Our driving licenses have changed over the years, they’ve become infused with smarter technology and the process of getting a drivers license in Sri Lanka has improved.
However, we still get confused with the vehicle classes: Does my license let me drive a car/van or motorbike? What about a three wheeler and small lorries? Can I drive a bus on my current license? If these questions sound familiar, its because the vehicle classes changed in 2010. For example, the old C, C1 vehicle class allowed passengers to drive their cars and vans (ie: dual purpose vehicles). Now, the vehicle class is B.
The following table is from the Department of Motor Vehicles in Sri Lanka, and we’d encourage you to have a look and be aware of what you can drive-old driving license or new.
Vehicle Classes – Section 122 of Motor Traffic Act amended by Act no.08 of 2009
| Description | Vehicle Class |
Other Class of Vehicles can be driven | Pictograph | Old Class |
| Light motor cycles of which Engine Capacity does not exceeds 100CC |
A1 | G1 |  |
D |
| Motorcycles of which Engine capacity exceeds 100CC | A | A1, G1 |  |
D |
| Motor Tricycle or van of which tare does not exceed 500kg and Gross vehicle weight does not exceed 1000 kg: Motor vehicle in this class include an invalid carriage | B1 | G1 |  |
E, F |
| Dual purpose Motor vehicle of which Gross Vehicle Weight does not exceed 3500kg and the seating capacity does not exceed 9 seats inclusive of the driver’s seat, which may be combined with a trailer of which maximum authorized tare does not exceed 750kg: Motor vehicle in this class include and invalid carriage and all cars where the seating capacity does not exceed 9 seats inclusive of the Driver’s seat. | B | G1 |  |
C, C1 |
| Light Motor Lorry – Motor Lorry of which Gross Vehicle Weight exceeds 3500 kg and does not exceed 17000kg: Motor vehicles in this class may be combined with a trailer having maximum authorized tare which does not exceed 750kg: Motor vehicles of this class include a motor ambulance and motor hearses. | C1 | B, G1 |  |
B1 |
| Motor Lorry of which Gross vehicle Weight is more than 1700kg; may be combine with a trailer having a maximum authorized tare which does not exceed 750kg | C | C1, B, J, G, G1 |  |
B |
| Heavy Motor Lorry; combination of motor lorry and trailer (s) including articulated vehicles and its trailer (s) of which maximum authorized tare of the trailer exceeds 750kg and gross vehicle weight exceeds 3500kg | CE | C, C1, B, B1, G, G1,J |  |
B |
| Light Motor Coach- Motor vehicles used for the carriage of persons and having seating capacity of not less than 9 seats and not more than 33 seats inclusive of the driver’s seat; motor vehicle in this class may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorized tare which does not exceed 750kg | D1 | C1, B, B1, G, G1 |  |
A1 |
| Motor Coach where the seating capacity does not exceed 33 seats inclusive of the driver’s seat; motor vehicles in this class may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorized tare which does not exceed 750kg | D | D1, C, C1, B, B1, G, G1,J |  |
A |
| Heavy Motor Coach – Combination of motor coach having a seating capacity of 33 seats inclusive of the driver’s seat and it’s trailer having maximum authorized tare exceeding 750kg or a combination of two motor coaches | DE | D, D1, C, C1, CE, B, B1, G, G1,J |  |
__ |
| Hand Tractors – Two Wheel Tractor with a Trailer | G1 | None |  |
G1 |
| Land Vehicle – Agricultural Land Vehicle with or without a trailer | G | G1 |  |
G |
| Special purpose Vehicle, Vehicle used for construction, loading & unloading excluding motor lorries, light motor lorries and heavy motor lorries, equipped with construction equipment and equipment for loading and unloading goods | J | G1 |  |
__ |
Editors Note: The table has been taken from the department of motor vehicles and is correct at the time of publication. HNB General Insurance is not responsible for any change of information.
Found this article useful? Share this information your friends. The last thing you want is to find out that you can’t drive the vehicle you depend on!
Disclaimer: The views shared in this blog are based on the macro economic conditions & industry status quo as per the time of publishing.
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