Which vehicles do not require a license 2021

Law on obtaining a license to drive a vehicle

In 2021, there are 3 main legal acts in force, the provisions of which entail the need to obtain a driver’s license for certain vehicles. This:

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Constitution of the Russian Federation. Grants citizens the right to free movement.
Federal Law No. 196 of December 10, 1995 “On Road Safety”. The legal act states that people must move on the roads following a set of certain rules. Their implementation should not infringe on the interests of other people. Article 25 provides the main provisions regarding admission to driving vehicles. Article 26 reflects the conditions for obtaining a driver's license.
Traffic rules of the Russian Federation. Paragraph 2.1.1 states that the driver is required to have a license with him and must present the document for verification by a traffic police officer upon request.

From the above it follows that a citizen can travel in any vehicle, but only with the appropriate certificate. To obtain it you will need to undergo training and pass exams.

How to get your license in 2021: all changes

The owner of a vehicle who has transferred the right to drive it to a person who does not have a driver’s license bears an administrative penalty. The fine for handing over the steering wheel to a person without a license is 30,000 rubles . Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code, part 3, quote:

Transferring control of the vehicle to a person who obviously does not have the right to drive the vehicle (except for training driving) or is deprived of such right.

But to get such a fine, you still need to try, because any car owner can tell the inspector that he was not aware that the person driving does not have a license. And try to prove the opposite!

There are cases when a person who gave his car to someone to go somewhere, and he was caught by traffic police inspectors, writes a report of theft, and this also helps to avoid punishment for transferring control to a person without a license.

According to Russian laws, a minor does not have the right to drive a vehicle, since he does not yet have a driver’s license. To obtain it, you must undergo training at a driving school and successfully pass exams.

You can unlearn your license before the age of 18, but you can get behind the wheel only after reaching 18 years of age.

However, persons under 18 years of age can drive scooters and mopeds - vehicles from the “M” and “A1” categories. You can get them as early as 16 years old. But he can no longer drive a powerful scooter and moped with an engine of 125 cm3, since this requires category “A”, which is given to persons over 18 years of age. The same applies to category “B” for driving a passenger car.

It turns out that a minor citizen by law cannot drive any vehicle. If he violates this article, he will receive a fine and driving without a license as a minor - from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles . It will, of course, not be paid by him, but by his legal representatives.

If it turns out that a minor teenager is driving the car, and the owner of the car is nearby, then the latter will be fined for handing over the steering wheel to a minor without a license - 30,000 rubles . The vehicle will be evacuated to the impound lot, and explanatory conversations will be held with the child.

If it turns out that an underage teenager was driving and he was drunk, the monetary penalty will be much higher. Parents of a drunken minor driving will have to pay a fine of 30,000 rubles .

The general definition for self-propelled vehicles is vehicles not intended for travel on public roads. Another feature is the maximum speed. It does not exceed 50 km/h. This usually includes tractors, combines and other agricultural machinery. However, the group is not limited to this.

Categories/ subcategory	Acceptable transport	Age	Requirements for registration
A.I.	motor transport	from 16 years old	Medical certificate; Availability of specialized education in specialties related to driving self-propelled vehicles (no mandatory training required)
AII	vehicles with a total weight of less than 3.5 tons and the number of seats no more than 8 + driver's seat (analogous to passenger cars)	from 19 years old	Having a category B driver's license and more than 1 year of driving experience
AIII	vehicles intended for transporting goods weighing more than 3.5 tons	from 19 years old	Having a category C driver's license and more than 1 year of driving experience
AIV	vehicles for transporting passengers with more than 8 seats	from 22 years old	Having a category D driver's license and more than 1 year of driving experience
B	tracked or wheeled vehicles with engine power up to 25.7 kW	from 17 years old	Medical certificate; Availability of specialized education in specialties related to driving self-propelled vehicles (no mandatory training required)
C	wheeled special vehicles with engine power from 25.7 kW to 110.3 kW	from 17 years old	Medical certificate; Completion of training
D	wheeled special vehicles with an engine power of more than 110.3 kW	from 18 years old	Medical certificate; Completion of training
E	tracked special transport with an engine power of more than 25.7 kW	from 17 years old	Medical certificate; Completion of training
F	self-propelled agricultural vehicles	from 17 years old	Medical certificate; Completion of training

The list of vehicles, as well as the requirements for paperwork, are approved by the “Rules for admission to driving self-propelled machines and issuing tractor driver licenses.”

Self-assembled devices (self-propelled wheelbarrows, etc.) can be considered self-propelled vehicles. They must also be registered with the traffic police, and the driver must have a driving license.

