What licenses are needed to drive a walk-behind tractor with a trailer?

Rights to a walk-behind tractor: at what age can you drive a walk-behind tractor?

Before purchasing a walk-behind tractor, many novice farmers ask whether they need a license and whether it is possible to regularly drive it on public roads? We invite you to study the answers to these and other common questions in more detail.

Is it possible to drive a walk-behind tractor on public roads?

Many farmers still receive fines for driving their farm vehicles without a license on public roads.

This is especially often faced by owners of several plots of land, which are essentially impossible to get to without traveling on roads.

How to deal with such a situation and how to protect yourself in front of traffic police inspectors?

Unfortunately, not many people are still aware of the fact that today there is no approved category of driver’s license that would give the right to legally drive on public transport routes. But, at the same time, when driving out onto the road on his walk-behind tractor, each farmer automatically becomes a participant in the road traffic. This gives any traffic police inspector the right to stop the owner of a walk-behind tractor in order to make sure that the latter has a document confirming his knowledge of the rules of the road. Moreover, when driving a walk-behind tractor with a passenger, which is not so rare, inspectors have every right to issue a fine to the owner of the unit, because people can only be transported in a specially equipped vehicle.

To protect yourself and not get a fine for driving on the road on a walk-behind tractor without a license,

its owner must adhere to the following rules:

• if the owner of the walk-behind tractor does not have a license to drive any vehicle, then you will need to open category “A”, which allows you to drive a motorcycle. This will serve as direct evidence that the driver of the agricultural machine is familiar with the traffic rules of his country and has a full understanding of the need to comply with them;
• in addition to obtaining a license to directly drive a walk-behind tractor, it is mandatory to install low-beam headlights or standard daytime running lights;
• Red light reflectors will need to be installed at the rear of the trailer.

If you strictly adhere to the above rules, the owner of the walk-behind tractor will be considered a full participant in the road traffic, which will help avoid a fine from the traffic police inspector.

At what age can you ride a walk-behind tractor?

None of the operating manuals for the walk-behind tractor indicate the minimum age at which it is permitted to drive an agricultural machine on public roads. If it comes to using the unit in the local area or garden, then it is quite enough for the owner to have physical effort to operate the equipment. Of course, a young man aged 11–12 years will not be able to use a walk-behind tractor, because it requires a lot of effort, and besides, working with an agricultural machine is by no means safe.

In cases where you have to cross a certain section of a public road on a walk-behind tractor, then, as mentioned earlier, you will need to have a license with category “A” or “A1”. They, in turn, can only be received by a person who has reached the age of majority.

Summing up, we can say that to operate a walk-behind tractor exclusively within your own local area, there is no need to obtain any rights with an open category.

Moving on a walk-behind tractor

The issue is very acute if the path to the site runs along a public road. It is along the way that most precedents happen with traffic police inspectors, issuing protocols on administrative violations, etc. The fact is that there is no separate category of driver’s license for driving a walk-behind tractor. Therefore, you can drive a walk-behind tractor without a license. Another thing is that, having entered a public road, the owner is automatically equated to a full-fledged road user, and this entails certain legal aspects and responsibilities. For example, any road user is required to carry with him a document indicating knowledge of traffic rules, without which the organization of traffic is impossible.

The task can become very complicated if passengers are transported in a trailer attached to the walk-behind tractor. In this case, the inspector may issue a fine in accordance with clause 22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Traffic Regulations), which states that the transportation of people is permitted only in vehicles specially equipped and designed for this purpose.

The speed of the walk-behind tractor is not regulated by additional clauses in the traffic rules. When moving on a public road, the driver must comply with the generally accepted speed limit. Another thing is that the maximum speed of the walk-behind tractor, which most often does not exceed 15-20 km/h, is unlikely to allow it to be violated.

Is a walk-behind tractor a vehicle?

