How to get a tractor driver's license? Categories, exams, replacement

In order to be able to legally drive a certain type of vehicle, you must have a state driver's license of the category that allows you to do this.

That is, if you want to work in the field with agricultural machinery, you must have a special license for a tractor 2020.

A driver's license of any category can be obtained at the traffic police department, having previously completed training and passed exams in a particular driving discipline, in this case the right to drive self-propelled vehicles.

Let's figure out how you can get a license for a tractor and what features of training in this category exist.

What you need to operate a tractor

To operate a tractor, a standard tractor driver's license is required. A tractor license is obtained after specialized training in training courses and passing a final exam.

The form of rights is established by Gostekhnadzor and they look the same anywhere in the country: a document in the form of a card with fields to fill out on both sides. On one side, information about the driver with a photo and personal signature is indicated. On the other side, data is written about the category of the car that he is allowed to drive.

A license for a tractor is issued on the basis of a certificate of completion of training courses upon completion of theory and practice classes and after successfully passing an exam at Gostekhnadzor.

Sample tractor driver's license

An important point: a tractor driver’s license is valid only within the country that issued it. It will not be possible to work on special equipment abroad.

The procedure for obtaining and replacing licenses for a tractor/quad bike

Malyshev Sergey Petrovich

Major of the traffic police special regiment for St. Petersburg

Ask a Question

To obtain a license for special equipment, you need to undergo standard training and collect all the documents that may be needed. There is only one difference - unlike a regular driver’s license, the license for this equipment is issued by Gostekhnadzor. Training is paid, but the exact tariffs are unknown and largely depend on the training center.

It is not necessary to change the old-style license, if someone still has one, to a new one. The driver can do this only if he personally wishes.

According to the Rules, a driver who already has a license must change them only if:

1. they have been lost or stolen;
2. the document has expired;
3. there are changes that need to be made to the document;
4. the rights were damaged and the text became unreadable;
5. the driver's health condition has changed.

You can exchange your tractor driver's license for a new one at the State Technical Supervision Authority. To do this without problems, you must confirm that the training was completed successfully. In this case, you will not have to spend money on training, just pay the state fee.

If for any reason a driver has been deprived of his license for a certain vehicle, he is automatically deprived of the right to drive any category of vehicle. To get your license back, you only have to pass the theory test.

Age restrictions for obtaining a tractor license There are several restrictions for obtaining a driver's license category for special equipment. To start training, you will have to “grow up” to a certain age.

• "A1". Available after 16 years of age.
• "A2". Only after 19 years.
• "A3". Likewise, upon reaching 19 years of age.
• "A4". Only after 22 years.
• "IN". Only after 17 years.
• "WITH". Likewise, after 17 years.
• "D". Will be available after 18 years of age.
• "E". Upon reaching 17 years of age.
• "F". After 17 years.

From a standard driver's license, obtaining a document to use a tractor can only be done at the place of study. Or rights can be obtained at the place of residence.

Established Categories

To obtain a license to drive a tractor, you need to know the type of machine you will be operating. The choice of course of study will depend on this.

There are several categories for tractor drivers:

Tractor driver's rights

• A. With the right to drive off-road vehicles with a power of up to 4 kW to travel where there are no roads.
• B. For tracked or wheeled vehicles with a 4-25.7 kW motor.
• C. For wheeled vehicles with a power of 25.7–110.3 kW. For wheeled devices with a power unit and power from 110.3 kW (150 hp) and above.

• E. _ With the right to drive tracked devices with a power of over 24.7 kW.
• F. _ For controlling self-propelled agricultural machines.

What is the fine for driving a tractor without a driver's license in 2022?

Driving the specified vehicle on the road is permitted if you have a certificate confirming the right to drive a tractor. In the absence of this document, the tractor driver will pay a fine, the amount of which depends on the conditions specified in Article 12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:

• If a license is not received and the driver gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, the fine is 5-15 thousand.
• If the driving ban is violated due to deprivation of a license, the tractor driver will face a fine of 30 thousand rubles.

Fine for driving a tractor without a license

Provided that the driver has the required license, but was not with him at the time of inspection by the traffic police inspector, the fine will be 500 rubles.

Existing ranks

In addition to the category, a rank is recorded on the tractor driver's license. It is assigned by the inspector when passing the exam, and subsequently it is indicated next to the acquired specialty.

Features for each category:

Tractor driver's certificate with the specified category

• 2nd. Provides the right to drive a tractor under the supervision of a more experienced mentor. It also provides the ability to troubleshoot loading and gripping mechanisms.
• 3rd . Indicates the ability to operate forklifts and other load-handling devices. The tractor driver can load and stack cargo, perform service and repair of machine components.
• 4th. Confirms the right to operate forklifts and other loading and moving devices with a power of up to 100 hp. With. The scope of responsibilities also includes carrying out independent repairs and maintenance.
• 5th. Allows you to drive tractors of any power that perform the functions of an excavator or bulldozer.
• 6th. Required for the driver of a tractor with a power of 200 hp or more. With. when performing the functions of an excavator and bulldozer.

What are tractor licenses?

The main purpose of a tractor license is a document that gives the right to drive certain types of self-propelled equipment. A license is not needed if the vehicle is used only on personal territory, without entering public areas. In other cases, the presence of a document is required.

Operating a certain type of equipment is the main difference between a tractor and a car license. And the issuance rules are another important difference. If documents are lost, some time may pass before you are eligible to retake the exam and gain access to your license.

Where to get training

A training center for training tractor drivers must be accredited and state licensed. You should choose an educational institution in the region where you live. It will not be possible to obtain rights in another area.

