How to Buy a Category A Driving Licence
While most people are familiar with the typical driving license that allows you to drive a car There are many other types of licenses available.
In New York, for example in New York, a class-E license is needed to operate limousines or taxis. Additionally the class A CDL license is required to operate any vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 pounds, unhitched. This includes 18-wheelers, livestock carriers, and other heavy vehicles.
What you should know
While the majority of people buy vehicles that require a driver's license there are instances when you may want to buy an auto without a driver's license. You may want to buy an automobile for the child who isn't capable of obtaining their own driver's license. You may also be buying a vehicle for an individual with disabilities who needs transportation but can't obtain credit. You can also purchase an antique car that does not require a license to operate.
Your driving licence category, and the codes associated with it, reveal much more about you than what vehicles you're allowed to drive. It's essential to be aware of them so that you can keep track of the types of vehicles you can and cannot drive.
In the United States, there are various classes of licenses that you are able to be granted. The majority of drivers looking to buy a regular vehicle or truck will require either a class D or driver's license in class C. People who plan on driving a bus, commercial vehicle or any other large vehicle will require an A or B class CDL driver's license.
There are special classes of licenses for people who need to transport passengers for compensation. In New York, for example, a class E driver's license permits drivers to operate livery cars and taxis. This license class requires the driver to pass written vision, written and road tests in order to be eligible for it.
There are also upgraded licenses for citizens of the United States who want to travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean without needing to show their passports at border crossings and checkpoints. These licenses are typically only available to US citizens with valid driver's licenses and a proof of identity such as passport, birth certificate or national ID card.
The other types of licenses include class B and class E. Class B is intended for drivers who want to operate buses, recreational vehicles and trailers. In the majority of states, this class of license is obtained by taking a written and practical test. It can also be obtained by completing a class and passing the road test. You can also apply for an official class-B license if have a valid class-A or class-D licence for a minimum of three years.
What can you drive
A standard UK driving license has categories that define the types of vehicles that you can drive. It also contains other important information about you.
A licence category A permits mopeds to operate with cylinder capacities up to 125cc or 230kg. This includes motor tricycles up to 15kW. If they pass the test, physically disabled drivers may also be granted a provisional A1 or A motor-tricycle entitlement.
Other categories on the standard UK driving licence include category C which permits you to drive any vehicle up to 750kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). The category D licence includes trailer entitlements for vehicles that have eight seats and an aggregate weight of more than 750kg. A category D+E licence is also available, and includes trailer entitlement for vehicles with more than 8 seats and a total weight of more than 750kg.
You can select from a number of additional categories on your driving license that will help you to drive in different weather conditions or for commercial use. These are usually classed as commercial driver's licenses. For example, in New York, a chauffeur needs an CDL with classes A and B in order to operate limousines for commercial purposes. If you are driving a limousine for your personal use, however you may be able to get the chauffeur's license.
The kind of licence you need to operate certain heavy or large vehicles depends on the type of work you're doing. To drive a large RV, motorhome or trailer, you'll need a Class-A commercial driver's license (CDL). A class A CDL permits you to drive any vehicle that, if unhitched, weighs more than 26,000lbs and can tow up to 10,000 pounds.
You can also get a class C CDL which permits you to operate small dump trucks, or delivery vans. The license can be further enhanced by obtaining the appropriate endorsements. Some drivers who operate hazardous or heavy vehicles might be required to have the class B or A CDL.
What you can't Drive
New York drivers must pass both an exam for driving and writing in order to be able to obtain their license. It's not easy but it's necessary for safety and legal compliance. As a professional driver I've helped many people from Buffalo to Montauk get their licenses. Understanding the distinctions between the different classes of licenses will aid you in ensuring that you receive the correct license to meet your goals.
If you're planning to move beyond a standard vehicle, it could be the right time to upgrade to a commercial or specialized classification. This will require more testing but can open the door to a new world of professional driving.
For example the Class A CDL permits you to operate vehicles that have a weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds, including a towed vehicle. This includes big-rig 18-wheelers and livestock carriers. You can also get CDL endorsements that let you drive other types of vehicles, such a passenger van or small Hazmat trucks. The process for gaining an endorsement typically requires you to take tests for knowledge and occasionally, a test of skills. These tests can be a bit intimidating, but I've seen plenty of determined New Yorkers ace these tests.
Where to buy
Different locations have different requirements and processes for obtaining various classes of driver's licenses. In Pennsylvania, the standard non-commercial class C license is valid for a car or truck. Class D is designed for buses and some other larger vehicles. Class B is for drivers who drive vehicles with a gross rating (RV, Motorhome) or tow another trailer. There are also endorsements available for mopeds with sidecars tricycles, kup polskie prawo jazdy and motorcycles. It is simpler to obtain an endorsement in a lower-powered category before moving up to a higher-powered one.
Obtaining a higher-category licence may involve more extensive testing and requires you to pass an additional practical and theory test. This is a method of providing an incentive to get started with less powerful categories of vehicles.