Is a bicycle a vehicle? Does the traffic police have the right to detain me for riding a bicycle while intoxicated?

It is difficult to figure out whether a walk-behind tractor is a vehicle or not, even on the basis of legal documents. A transport walk-behind tractor is classified as a universal mobile device; to be more precise, it is a type of small-sized tractor. But is it considered an independent mode of transport? More likely no than yes. A walk-behind tractor as a vehicle can be classified into several categories, depending on its dimensions.

This can be a small walk-behind tractor with a small engine, the working tool is mounted on an axis, and the operator simply walks behind, controlling it. But there are also more massive devices to which additional accessories are attached using a bracket (trailer, seeder, cutter, etc.), then they are equated to the categories of self-propelled machines. In the first case, you are unlikely to have problems with the law, but in the second there are some nuances.

What needs to be done if the mini-tractor is homemade

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The algorithm of actions within the framework of obtaining the rights to drive factory mini-tractors is clear. But what needs to be done if it is homemade? An all-wheel drive MT, which was not designed at the factory, must be registered with the state technical supervision. Owners of homemade mini-tractors must submit the following documents to this body:

• Application for registration of a homemade or converted tractor.
• Passport (with a note indicating registration at your place of residence).
• Sales receipt (original or copy) for all kinds of purchased parts that were used in the process of assembling the MT.

It is also required to provide state technical supervision employees with the opportunity to inspect the mini-tractor. Based on the maintenance performed, this service draws up an expert opinion on the compliance of homemade equipment with all established standards:

• Technical standard.
• Environmental standard.
• Equipping with lighting and signaling devices.
• Other parameters related to road safety.

Based on the report regarding the technical condition of the mini-tractor, owners are issued a technical passport with a license plate with a registration certificate.

Registration of a walk-behind tractor or mini-tractor with Gostekhnadzor

Whatever technical device you purchase for your farm, in order to avoid unpleasant incidents with law enforcement agencies, it makes sense to immediately contact Gostekhnadzor so that, if necessary, a walk-behind tractor or mini-tractor receives registration.

Read also: Rules for driving on tram tracks in 2021

Gostekhnadzor carries out registration of all types of special equipment, and this procedure takes very little time. In addition to registration, this institution also issues a permit that allows you to operate your walk-behind tractor or mini-tractor.

At the same time, even if you purchased a mini-tractor to work on your personal plot and do not intend to drive the tractor outside of it, the equipment must still be registered. After all, if a tractor is stolen without registration, it is unlikely that anyone will want to look for it.

If we talk about mini-tractors, then before you start using them, it is very important to undergo a full technical inspection in advance and obtain a certificate that the device is suitable for use. By the way, a mini-tractor must be registered at your place of registration.

So, at what age can you ride a walk-behind tractor?

Which country produces Chevrolet cars?

So, we found out that traveling on roads on a walk-behind tractor is either prohibited or regulated by strict rules. But is it necessary or not to have a right to a walk-behind tractor if you plow on it at your own dacha, and at what age can you start doing this? If you do not get to your workplace by highway (that is, the garden is located near your yard), then no one has the right to make any claims against you.

There are virtually no age restrictions when working with a walk-behind tractor. There are safety requirements. It should be remembered that considerable physical strength is required to operate a walk-behind tractor, so it is not recommended to trust children under 14-15 years of age to operate the unit. Well, if you need to drive it on the side of the road, which comes down to having a license, then the age limit rises to 18 years.

What to do for mini tractor owners

To carry out fairly large-scale work, large farms, in addition to walk-behind tractors, have mini-tractors. For this type of vehicle, a license is required. A driver who has completed specialized courses and received a tractor driver's license can sit behind the wheel of a mini-tractor when driving on the highway. Like a walk-behind tractor, a mini-tractor is typical for rural areas. When purchasing such equipment, a farmer must know the basic rules.