Let's consider paragraph 1, article 25 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety”:

1. In the Russian Federation, the following categories and their subcategories of vehicles are established, for which a special right to drive is granted (hereinafter referred to as the right to drive vehicles): .

category "M" - mopeds and light quadricycles;

A category M driver's license for driving mopeds and scooters was introduced on November 5, 2013.

Foreign driver's license when driving a moped (scooter)

Clause 7 of Article 25 of the Law “On Road Traffic Safety” allows the use of a Russian national license of any category to drive scooters. However, this requirement does not apply to foreign rights.

For example, if a driver has a foreign driving license of category B, he cannot drive mopeds and scooters in Russia.

Thus, foreign licenses can be used in Russia to drive a moped only if category M is open in them.

What type of vehicle does not require a driver's license in 2021?

Not all vehicles require a license. In 2021, you may not receive them if you are driving:

Roller skates or scooters. Mobility devices are not vehicles. Roller skates, skateboards, scooters, and baby strollers do not make the person driving them a driver. The citizen still has the status of a pedestrian (clause 1.2 of the Russian Traffic Regulations).
Bicycles . Attempts to introduce a driver's license for cyclists have been made several times. There have been proposals to even start issuing state license plates and registering bicycles with the traffic police. The attempt was unsuccessful and in 2021 a driver’s license is not required for this vehicle.
Mono-wheel, Segway, hoverboard. The devices have a built-in motor. However, they do not require registration. There is no provision in the legislation obliging owners of devices to move only on the roadway. There is also no need for a driver's license for transport.
Pitbike. This type of motorcycle is also not intended for riding on public roads. The device is recognized as sports equipment. Therefore, rights to it are not required.

Which vehicles do not require a driver's license?

Often, maintaining a car requires large financial costs; not every person can afford such luxury. Also, any motorist can, for any reason, lose his driving license. What to do in such a situation? Of course, walking is good for your health, and you can always use public transport, but this is not suitable for every person.

What vehicles are there that you can use without a driver's license?

Bike

The simplest means of transportation for a person is a bicycle. According to the Federal Law of the Russian Federation, the owner of this type of transport does not need a driver’s license. A bicycle has two wheels and moves using the force of pedaling. Modern bicycles have a gearbox or an electric motor, the power of which should not exceed 0.25 kW.

Segway

This vehicle was developed quite recently and has not yet established itself in the consumer market. Not everywhere you can find Segways for sale. This vehicle consists of two wheels attached to the board, and also has a handle that a person can hold on to while traveling. The Segway has a powerful engine, which determines the speed of movement.

Hoverboard

The legislation has not yet adopted a law on imposing rights on hoverboards. This type of transport can be classified as a bicycle, but the power of a hoverboard is significantly increased, therefore, it can travel faster and over longer distances than a bicycle.

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Unicycle

The latest development, thanks to which you can move using one wheel and do not need to pedal. The movement process is carried out due to the built-in engine, which can accelerate to maximum speed. You can ride a unicycle without a license, but you should follow the same traffic rules as a cyclist.

Lawnmower

Despite the fact that the direct purpose of this vehicle is not to carry people, more and more often different countries around the world are organizing competitions in riding lawn mowers. The vehicle consists of four wheels, has a powerful motor and a steering wheel. However, you should not use a lawnmower for driving on city streets.

Walk-behind tractor

The direct purpose of the walk-behind tractor is to plow fields; it is not intended for transporting people. However, particularly inventive people manage to construct a vehicle out of it by attaching a cart to the back.

Electric wheelchair

No one has the right to ask a disabled person for their rights, because a wheelchair is the main means of transportation for a person who cannot move independently.

Pitbike

A vehicle that looks somewhat like a motorcycle. This type of transport is intended for driving on special routes; a pit bike is not suitable for public roads, therefore a license for it is not needed.

Karting

A vehicle used for competitions on specialized sports grounds. Karting is not intended for driving around the city.

For which vehicles is it necessary to obtain a driver's license?

The main list of vehicles for which you need to obtain a driver's license is reflected in Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 of December 10, 1995 “On Road Safety”. Rights will be required for:

Cars. A license is required for both passenger cars and trucks. To operate, you may need to open categories B, B1, C, B, D. It all depends on the presence of a trailer, the purpose of the vehicle, and its weight.
Motorbike. For control, category A or A1 is required, depending on engine size.
Scooter and moped. In 2021, vehicles require a license. A category M license must be obtained to ride scooters and mopeds with an engine capacity of less than 50 cubic meters.
Quad bike. To drive a vehicle you will need a tractor category driver's license. Riding ATVs without a license is prohibited.

