Can a B1 driver's license drive a manual transmission?

The addition of automatic driving license makes many people wonder if B1 license allows driving manual transmission.

In the system of driving licenses in Vietnam, class B driving licenses include 2 types B1 and B2. This is the type of driving license for cars with less than 9 seats and a load capacity of less than 3.5 tons and is also the most popular type of car driving license today.

As cars equipped with automatic transmissions become more and more popular and widely used in our country, the need for additional driving licenses specifically for automatic transmission vehicles arises. Therefore, from January 1, 2016, automatic driving licenses were officially added and applied by the Ministry of Transport.

People with B11 driving license are not allowed to drive manual transmission cars...

However, the automatic driving license is classified as B1, which can easily be confused with the old B1 license - the type that still allows driving manual transmission vehicles. To distinguish between these two types of licenses, the Ministry of Transport has agreed to call the automatic driving license B11. Specifically as follows:

B11 license: Issued to non-professional drivers, allowed to drive the following types of vehicles: Automatic cars carrying up to 9 people; Specialized automatic trucks with a design load of less than 3,500 kg.

B1 license: Issued to non-professional drivers, allowed to drive the following types of vehicles: Passenger cars with up to 9 seats; Trucks, including specialized trucks, with a design load of less than 3,500 kg.

B11 driver's license can only drive automatic cars.

Thus, a person with a B11 license is not allowed to drive a manual car. Meanwhile, a B1 license is allowed to drive a manual car. Both of these licenses do not allow one to drive.

A person with a B11 driving license driving a manual transmission vehicle will violate the error "Having a driving license but not suitable for the type of vehicle being driven". According to point a, clause 7, article 21 of Decree 46/2016/ND-CP, this error has a fine of 4,000,000 VND to 6,000,000 VND.

According to Giao Thong Newspaper