1. Each mini-tractor leaving the factory assembly line must be registered.
2. An employee operating such a machine must obtain a tractor driver's license.
3. Just like on a homemade walk-behind tractor, it is prohibited to drive on a mini-tractor assembled with your own hands on the highway.

The peculiarity of registering a mini-tractor is that this procedure takes place at Gostekhnadzor, and not at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. In this institution, all types of special equipment are registered and technical inspection is carried out. This is where it is registered. This should be done at the place of registration of the owner. Based on the results of the procedure, a license to drive a tractor is issued.

For several years now, a new type of tractor driver’s license has been issued. The document is brought into compliance with European standards. It looks like a plastic card with smoothed corners. Such licenses are convenient for tractor drivers; they do not wrinkle, do not lose their appearance after getting wet, and are easy to clean.

The front side contains a photo of the driver printed using digital technology. To the right of the photo is personal information about the owner of the document. On the back are the categories, driving experience, medical information and restrictions for the owner of the driving license, the number and series of the document. For the traffic police inspector, there is a barcode that encrypts information about tractor registration, fines, and others. This information is available to every traffic inspector when read by a special scanner.

An innovation in legislation that any owner of agricultural machinery should know about.

Now such equipment as a walk-behind tractor is, with some reservations, a vehicle that requires the appropriate documents and driving rights, reports the press service of the Minusinsk State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

With the onset of sowing and farming, cases of driving walk-behind tractors on public roads and populated areas have become more frequent, as well as their participation in road traffic accidents with injuries and material damage. At the same time, persons operating such devices often do not have control skills, do not know the Rules of the Road, and when an incident occurs, they do not actually bear that significant legal responsibility for the offenses they committed, which gives rise to new incidents involving such devices.

Until 2021, the concept of “walk-behind tractor” was not enshrined in any legal act, as a result of which the management of such a vehicle was subject to legal qualification under Articles 12.29 and 12.30 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

On February 12, 2019, by decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 25 “On the classification of a walk-behind tractor (motor-cultivator) in accordance with the unified Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union,” the concept of a walk-behind tractor (motor-cultivator) was defined. This document was signed by its members, including the Russian Federation, and entered into legal force on March 17, 2019.

Thus, in accordance with paragraph 1 of paragraph 1 of Article 22 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission decided that a walk-behind tractor (motor-cultivator) is a device with the ability to attach attachments and (or) trailed equipment, controlled by a nearby driver using a steering device in the form two handles, with one drive axle, an internal combustion engine, the design features of which provide for the possibility of installing working tools (mills) for tillage or wheels on the drive axle, having a special traction device, and (or) devices for attaching attachments, and a pulley or power take-off shaft, in accordance with the Basic Rules for the Interpretation of the Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity 1 and 6 is classified in subposition 8701 10 000 0 of the unified Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union.

By decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated July 16, 2012 No. 54, as amended on March 19, 2019, “On approval of the unified Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Unified Customs Tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union,” which entered into legal force on May 16, 2019, determined the unified Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Unified Customs Tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union in subposition 8701 10 000 0, according to which the walk-behind tractor (motor-cultivator) belongs to the category single-axle tractors.

In accordance with the above, driving a walk-behind tractor (motor-cultivator) on public roads should currently be qualified under all articles of Chapter 12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, including for driving without an appropriate driver's license under Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, as well as for driving while intoxicated, using measures of administrative detention of a vehicle in accordance with Article 27.13 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

If the engine power of such a vehicle exceeds the working volume of more than 50 cubic cm or the maximum design speed (for any engine) of more than 50 km/h, the driver’s actions are subject to additional qualification under Articles 12.1 - 12.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (driving a vehicle not registered in the established order, without state registration plates, without registration documents, etc.).

Do I need a license for a walk-behind tractor?

Plowing the land by hand these days is unprofitable - even a small garden of ten acres takes a lot of effort.

Thanks to technological progress, many auxiliary machines have appeared.