When does a driver have the right to drive without a license?

Driving without a driver's license is acceptable everywhere, but only if the person has learner driving status. In this case, the person involved in his training is responsible for the student and compliance with traffic rules. In other situations, a license is required if its availability is required for a specific type of vehicle.

There is an opinion that traffic rules only apply on public roads. In all other places, the rules may not be followed, and driving without a license is acceptable. The opinion is wrong. You can be fined for driving without a license anywhere. Clause 1.1 of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations states that the rules establish a uniform traffic procedure throughout the Russian Federation.

Questions are raised about the possibility of driving without a license on the race track. It is a closed area. Individual rules may apply, but their conflict with traffic regulations is unacceptable. The territory is not included in the list of exceptions. Therefore, a person driving a vehicle to the race track in 2021 that requires a license to drive must have one.

The most difficult thing to figure out is how driving is regulated in areas where there is no road. There is no clear explanation in the legislation. Clause 1.2 of the Russian Traffic Regulations provides the following definitions:

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 is a strip of land or surface of an artificial structure equipped or adapted and used for the movement of vehicles. A road may consist of one or more carriageways, as well as sidewalks, roadsides, tram tracks, and dividing strips, if any.

Based on the above definition, it turns out that driving without a license is permissible. However, not all inspectors share this opinion. There is a statement that the road begins where vehicle traffic occurs, regardless of the terrain and its nature. There are cases of deprivation of a driver's license for transferring control of a car in the wild, on the ice of a reservoir, etc. The courts confirm such protocols.

If we adhere to average logic, it turns out that without a license you cannot drive in any area, if it is open to the free movement of other cars and people, and it is visited by citizens or vehicles.

Categories and subcategories of driver's licenses in 2021

In addition, an electric vehicle can be operated in enclosed spaces. This need arises in entertainment centers, scientific organizations, manufacturing enterprises and the entertainment industry. This is another serious advantage.

Everyone has long been accustomed to gasoline scooters that have appeared on highways. Their operation was not regulated by legislation. That is why small-capacity mopeds and scooters with a capacity of up to 50 cubic meters did not require a driver’s license to operate and, accordingly, were not of interest to road patrol inspectors.

Since bicycle paths are not very well developed in our country, perhaps the unluckiest road user is the cyclist, because on the sidewalk he interferes with pedestrians, and on the road motorists constantly try to hit him. It would seem that everyone knows what a bicycle is. Two wheels, pedals, chain and steering wheel, optional trunk and bell.

What attracts people about an ATV is, first of all, its maneuverability and efficiency. The machines have low-pressure tires, which make it possible to pass through areas of marshy soil where the tractor and all-terrain vehicle simply get stuck.

Bicycles and all devices that move with the help of human muscle power are the main group of vehicles that you can ride without a driver's license. This includes all bicycle structures with different numbers of wheels and seats (roller, tandem, tricycle, etc.). Bicycle transport has limitations on engine performance (less than 0.250 W) and its speed (less than 25 km/h). More powerful models of bicycle devices, according to the 2021 traffic rules, are equivalent to mopeds (scooters). According to paragraph 1.2 of the traffic rules, this is a mechanical vehicle, the driver of which is required to have a driver’s license with him.

However, bureaucratic red tape when obtaining a driver's license deters potential purchases and raises the question of the types of vehicles that do not require a document to drive.

In particular, in Germany and Sweden, where bicycle paths are developed, they are equated to bicycles, but outside the sidewalk they are considered mopeds and must be equipped with license plates and a full set of external lighting devices, and drivers are required to be of a certain age and have compulsory motor insurance.

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.

category "M" - mopeds and light quadricycles;

A Russian national driver's license, confirming the right to drive vehicles of any of the categories or subcategories listed in this article, confirms the right to drive vehicles of category "M".

Do you need a license to drive an electric vehicle?

In the Russian Federation and in the world, transport with an electric motor is gaining popularity. The category includes:

electric bicycles;
electric scooters;
electric scooters;
electric cars.

The list is not exhaustive. The vehicle is considered environmentally friendly and easy to store. It allows you to save money on buying gasoline. The battery is charged from the mains.

Electric vehicles vary in engine power and maximum speed. Depending on the parameters, you may need to obtain rights. If a person owns an electric scooter or electric vehicle, he must obtain a category M certificate. The relevant norms follow from clause 1.2 of the Russian Federation Traffic Regulations and Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 of December 10, 1995 “On Road Safety”.

