What obliges you to drive only with a license?
So, there are 3 regulations that require you to have a license to drive certain vehicles:
- The Russian Constitution gives citizens the right to free movement,
- but the Federal Law on Road Safety prescribes that road users can move freely based on established rules, and the exercise of their rights as citizens should not infringe on the rights of other people,
- but clause 2.1.1 of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations states that the driver is obliged to carry with him and hand over to the traffic police officer a driver’s license, among other documents, when driving vehicles.
Thus, we can drive any vehicle as long as we have the right to drive it. If this requires special training, then this right is called a special right - the right to drive, and it is confirmed by a driver’s license.
Driver's license: regulation
First, let’s refresh the basic principles of allowing drivers to drive vehicles (hereinafter referred to as vehicles), which are established:
- Federal Law No. 196 of December 10, 1995 “On Road Safety” (hereinafter referred to as Federal Law No. 196).
- Traffic rules of the Russian Federation, approved. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 23, 1993 No. 1090 (hereinafter referred to as SDA).
The right to drive a vehicle is granted to persons who have completed training and passed the appropriate exams in the divisions of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (State Traffic Inspectorate), in compliance with the established requirements (clause 2 and clause 3 of Article 25, Article 26 of Federal Law No. 196).
The right to drive a vehicle is confirmed by a driver’s license (hereinafter referred to as the driver’s license or license) (clause 4 of article 25 of Federal Law No. 196).
The driver (the person driving the vehicle - clause 1.2 of the Traffic Regulations) is obliged to carry with him and, at the request of the police officers, hand over to them for verification a driver's license of the appropriate category or subcategory (clause 2.1.1 of the Traffic Regulations).
Article on the topic: What opportunities do different types of car licenses provide and what is a driver’s license?
What vehicles do not require a license?
Now let's look in order at all types of vehicles that you can drive without such a special right.
Rollerblades, scooters
The most obvious thing is that neither dares to call it a vehicle, nor do the laws in force for 2021 classify it as such. Roller skates, scooters, skateboards, baby strollers, etc. - obviously, rights are not required for all this, because those riding them still have the status of pedestrians.
Traffic rules say the same thing:
Persons who use roller skates, scooters and other similar means for transportation are considered pedestrians.
The key word here is “similar”. That is, something that does not have an engine is driven by human muscles, and is not capable of causing serious harm in a collision.
Bike
You can also ride a bicycle without a license. Although, there have been numerous attempts to introduce driving licenses for cyclists and even to issue license plates for them and register them with the traffic police, these have not been successful for 2021... fortunately or unfortunately.
Segway, hoverboard, motorcycle wheel
Although such devices already have a motor, in practice they still do not need to be registered, there is no obligation to drive them only on the roadway, and you do not need a license to drive them.
However, from a legal point of view, their owners are no longer pedestrians (although the traffic police officially consider them pedestrians), but become drivers of an electric vehicle. We examined these vehicles in more detail in a separate article.
Walk-behind tractor
You also don’t need a license for a walk-behind tractor, despite the fact that it has an engine, and sometimes it’s even powerful enough to compete (purely in terms of power) with motorcycles and scooters.
But they are not needed, not because their riders are pedestrians. Formally, walk-behind tractors are not intended for driving on public roads, many of them are not intended to be driven classically, but only driven in front of you, and according to the passport they are not vehicles, they obviously do not even have a title.
But if you drive a walk-behind tractor onto a road - even a country road or a field road - then in practice problems in the form of a fine and even evacuation of the walk-behind tractor to an impound lot may well await you.
Pitbike
You can also ride a pit bike without a license, similar to a walk-behind tractor. This is because this type of motorcycle is also not intended for riding on public roads, but unlike a walk-behind tractor, a pit bike for 2021 is not agricultural equipment for household use, but sports equipment.
But in practice, you will still get a hefty fine (the size of the fine is discussed below) for riding a pit bike, even if you have the right to drive a vehicle. The fact is that traffic police inspectors still illegally fine drivers, and pit bikes are taken to the impound lot. Why is it illegal? Because even the Supreme Court ruled that this was illegal. Therefore, such a fine based on this decision can and should be appealed.