The walk-behind tractor has long been used not only by farmers, but by ordinary citizens in their personal agricultural activities.

There are plenty of advantages in operating this mechanism, but sometimes owners start having problems when they encounter law enforcement officers.

Questions arise that are difficult to answer immediately if you are only superficially familiar with the legislation.

Let's try to look at the most relevant aspects:

• documents for unimpeded movement on a walk-behind tractor;
• rules for driving a walk-behind tractor;
• a walk-behind tractor with a trailer as an independent vehicle;
• Does the law provide for a fine for driving a walk-behind tractor on a public road?

Adding to the confusion is the fact that legislation changes periodically, so owners have to closely monitor the latest news in this area.

Do you need a license for a walk-behind tractor with a trailer in Belarus and other CIS countries?

A walk-behind tractor with a trailer is a more complex device, and it is often necessary to move along common paths when carrying out transportation.

To answer the question “do I need a license to drive a walk-behind tractor with a trailer,” you will have to look into the Law “On Road Traffic”.

Having studied it, we can come to the conclusion that it is necessary to have a license of category “D” (the right to drive self-propelled agricultural machines) or “E” (other self-propelled machines).

In other CIS countries (in particular in Russia and Ukraine), category “A” or “A1” will be sufficient, because in principle, a walk-behind tractor with a trailer resembles a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Does this actually mean that you need to be an adult? Well, not necessarily.

So at what age can you ride a walk-behind tractor?

So, we found out that traveling on roads on a walk-behind tractor is either prohibited or regulated by strict rules.

But is it necessary or not to have a right to a walk-behind tractor if you plow on it at your own dacha, and at what age can you start doing this? If you do not get to your workplace by highway (that is, the garden is located near your yard), then no one has the right to make any claims against you.

There are virtually no age restrictions when working with a walk-behind tractor. There are safety requirements.

It should be remembered that considerable physical strength is required to operate a walk-behind tractor, so it is not recommended to trust children under 14-15 years of age to operate the unit.

Well, if you need to drive it on the side of the road, which comes down to having a license, then the age limit rises to 18 years.

What is a walk-behind tractor?

One of the types of agricultural machinery, which involves mechanized tillage and movement over fairly long distances, is a walk-behind tractor. The configuration of this vehicle provides for the presence of a trailer in which various tools or other accessories can be located. The question of whether or not a license to drive a walk-behind tractor is needed is especially acute, since in villages this type of vehicle can sometimes be used for other purposes.

In accordance with the norms of current legislation, the answer to the question of whether walk-behind tractors are vehicles is no, despite the presence of a wheelset, as well as an engine that powers the structure. The presence of a trailer does not in any way affect the status of the equipment. In addition, the Road Traffic Rules (hereinafter referred to as traffic rules) do not contain any references or restrictions regarding driving this type of agricultural machinery. There are also no other clear instructions on how to use it. Thus, not a single regulatory document contains an algorithm for driving this vehicle and a list of necessary papers that the person driving the walk-behind tractor must have with him. Accordingly, traffic regulations do not apply to such people.

Despite the fact that this equipment is not transportable, it has its own power. So, for small-scale field work, a unit with 9 horsepower is sufficient.

Age after which you are allowed to drive a walk-behind tractor

There is no information about this in the instruction manual. However, it is definitely clear that operating a walk-behind tractor is quite difficult for an unprepared teenager, because it requires not only certain skills, but also strength to hold it during cultivation or other work.

Using a walk-behind tractor as a means of transportation on public roads requires knowledge of traffic rules and an understanding of safety precautions.

In order to freely move on a walk-behind tractor along the highway, you must have a license, which is issued, in accordance with current legislation, to persons who have reached the age of majority and have received a passport. Those. in accordance with clause 21.4 of the Russian Traffic Regulations “A person who wishes to learn to ride a moped or motorcycle must be 16 years old.”

But you can only transport passengers if you are 18 years old or older.