Electric scooters are recognized as mopeds. It is necessary to obtain a category M certificate if the maximum engine power in continuous load mode is more than 0.25 kW and less than 4 kW. The permissible speed cannot be more than 50 km/h.

If the parameters are exceeded, you will need to obtain category A. It applies to vehicles whose speed is more than 50 km/h and whose power exceeds 4 kW.

Category B will be required if a person owns an electric vehicle, the permissible weight of which does not exceed 3500 kg, and the number of seats does not exceed 8.

In 2021 there are bicycles equipped with electric motors. There is no need to obtain a driver's license for transport if the vehicle speed is no more than 25 km/h, and the maximum power in continuous load mode does not exceed 0.25 kW. From the outside it is difficult to determine the above parameters. Therefore, it is better to have supporting documents with you.

You do not need a license to use electric scooters. Sometimes the speed of such devices can reach up to 45 km/h, and the power up to 1600 W. At the moment, the state does not regulate the movement of such vehicles on public roads. People using the device continue to be considered pedestrians. In 2021, it is permissible to ride electric scooters on sidewalks as long as they do not interfere with pedestrians.

Vehicles that do not require a driver's license

Two-wheeled vehicles are divided into three categories:

M – mopeds;

A1 – light motorcycles;

A – motorcycles.

Category M is intended for driving mopeds and light quadricycles. It opens automatically when you pass the exam in any of the other categories. In fact, any student can drive a moped. The obligation to obtain a license was introduced due to the high number of deaths on the roads as a result of accidents involving a moped. That is, the authors of the traffic rules believe that after taking a theory course and learning to drive any serious vehicle, you will be more knowledgeable and careful in driving these simple motorcycles. There is no need to pay extra for the category.

Category A1 for “weak” motorcycles up to 125 cc can be opened from the age of 16 - this is its main feature. However, the holder of a license marked A1 will not be able to drive a cool bike with an engine larger than 125 cc.

Category A is the most extensive, it allows you to drive all types of motor vehicles, including those with a sidecar. It also provides access to control of ATVs up to 400 kilograms. That is, having studied for category A, you will automatically have categories A1 and M.

Also read: How to get a motorcycle license

As for passenger cars, the changes here are minimal. Category B, as before, allows you to drive a car - one that weighs up to 3.5 tons and has no more than 8 seats in the cabin. It is advisable for beginners to practice their driving skills in a used car. There are different situations on the road, and in this case a used car is the best option. But 70% of used cars are sold with problems: fines, liens, accidents, leasing, etc. Therefore, before purchasing, it is recommended to check the car’s history .

You do not need a driver's license to drive a bicycle. But how do you understand that a two- or three-wheeled vehicle refers specifically to bicycle transport, and not to one of the varieties of mopeds:

develops a speed of no more than 25 km/h;
the engine power does not exceed 0.25 kW or is absent altogether.

These two criteria indicate that the equipment belongs to bicycle transport. And anyone over 14 years old can move on the roadway without a license. Anyone younger than that is not allowed on the road.

There is also another amendment to the law, designed for bicycles capable of reaching speeds above the threshold. If the vehicle has a limiter that is activated when the specified limit is reached, then a license is not needed to drive on the highway. Although in reality, traffic police officers cannot check whether the limiter works or how it works. Therefore, there is an amendment, but its application is weak.

Now about mopeds. These include vehicles that reach speeds of up to 50 km/h, have an electric motor with a power of up to 4 kW or an internal combustion engine of up to 50 cc. see To drive a moped you need a category M license.

In the context of the fact that newfangled gadgets have now begun to be released onto the market, in which people actively drive not only along the sidewalk, but also along the roadway, the question has arisen about the rights to them. The state is still ignoring a number of models, even though they are capable of reaching speeds of over 25 km/h. Vehicles that do not require a license include:

Segway;
Unicycle;
Electric scooter;
Hoverboard;
Lawnmower;
Medical wheelchair.

You can drive them without a license for now, but if the owner gets into a traffic accident, they can take strict measures, just like in relation to a motorist.

According to Kachanov, the initiative is so that the driver does not need to take with him a vehicle registration certificate and license, but instead he could show an application on his phone with information about these documents in QR code format.

— An inspector with an appropriate reading device could read the QR code and obtain information. If you forgot your license at home, you sit without shaking, because you always have your phone with you, you definitely won’t forget it, ” explained the deputy head of the Ministry of Digital Development.

Solve your problem right now!

