" can control the "machine", but not vice versa.
The future driver brings the following documents:
- Passport / military ID.
- Medical report. The commission is held only in the institution licensed for this type of activity.
- A document confirming training in a driving school.
- Application for a certificate.
- Certificate of place of permanent or temporary registration.
- Receipt of payment of state duty (800 rubles).
For the replacement of rights, the same documents will be required, except for a certificate from a driving school.
Expired documents
The rights to the car have a validity period of 10 years, a medical certificate of validity - 2 years.
It should be noted that the overdue commission is not a reason for withdrawing the certificate. However, if during a ten-year period of ownership there is a need to replace rights or restore, a certificate is required.
Movement with expired documents is equal to management without those with a fine of 2500 rubles. Therefore, when meeting with the traffic police, you need to be prepared for the fact that the car will go to the parking lot, but the invalid “crusts” will remain with the car owner. In this case, it is necessary to obtain a new certificate as soon as possible, having paid before this the amount specified in the resolution.
While the document is being reissued, you need to use a temporary permit (state duty of 500 rubles), which makes it possible to drive a car for two months.
At the moment, all expired licenses have a date of issue earlier than 2014, therefore, they indicate only the main categories of driver’s license. The new document will contain all 16 steps, some of them will be opened automatically.
Timely replacement of the certificate is no different from the replacement of expired rights, and exams in this case are also not provided.
A few words about the medical board
The vehicle suitability test has several features. In addition to the fact that the reference period is limited, it is necessary to take into account the category for which the candidate is applying.
In the event that the conclusion indicates Category B Driving License issued only at B. If necessary, open a new category within two years will have to go through the commission again.
The certificate from the medical institution may also have special marks, which are then transferred to the certificate. They indicate a disease that over time develops into a dangerous condition for driving. As a rule, this applies to vision.
Examination should be done once every ten years, if the driver uses the car for personal purposes, every two years or more often - if driving is associated with the characteristics of the profession. For example, a category D driver may be subject to pre-trip and post-trip inspection. A doctor who reveals any deviations in the health of an employee has the right to remove him from work.
Opinions of experts about the change in the frequency of examination are contradictory. A commission every ten years is completely unacceptable if the driver is old, and his health may deteriorate every year. During this period, those diseases may occur that will not allow the car owner to adequately control the car.
Validity of documents
In addition to the validity period of the rights and medical board, there are time intervals for training, passing on a category and driving experience. This should be remembered and applied this knowledge correctly.
You can open higher categories of a driver’s license only after training in the appropriate driving school, which provides training in these areas.The courses take an average of 1.5-2 months with the required number of hours. For those who open another category, the basic provisions are not studied, they immediately go directly to practice.
The car owner can take to the next category no earlier than a month after receiving some level. Otherwise, the traffic police may suspect the surrender, at least in falsification of documents. After all, the law requires training in a driving school, self-training is unacceptable. Courses last an average of one month. Therefore, it is worth waiting a while before taking exams, even if there is a certificate of training at a driving school.
In the event that the future driver “failed” the exam, in a week it will be necessary to retake it. Failures three times in a row indicate that you need to prepare more carefully, which takes thirty days.
It must be remembered that the theoretical component, if it has already been delivered, has a validity period of six months, after which the test will need to be passed again.
If a student has completed a full course at a driving school, but did not want or could not for any reason get the right, he can do it at any convenient time. Certificate of training is unlimited.
International law
Categories of driver’s licenses that are open in Russia may also be valid in other countries that have signed the Convention - Vienna or Geneva. According to these documents, drivers who have received an international license in the Russian Federation have the right to travel by car within a foreign state.
Under the Vienna Convention, drivers are only allowed to enjoy national rights. However, in order to avoid unpleasant situations with foreign police and car rental agencies, it is better to get an international standard.
By the way, the presence of the latter does not give drivers the right to drive a car in the Russian Federation, unless it has a national license.
Those categories of driver’s licenses that were open before going abroad will also be valid in the territory of another country. As a rule, category B is more demanded, since movement takes place in a passenger car. It is worth noting that the presence of this stage does not allow you to drive a motorcycle that belongs to category A abroad, just like in Russia.
Documents that are required to obtain international rights are almost no different from ordinary replacement or obtaining a certificate. The only addition will be a black and white photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm and the size of the state duty - 1600 rubles.
