In Russia, a car called “Gazelle” became widespread. The image of a beautiful animal, a graceful deer, immediately appears in the imagination, running away very quickly as soon as it notices danger. Indeed, this machine is easy to maintain, unpretentious and affordable. However, due to the variety of modifications of this car, a reasonable question arises: what category is needed for a Gazelle, if we talk about a driver’s license?
Variety of shapes
Cars of this brand began to be produced back in 1994, then there was a restyling of this van, after which Gazelle-Business was released, then Gazelle-Next. On the basis of this bestseller, such light-duty trucks and vans as “Valdai”, “Sobol” and “Barguzin” were assembled. In addition, this car is produced even in neighboring countries, sometimes under different names.
In addition to different names, the model was also produced in different modifications: “Gazelle” cargo, passenger and cargo-passenger. There are options for an extended model. Different cars require different categories of driver's license. "Gazelle" serves for various purposes, be it a minibus or cargo transportation.
Each driver has a driver's license category. So, which category is needed for a Gazelle, the law and traffic rules will help you figure it out.
Cargo model
What is a Gazelle cargo truck? This is a light-duty truck with a maximum permissible weight of 3,500 kilograms, which can carry 1.5 tons of cargo on board. However, this does not apply to all cars. After all, there are various models: with an awning, a completely open body and a Gazelle thermal booth. Category B is required according to traffic rules to drive such a vehicle, namely with a maximum curb weight of up to 3.5 tons.
Therefore, to find out whether it is possible to drive your Gazelle only with this category, you need to look at the technical equipment passport (PTS). It is there, in the maximum curb weight section, that there is a figure that is decisive in this matter. So, if the PTS weight is less than or equal to 3500 kg, then this car can be driven with a category B license.
General information
Kinds
The production of cars of this brand began in 1994, after which the van was restyled and the “Gazelle-Business” and then “Gazelle-Next” were released. On its basis, such vans and small-tonnage trucks as Sobol, Valdai, and Barguzin were assembled. This car is also produced in neighboring countries, often under different names.
In addition to different names, the gazelle was also produced in different modifications, namely passenger, cargo and cargo-passenger. There are also extended models. IMPORTANT! Different models of Gazelle cars will require different categories of driver's license.
Vehicles of this brand are suitable for various purposes, such as freight transportation or use as a minibus. Using the laws and traffic rules below, we will find out what category of license is needed to drive a Gazelle.
What rights are needed for a gazelle truck?
The Gazelle cargo model is a light-duty truck. Its maximum weight can be no more than 3500 kg, and on board it can carry one and a half tons of cargo. But this does not apply to all cars, since there are many different models: a completely open body, with an awning or a thermal booth. According to the traffic rules, to drive such a car with a maximum permitted weight of 3.5 tons, you will need a license with an open category “B”. In order to understand whether you can drive a Gazelle with your “B” category, you only need to look at your car’s title. This document contains information under maximum curb weight. If the figure indicated there is less than or equal to 3500 kg, then such a car can be driven with a driver’s license with category “B”.
"Gazelle" passenger
It’s a different matter if we are talking about a minibus such as the GAZ-3221. This part of the Gazelle family is very often used to transport people over short distances, for example, in commercial transport along specified city routes. According to traffic rules and current legislation, category B is not enough to drive this type of transport, since the number of passengers carried is more than eight. If, for example, you take any minivan, even a Hyundai Starex or Mercedes Vito, then category B is quite enough for them. However, a passenger Gazelle carries 13, or even 15 passengers. It turns out that to drive you need category D license, which opens up the opportunity to drive buses.
And, indeed, all minibus drivers open this particular category before getting behind the wheel of this type of transport. By the way, very often, in addition to category D itself, employers also require experience in this field, thereby taking care of the safety of transportation and passengers.
What rights are needed for a passenger Gazelle?