If, when checking the documents, it turns out that the driver has already been fined for driving without a license and this is the second case, the punishment will be more severe - doubling the fine . This is stated in Art. 4.6 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Such punishment is provided to suppress possible offenses, in order to prevent a possible accident. If in the first case the fine is 5,000 rubles, then for a second offense the fine will be 10,000 rubles.

Let's figure out what repeat violation means. When is it considered as such? It is repeated if it was committed within one calendar year from the day the first fine was paid. Precisely paid, not imposed!

There are times when a driver forgot to take his license with him, for example, he left it in the pocket of another jacket or put it in his wallet and forgot to take it with him.

This case, Article 12.3, regulates as a situation in which the driver is subject to a fine. Namely:

Driving a vehicle by a driver who does not have documents for the right to drive it, an insurance policy of compulsory insurance of civil liability of vehicle owners, with the exception of the case provided for in Part 2 of Article 12.37 of this Code, and in cases provided for by law, a waybill or freight transport documents - entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles .

From the above, we conclude that for driving a license forgotten at home, the person driving will be fined 500 rubles or given a warning. Well, if he manages to pay off the fine within 20 days, then it will be only 250 rubles.

In this case, we are talking about a driver who has a license, but left it at home. The traffic inspector will check the driver’s identity in the database and if it turns out that he never received a license, or it is expired, or it was confiscated, the punishment will be more severe.

Note : a fine for driving a car without a driver’s license can be imposed more than once, so it is advisable to return home and take the license that you forgot, otherwise, with each check of documents, the driver’s wallet will lose 500 rubles.

But this is now, and in the near future everything may change. State Duma deputies have prepared a bill that proposes to tighten penalties for driving without a license, namely:

fine for repeated violation of up to 30,000 rubles;
detention up to 15 days;
compulsory work from 100 to 200 hours

So far, this bill has not been passed, but it may be voted on soon.

30,000 rubles - this is exactly how much a driver will pay if, during an inspection, it turns out that he has been deprived of his license, but continues to drive. Part 2 of Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses tells us this.

However, in some cases, the measure may not be so strict. The alternative is detention for 15 days with correctional labor from 100 to 200 hours. Quote from Article 12.7:

Driving a vehicle by a driver who does not have the right to drive a vehicle (except for training driving) entails an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand to fifteen thousand rubles.

Again, if the fine is paid on time within 20 calendar days, the violator can count on a discount.

Moreover, in a situation where the fact of deprivation of rights and further driving is revealed, Art. 27.12 and 27.13, according to which the driver is removed from driving the vehicle, and the car itself is detained and taken to a penalty area.

Responsibility for driving without a driver's license

There is a fine for driving without a license. Its size is 5,000 -15,000 rubles (clause 1 of Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). Punishment will be applied if a person is stopped driving a vehicle for which he does not have the appropriate license.

Monetary penalties can be imposed on a citizen who entrusts the driving of a car to a person who does not have the appropriate right. The fine will be 30,000 rubles. The penalty is applied if the owner of the vehicle knew in advance that the other person did not have a license.

Nuances

Non-standard modes of transport deserve special attention. The attitude towards them is more strict. An interesting situation arises with homogeneous walk-behind tractors. If the mechanism is used without a trailer, it is not considered transport and a license is not required. When a trailer is used, the device is classified as a self-propelled mechanism. As a result, in 2021, a tractor driver's license will be required to travel on public roads. Additionally, the vehicle must be equipped with reflective or light-signaling equipment.

Sometimes you can see buggies on the roads. This is a compact car that is designed to travel on moderate off-road conditions. Depending on the purpose of using the vehicle, you may need a license for it. When buggies are used only in sports competitions, the machines are considered sports equipment. A driver's license is not required for transport. They cannot be driven on public roads.

An example is autocross on a buggy. In the Russian Federation they are divided into five classes. The vehicle is considered sports equipment. If you are driving onto a public road, you will definitely need a license. A tractor driver driver's license of category A or A1 is required, depending on the design features (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 796 of July 12, 1999 “On approval of the rules for admission to driving self-propelled machines”).

Karts are small cars without a body with open wheels. They are used for racing competitions. Events are held at special venues or tracks. The kart can reach speeds of up to 260 km/h. The vehicle is not intended for travel on public roads. There is no need to obtain a transport license. Sometimes even eight-year-old children participate in the races.

Sometimes a vehicle is assembled at home from spare parts or special kit designs. The assembled cars can be used as sports equipment. In this case, driving on public roads is prohibited. In order to be granted permission to perform an activity in 2021, certification and registration will be required.

Traffic regulations for bicycles and mopeds

develops a speed of no more than 25 km/h;
the engine power does not exceed 0.25 kW or is absent altogether.