Types of driver's license and the vehicles that you are qual
| Types of license | Vehicles and motorized bicycles qualified to drive |
|---|---|
| Large size vehicle | large size vehicles, middle size vehicles, regular vehicles, light special motor vehicles, motorized bicycles |
| Middle size vehicle | middle size vehicles, regular vehicles, light special motor vehicles, motorized bicycles |
| Regular vehicle | regular vehicles, light special motor vehicles, motorcycle bicycles |
| Heavy special motor vehicle | heavy special motor vehicles, light special motor vehicles, motorized bicycles |
| Large size motorcycle | large size motorcycles (including specially designated large size motorcycles), regular motorcycles (including specially designated regular motorcycles), light special motor vehicles, motorized bicycles |
| Regular motorcycle | regular motorcycles (including specially designated regular motorcycles), light special motor vehicles, ※With this type of license, you cannot drive a motorcycle with total emission of 400 cc or over. If the license is limited to light motor vehicles, you cannot drive a motorcycle with total emission of 125 cc or over. |
| Light special motor vehicle | light special motor vehicles |
| Moped | motorized bicycles |
| Towing | Whenever a large size vehicle, middle size vehicle, regular vehicle, or large special motor vehicle tows another motor vehicle, it is necessary to have the license of the vehicle which is doing the towing as well as a towing license. However, when towing a vehicle with a total weight of 750 kilograms or less including the maximum loading capacity and riding capacity (one passenger = 55 kilograms), or when towing a break-down vehicle with a rope or crane, a towing license is not required. |
| The second class | This type of license is required to drive a vehicle to transport people in a bus or a taxi. |
| Temporary driver's license | This type of license is required of people who have no driver's license when they practice driving a large size vehicle, middle size vehicle or regular vehicle. |
Licensing system of middle size vehicles
The number of fatal accidents involving trucks has increased at a great rate. To revent those fatal accidents, a new category of vehicle type, which is a middle size vehicle, between large size and regular vehicles was set up on June 2, 2007. For this category, new types of license were created such as middle size vehicle license, the second class license of middle size vehicle and a temporary driver's license of middle size vehicles. Then examinations and qualifications for application concerning these licenses were established.
Specially designated large size motorcycles and specially designated regular motorcycles
Three-wheeled motor vehicles fall under a regular vehicle category unless they are categorized as a large size motorcycle or a regular motorcycle with a sidecar. But some three-wheeled vehicles have similar driving characteristics to those of two-wheeled motorcycles when they make a turn inclining the wheels or the body, they are considered as two-wheeled motorcycles to differentiate them from a large size motorcycle or a regular motorcycle.
Three-wheeled motorcycles categorized as two-wheeled motorcycles
- Three wheels should be equipped.
- Three wheels should be installed in the bilaterally symmetric position along the center line of the body.
- The linear distance running through a center point of the contact area of the collinear wheels should be less than 460 millimeters.
- They should be structured to incline wheels or a part of the body when turning.
Main changes
- When driving, a license for two-wheeled motorcycles is required. A license for regular vehicles is not valid.
- It is required to wear a helmet to drive.
- If your driving experience of a two-wheeled motorcycle is less than one year (three years when driving on the express way), you cannot ride double. However, driving period of three-wheeled motorcycle can be added to that of two-wheeled motorcycle as a transitional measure.