Fields and forests
The concept of “road” in paragraph 1.2 of the traffic rules means an artificial surface or a hard strip of land adapted for the movement of vehicles.
Based on this, it is quite logical to assume that when moving along a forest road that is used for cars, all traffic rules apply. Despite the lack of road signs, you cannot drive here while intoxicated or drive like the wind. If the car is stopped by traffic police officers under such circumstances, a fine cannot be avoided.
In addition, if a motorist outside the city gives driving lessons to a person without a license, then when meeting with traffic police officers, punishment awaits both.
It is important to remember some provisions of the Forest Code. For example, on some of them it is prohibited to enter an area where a fire safety regime is in effect. Such areas are fenced off with special information boards, which are clearly legible upon entry. In addition, information about such zones can be found on specialized websites of the territorial Ministry of Emergency Situations.
If you ignore such prohibitions, then:
- under Article 8.32 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the violator faces a fine of 1,500-5,000 rubles;
- In addition, a driver who violates the regime for using nature reserves and natural parks will have to pay 3,000-4,000 rubles under Article 8.39 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation when meeting with government officials.
In some cases, entry into the territory of such zones is completely prohibited.
Important note!
- This article provides basic information, but each case is different.
- In 92% of all situations there are important nuances that can affect the outcome of the entire case.
- An experienced lawyer will study all the materials of the case and indicate in which direction to move.
Therefore, our website employs on-duty legal consultants who delve into each case and are aimed at solving it.
Ask a Question
or consult toll-free (Moscow), (St. Petersburg), 8 (all of Russia).
What vehicles require a license?
Now let's look at common vehicles that you will need a special license to drive. Obviously, we won’t consider cars - they always needed a license and there can be no controversial issues here.
Motorbike
To drive motorcycles you need a license of category A or subcategory A1:
- "A" is required if you are riding a motorcycle with a displacement of more than 125cc,
- "A1" for motorcycles with engine capacity less than 125 but greater than or equal to 50.
Please note that according to the text of the traffic rules, three- or more-wheeled motorcycles, various types of tricycles with a motorcycle seat and steering, and if their weight does not exceed 400 kg, are covered with the same technical characteristics.
Scooter and moped
Contrary to increasingly thinning opinions among scooter enthusiasts, these vehicles require a license. Moreover, absolutely any category:
- “M” is a special category of license for the ability to ride scooters and mopeds, it can be obtained from the age of 16,
- “A1” – this category can be driven from the age of 17,
- all other categories of rights provide the opportunity to drive this transport from the age of 18.
Scooters and mopeds include two-wheeled vehicles with an engine capacity of up to 50 cubic meters (up to 49.9 cubic meters, at 50 you can no longer drive) and with a maximum speed of up to 50 km/h.
ATV
But for ATVs and similar vehicles, designed, like pit bikes, for off-road driving, a tractor category driver’s license is required. This is a very controversial point, but law enforcement practice in 2021 suggests that if you are caught both on the road and on the ground, you will be fined for lack of driving rights.
Therefore, if you are asking the question “Can I ride an ATV without a license,” then the answer is no, you cannot.
Where can you drive without a license?
Yes, everywhere! But only under one important condition - you have the status of a driver learner. And the driver in this case is training you, and it is he who is responsible for your traffic violations.
But on the merits of the issue, you cannot drive anywhere without a license if a special right is provided for a given vehicle after successfully passing the exams.
Is it true that you can drive through fields without a license?
Not true. Contrary to the popular belief that traffic rules apply only on public roads, and not on country roads and dirt roads, you will need your license everywhere, although there are different opinions on this matter, based on 2 opposite poles.
At one extreme are people who believe that traffic rules apply absolutely everywhere. And to confirm this, they quote from the current traffic rules:
1.1. These Traffic Rules establish a uniform traffic procedure throughout the entire territory of the Russian Federation.
But at the other extreme are off-road enthusiasts who read the definitions of traffic and roads:
road traffic is a set of social relations that arise in the process of moving people and goods with or without vehicles within roads; road – a strip of land or a surface of an artificial structure equipped or adapted and used for the movement of vehicles.
