10
How Many Classes Of Driver's Licenses Are There In California?
10
Class A
A Class A driver license allows you to drive a combination of vehicles, including vehicles under Classes B and C.
You may tow:
*
Any trailer bus, with endorsement
*
More than one vehicle, with endorsement
*
Any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more that 10,000 lbs.
*
Any vehicle under Classes B or C
Class A Fire Fighter
You may drive only Class A and Class B defined combination firefighting vehicles and all vehicles listed under Class C. You may tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs.
Class A Noncommercial
A Class A Noncommercial allows you to drive any vehicles under Class C.
You may tow 5TH wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs. GVWR when the trailers are not used for hire or travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR.
Class B
A Class B driver license allows you to tow a single vehicle with GVWR 10,000 lbs. Or less.
You may drive:
*
A 3-axle vehicle
*
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs.
*
Any farm labor vehicle, with endorsement
*
Any bus (except a trailer bus), with endorsement
*
All vehicles under Class C
Class B Firefighter
A Class B Firefighter driver license allows you to tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less.
You may only drive all the vehicles listed under Class C and a Class B defined single fire fighting vehicle.
Class B Noncommercial
# You may drive: Any vehicles listed under Class C
# A housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet, with endorsement.
You may tow any vehicle listed under Class C. Study material for this class of license is contained in the Recreational Vehicles and Trailers booklet, available at any DMV office.
Class C
You may drive:
*
Any house car (non-commercial automobile)
*
Any 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs or less
*
Any 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 or less gross
You may tow:
*
A boat trailer provided the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) does not exceed 26,000 lbs. When the towing is for recreational purposes or repair, or in business, is not for hire, is not used in commerce or contract carrier operations and does not require an over size permit (VC 35780).
*
A single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. Or less including a tow dolly if used.
*
It is common sense that tells us that a Class C License cannot tow more than one single vehicle or boat trailer while driving. It would be far too dangerous to control, stop, turn and see properly while driving all three vehicles, boats and/or trailers.
A farmer or employee of a farmer may drive:
Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,000 lbs. Or less if used exclusively in agricultural operations and it is not for hire or compensation.
If you have a vehicle weighing at least 4,000 lbs.,
You may tow a:
*
5TH wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. But under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, with endorsement and when towing is not for compensation.
Trailer coach or 5TH wheel travel trailer under 10,000 lbs. GVWR when towing is not for compensation.
*
Regardless of weight, no passenger vehicle may tow more than one vehicle.
*
Class C licensees may not tow more than one vehicle.
*
No motor vehicle under 4,000 lbs. Unladen may tow any vehicle weighing 6,000 lbs or more gross. (VC 21715)
*
If you obtain one class of license, you may not operate other classes of licenses
Class C Commercial
You may drive any Class C vehicle carrying hazordous materials or wastes (Health & Safety Code 25115 25117) which require placecards. The hazordous materials (HAZMAT) endorsement must be on the license.
You may tow the same vehicles listed in Class C.
Commercial Drivers (CA Vehicle Code Section 15300 and 15302) Effective January 1, 2007
CVC 15300 states that a driver of a commercial vehicle may not operate a commercial motor vehicle for one year for the first conviction of specified offenses including DUI, hit and run or vehicular manslaughter, while driving any vehicle, not just a commercial vehicle.
CVC 15302 provides for permanent disqualification of a commercial driver for two or more convictions of specified offenses, while driving any vehicle.
* Commercial Drivers Conviction Reporting (CA Vehicle Code Section 15215) Effective January 1, 2007
CVC 15215 requires the DMV to report each conviction occurring within California of a person holding a commercial driver's license from another state to the licensing authority of the home state of the licensee.
Class M1
A Class M1 license allows you to operate any 2-wheel motorcycle or motor driven cycle.
Class M2
A Class M2 license allows you to operate any motorized moped, bicycle, or any bicycle with an attached motor.
Class A
A Class A driver license allows you to drive a combination of vehicles, including vehicles under Classes B and C.
You may tow:
*
Any trailer bus, with endorsement
*
More than one vehicle, with endorsement
*
Any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more that 10,000 lbs.
*
Any vehicle under Classes B or C
Class A Fire Fighter
You may drive only Class A and Class B defined combination firefighting vehicles and all vehicles listed under Class C. You may tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs.
Class A Noncommercial
A Class A Noncommercial allows you to drive any vehicles under Class C.
You may tow 5TH wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs. GVWR when the trailers are not used for hire or travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR.
Class B
A Class B driver license allows you to tow a single vehicle with GVWR 10,000 lbs. Or less.
You may drive:
*
A 3-axle vehicle
*
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs.
*
Any farm labor vehicle, with endorsement
*
Any bus (except a trailer bus), with endorsement
*
All vehicles under Class C
Class B Firefighter
A Class B Firefighter driver license allows you to tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less.
You may only drive all the vehicles listed under Class C and a Class B defined single fire fighting vehicle.
Class B Noncommercial
# You may drive: Any vehicles listed under Class C
# A housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet, with endorsement.
You may tow any vehicle listed under Class C. Study material for this class of license is contained in the Recreational Vehicles and Trailers booklet, available at any DMV office.
Class C
You may drive:
*
Any house car (non-commercial automobile)
*
Any 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs or less
*
Any 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 or less gross
You may tow:
*
A boat trailer provided the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) does not exceed 26,000 lbs. When the towing is for recreational purposes or repair, or in business, is not for hire, is not used in commerce or contract carrier operations and does not require an over size permit (VC 35780).
*
A single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. Or less including a tow dolly if used.
*
It is common sense that tells us that a Class C License cannot tow more than one single vehicle or boat trailer while driving. It would be far too dangerous to control, stop, turn and see properly while driving all three vehicles, boats and/or trailers.
A farmer or employee of a farmer may drive:
Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,000 lbs. Or less if used exclusively in agricultural operations and it is not for hire or compensation.
If you have a vehicle weighing at least 4,000 lbs.,
You may tow a:
*
5TH wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. But under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, with endorsement and when towing is not for compensation.
Trailer coach or 5TH wheel travel trailer under 10,000 lbs. GVWR when towing is not for compensation.
*
Regardless of weight, no passenger vehicle may tow more than one vehicle.
*
Class C licensees may not tow more than one vehicle.
*
No motor vehicle under 4,000 lbs. Unladen may tow any vehicle weighing 6,000 lbs or more gross. (VC 21715)
*
If you obtain one class of license, you may not operate other classes of licenses
Class C Commercial
You may drive any Class C vehicle carrying hazordous materials or wastes (Health & Safety Code 25115 25117) which require placecards. The hazordous materials (HAZMAT) endorsement must be on the license.
You may tow the same vehicles listed in Class C.
Commercial Drivers (CA Vehicle Code Section 15300 and 15302) Effective January 1, 2007
CVC 15300 states that a driver of a commercial vehicle may not operate a commercial motor vehicle for one year for the first conviction of specified offenses including DUI, hit and run or vehicular manslaughter, while driving any vehicle, not just a commercial vehicle.
CVC 15302 provides for permanent disqualification of a commercial driver for two or more convictions of specified offenses, while driving any vehicle.
* Commercial Drivers Conviction Reporting (CA Vehicle Code Section 15215) Effective January 1, 2007
CVC 15215 requires the DMV to report each conviction occurring within California of a person holding a commercial driver's license from another state to the licensing authority of the home state of the licensee.
Class M1
A Class M1 license allows you to operate any 2-wheel motorcycle or motor driven cycle.
Class M2
A Class M2 license allows you to operate any motorized moped, bicycle, or any bicycle with an attached motor.
Six