There are some exceptions for visitors and foreigners. Prestigious driving schools accept students for training without reference to place of residence or registration.

Tractor driver training

Current changes in the rights of a tractor driver

In addition to the abolition of temporary licenses, the concept of "self-training" was also abolished. In other words, for a long period of time it was possible, without approval from the technical control department, to simply pass theoretical and practical driving tests and obtain a tractor license. Now - no, because a mandatory condition for admission to the exam is a certificate of completion of the course from the State Technical Supervision.

The current version of the tractor driver's license was introduced in 2011. This is a laminated cardboard or plastic card with information about the owner and a printed photo. Cardboard or plastic - at the discretion of the recipient (the plastic version is more expensive).

Now, in addition to the individual number, the tractor driver’s certificate contains a unique barcode. According to the creators of the new document, this simplifies the actions of the inspector. There is no need to send the details of the tractor driver to Gostekhnadzor in order to obtain additional information (unpaid fines, etc.).

Several years ago, a new type of rights was introduced in the Russian Federation. These are certificates that have several categories and subcategories

Procedure for taking the exam

Certification of future drivers consists of two stages. The first includes control of the theoretical part. The traffic rules exam and knowledge of the rules for safe operation of machines is taken orally or using a computer. Successful passing of the exam provides the right to admission to the practical part.

Practical exam for tractor driver

The practice exam or the second stage allows you to evaluate the abilities of the future driver in driving a tractor. For this purpose, two sites are used - an ideal training ground where training sessions took place, and a real training ground.

Certification takes place with the obligatory presence of a representative of Gostekhnadzor, who makes the final decision. In case of a positive verdict, the student receives a tractor driver’s license. If mistakes were made and you failed to pass the test the first time, a retake is scheduled no earlier than a week later. You are allowed 3 attempts. If all of them were unsuccessful, you will have to undergo repeated training.

What do tractor licenses mean?

In appearance, a driver's license that covers the ability to drive a tractor does not differ from those required by the owner of a car or truck.

Thanks to this document, you can manage two categories of transport:

• First of all, these are different types of self-propelled vehicles that have certain properties. For example, a tractor, snow removal, construction or agricultural machinery. In a word, everything that can make human work easier;
• The second type is a category that allows you to control military equipment.

Important aspects

The self-propelled category includes equipment that has certain parameters:

Documents that allow you to drive self-propelled equipment are called “tractor driver’s licenses.”

They mean:

Categories and subcategories are designated by Latin letters (numbers). Indicated in new certificates with permanent and temporary validity.

Unlike driver's licenses issued by the State Traffic Inspectorate, tractor licenses are issued by Gostekhnadzor. Self-propelled vehicles are also inspected there.

The acquired tractor license, unlike a regular driver's license, does not allow you to drive self-propelled equipment outside our country.

What it is

Despite the external similarity with a regular driver’s license, a tractor driver’s license nevertheless opens up completely different opportunities for the right to operate equipment.

After all, a truck driver who has a cat. “C” cannot operate a backhoe loader, and similarly, a driver driving a utility vehicle cannot drive a passenger car.

These are two separate areas of transport management, supervised by different departments, having their own terminology, training programs, special equipment and various documents (rights):

For what purpose is it provided?

During the Great Patriotic War, boys who were 12-14 years old worked on tractors in the fields without any rights.

Yes, this was necessary for the victory of our country. Operating technology back then was not as difficult as it is now.

Now self-propelled vehicles (ST) have been brought to almost perfection, becoming a means of transportation equipped with the most complex operating functionality, electronics and computers.

And its diversity already allows division into categories and even subcategories. To operate such equipment, you must obtain documents certifying:

When admitted to training and passing qualifying exams in some of the categories (subcategories), there are age restrictions.

Legal basis

The right to drive vehicles, tractors, and obtaining the corresponding rights of a tractor driver are regulated by several regulations:

Explanation of categories and subcategories of tractor rights

Self-propelled vehicles are increasingly being transformed, modernized, and their functionality is increasing every year. Therefore, for their successful management, the usual knowledge acquired in a driving school when obtaining a license with an open category “B” is not enough.

Drivers with qualifications, which are confirmed by a certain letter on their license, are allowed to drive such equipment. Before you get a license for a tractor, it is worth clarifying where it is included, because each group has its own characteristics and requirements.

A small table showing their decoding will help you visually understand the categories of tractor licenses.

CategoryCharacteristicMode of transport

The table provides a description of the categories of tractor licenses that everyone who plans to apply for them should familiarize themselves with. The main requirements for obtaining a driving license are the absence of medical contraindications, passing exams and reaching a certain age. It should be noted that categories A3, A2, A1 and A4 appeared relatively recently; before 2011, it did not exist. They are present in everyone who received a new type of tractor driver’s license.

Features and nuances of obtaining a tractor license

Having decided which category of tractor is needed, the next step is to contact the government agency responsible for issuing rights to special equipment. In this case, it is Gostekhnadzor, it is he who draws up the coveted “crust”. You need to have several documents with you:

• Application for registration.
• Passport or other personal identification.
• Medical examination document with permission to obtain a license or class, category.
• If you received regular driver's license for the car.
• Photos of a standard size (usually 3x4).
• Payment order or check confirming payment of the state duty.

If a car driver wants to drive a Belarus or Belaz tractor, he must undergo training at a specialized school; independently mastering skills on such equipment, with or without a trailer, is simply unacceptable. The exception is subcategory A1, but exams are also provided for it.