As we see, both opinions have the right to exist. And the second camp, which justifies driving through fields without a license, is opposed by the fact that a road is still a strip of land used for movement. And since we are driving along it in this case, that means we are using... That means the road... That means we are participating in the process of road traffic, and we are required to comply with traffic regulations.
Is it true that you can drive on a race track without a license?
The analogy here is the same as with the ability to control without rights across the field. The autodrome is a closed area. Other traffic rules may be established on it. But they cannot contradict the traffic rules.
In addition, in essence, the above definitions of road traffic and roads, the race track is not an exception to roads and road traffic.
Do traffic rules apply in the forest and fields?
In this article we will look at a slightly comical, but still interesting situation about traffic rules in the forest or in any similar area.
After all, it’s interesting to imagine the face of a motorist who saw a traffic police patrol on a forest or country road. We are wondering whether the traffic police inspector, if of course he is there, can issue a fine in the forest for not turning on the turn signal.
What is a road from the point of view of traffic rules? Any lane that is intended for vehicle traffic can be considered a road. The lane that is located in the village, which was trampled by a tractor, as well as the one that cars have already passed through, would also fit this definition. Such self-formed road surfaces do not imply the presence of traffic lights, asphalt and markings.
Okay, we’ve sorted out the forest, but what if our path lies through the wilds and wilderness, that is, off the road. A motorist, for example, decided to conquer a forest or meadow that a car wheel had never “stepped on.” So why do you need to follow traffic rules here too? Absolutely yes. Of course, you need to understand that we are not talking about all the rules, but about the most basic ones. You don’t need to turn on your turn signal, because most likely there is no one else in this area except you. But you must drive sober. Driving while intoxicated is prohibited by traffic rules; the route is not at all important here, the very fact that a motorist can get behind the wheel drunk. You can even drive through endless fields and forests drunk, but if an inspector catches you there, you cannot avoid punishment.
No entry. Of course, it’s great to spend time in nature and go by car to the most remote places, do not forget that the law may not like this either. The “Law on Environmental Protection”, as well as the “Law on the Water Code” states that driving is not possible in all territories. Let us remind you that entry into a specially protected area is punishable by a fine of three to five thousand rubles. If such an offense is recorded by a traffic police inspector, he can confiscate the car and send it to the impound lot.
Of course, many rely on luck and luck. After reading a huge number of forums in which motorists express their opinions, you can understand that everyone is going at random and thinks that the inspector will not find the violator in the field. And really, where can he come from there? Read the definitions from the traffic rules below:
“Road” is a developed or adapted strip of land that is used for vehicle traffic. The surface of an artificial structure is also suitable here. Roadsides, sidewalks and tram tracks will also be treated as roads.
“Driver” is the person who drives the vehicle. A driver can also be a person who is just learning to drive, that is, it doesn’t matter whether you have a license or not, if you get behind the wheel, you are automatically considered one.
Of course, this is a very funny topic for discussion, but if you Google it, you will see that many motorists are interested in this issue. The answer is simple - not caught, not a thief. But it will be better if you follow traffic rules everywhere, even for your own safety.
What will it be like to drive without a license?
So, the last issue we are considering is the fine for violations due to the lack of the right to drive at all or a certain category (if there is no category, you do not have the right to drive this vehicle, so the fine is the same).
It ranges from 5 to 15 thousand rubles under Part 1 of Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code. This fine is imposed in cases of driving:
- on a scooter without any category of license,
- on a motorcycle without open category “A”,
- on an ATV without a tractor license,
- by car without category “B”,
- in all other cases when you need the appropriate category to drive this vehicle, but you do not have it in your license.
Punishment for driving without a license
Certain sanctions will be imposed against the driver both for the complete absence of a driver's license and for driving without the appropriate driving category. The violator will face a financial penalty in the amount of 5 to 15 thousand rubles in accordance with the first part of Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code.
The driver will receive a fine in the following cases:
- on a scooter without any category, if the person is an adult;
- on an ATV without a tractor license;
- on a motorcycle without category “A”;
- by car without the appropriate category;
- on any other transport, the operation of which requires a special category.
It’s better not to take risks and get a license for the purchased vehicle to avoid legal consequences.