Permissible age for driving a walk-behind tractor

In fact, anyone who has mastered the controls is able to operate it, and no one will ask for a certificate in their own area. Another thing is that even if a child at the age of 13 has mastered the rules of operating a walk-behind tractor, it is hardly worth trusting him to operate a complex technical device. And to travel on a public road, it is advisable to have a license, which can be obtained from the age of 18.

From this we can conclude: to work on your site, you must follow safety rules; all responsibility lies with an adult, an adult who entrusts control to a teenager. When entering the road, the driver automatically becomes a participant in traffic. If a minor child is stopped by a traffic police inspector, the fine will have to be paid by his legal representatives: parents or guardians.

Driving on public roads

If a decision is made to obtain a license, then what category of driving license is required for the owner of a walk-behind tractor and are tractor licenses suitable for a walk-behind tractor? The driver of a walk-behind tractor will not have any problems when meeting with a traffic inspector if he has a category A license with him. This type of driver's license gives the right to drive a motorcycle. A standard walk-behind tractor is difficult to identify otherwise. The presence of rights in this category for the owner of a walk-behind tractor is confirmed by the fact that he knows the traffic rules.

When moving along the highway, the owner must equip the walk-behind tractor with front running lights, and on the sides and side of the trailer with reflective elements. If a farmer does not have a driver's license, in order not to break the law, he should not go onto the highway on the way to the place where the walk-behind tractor is used. Having a driving license is guaranteed insurance when meeting with a traffic police officer. If the walk-behind tractor is reconstructed into a mini-tractor, you cannot do without a tractor license to operate it.

How to avoid getting a fine

Despite the fact that there is no information in the legislation about the need to have a certain category in the driving license to drive a walk-behind tractor on the highway, a traffic police officer may require a citizen to present such a document upon meeting. In its absence, the driver of the walk-behind tractor will be forced to pay a fine. When drawing up a protocol, the traffic inspector will refer to Art. 12.11 Code of Administrative Offences. The provisions of this article allow you to be fined for creating an obstacle to the movement of other cars along the highway.

To avoid this, the owner of the walk-behind tractor must have a driver’s license. Having a license indicates that the driver of such equipment knows the traffic rules and has passed the driving test. It turns out that the legislation does not require a license to own a walk-behind tractor; however, you need a document confirming that the citizen driving it knows the traffic rules and has driving skills. Such a document is a driver's license.

Driver's license categories

A farmer or owner of a small vehicle must have a license for a walk-behind tractor (for driving along a highway). For this, category A or A1 is sufficient. This confirms that the driver of a small walk-behind tractor knows the rules of the road.

If a walk-behind tractor with a trailer moves along the highway, then it must be equipped with front running lights and reflective elements on the sides and on the side of the trailer.

As for a mini-tractor redesigned from a walk-behind tractor, you will need a tractor driver’s license with categories B, C, D, E (the category depends on the type of tractor and the size of its engine).

General categories

Categories in the tractor driver's license

Engine and trailer

It is worth mentioning separately about such components as the engine and trailer. Motors for walk-behind tractors vary significantly. And it’s worth knowing about these differences in order to choose the best option for yourself. Trailers can be installed even on medium-power walk-behind tractors. They should be selected based on the capabilities of the engine. A trailer that is too large and a weak engine simply won’t pull it.

• household;
• semi-professional;
• professional.

Units differ in power and service life (limit service life, which is indicated in hours of operation). The weakest units are equipped with 2-stroke gasoline engines. 4-stroke engines are considered the best option. There are diesel and gasoline versions of the power unit. 4-stroke engines are more efficient and less noisy. They are superior to two-stroke options in all respects. Their only disadvantage is their higher price.

It is better to buy a trailer for a walk-behind tractor from the same manufacturer. Of course, this possibility is not always available. In this case, it is worth considering in advance which analogues can be used with a specific model.