The passenger version of the Gazelle is designed to transport up to 15 people. As a rule, such minibuses are used for transportation within the city or for intercity flights. The legislation of Russia and the current traffic rules in particular provide for:
- Drivers of buses with more than 8 passengers must have a category “D” driving license. That is why, before starting to drive minibuses, absolutely all drivers are required to obtain this category;
- Drivers of minibuses with more than 9 but less than 16 passenger seats will need a subcategory of rights “D1”;
- The presence of a combination from category “D” and subcategory “D1” automatically allows you to use a light (not heavier than 750 kg) trailer;
- Users of heavier trailers, in a situation where its weight together with the vehicle exceeds 3.5 tons, will have to acquire either a “DE” or “D1E” license.
The model range of the GAZ brand is distinguished by pleasant diversity, because users have access to options for transporting goods and cargo, tourist models and models intended only for transporting people.
Be careful! To avoid the possibility of administrative punishment, you should know that to drive a Gazelle, the driver is required to have a license with categories from “B” to “E”. Of course, the choice of the right categories depends solely on the model of the machine you are using.
Cargo-passenger
What category is needed for the Gazelle, if we talk about all-metal vans? They can be either fully glazed, as they say in a circle, or half glazed. This design allows you to place several passenger seats, as well as make full use of the trunk, because it turns out to be very large; you can even transport refrigerators and washing machines, not to mention manufactured goods and boxes of products.
Such Gazelles can be used for long journeys, trips to the sea with the family, especially in luxury versions. The seats in this car are quite comfortable for everyone. What category of license is required to drive such a car? Since the maximum permissible weight of the cargo-passenger Gazelle is less than 3500 kg, a category B license is sufficient to drive it. Only one condition must be met - the number of seats. It should be no more than eight, including the driver's seat. Then category B license will be sufficient.
Passenger
Passenger GAZelle is a vehicle for simultaneous transportation of no more than 15 people. Minibuses are the most common in the field of intracity and intercity transportation.
Russian legislation imposes requirements on drivers regarding the availability of licenses:
- D – driver’s license for driving a minibus with up to 8 passenger seats.
- Subcategory D1 is useful for the operator of a small bus with 9-16 seats.
The considered categories of rights allow the simultaneous use of light trailers, the weight of which together with the equipment does not exceed 3.5 tons.
Category C license for Gazelle
However, a situation may arise in which a category B or D license may not be enough to drive this vehicle. Sometimes a category C license is required to drive this truck. In what cases?
According to current legislation, a category C license is required to drive a vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3500 kg. There are some modifications of the Gazelle, for example, the extended GAZ-33022, which has a maximum permitted weight of 3600 kg. Even if you do not fully load the car, the law still requires category C to drive.
Why are environmental classes necessary?
In just one year, just one ordinary car absorbs over 4,000 kg of oxygen contained in the atmosphere. And as a result of processing this oxygen, the engine emits about 800 kg of carbon monoxide, 200 kg of carbon, and 40 g of nitric oxide.
Since the number of cars increases every year, the state of the environment throughout the world in general and in each specific large city is quite deplorable. Environmental communities have been talking about this for a long time, but banning cars is hardly possible in principle.
For this reason, today cars are divided into environmental classes and are required to meet the standards of automakers. These classes mean a certain gradation of cars into categories, taking into account toxic substances that contain exhaust gases and evaporating fuel, for a specific make and model. Carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons pose a danger to humans and nature.
An example of car exhaust gases that violate Russian eco-standards
"Gazelle" with trailer
But what if you need to use the Gazelle with a trailer? What category of rights is needed then? In general, category E is required to drive vehicles with trailers, and several types, depending on the vehicle. According to the gradation of categories of traffic rules, if the weight of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3500 kg, then category B is sufficient. However, this does not apply to the Gazelle, since its weight without a trailer is close to 3500 kg. This means that even if the weight of the trailer is 750 kg, then in total the maximum permitted weight of the resulting road train is more than 3500 kg, and driving licenses of categories E and C are already required. That is, category C must be opened, and in addition category E.
But some will say that you can bypass the driver's license categories. The Gazelle can carry much more than the stated 1.5 tons. Just install reinforced springs and everything will be fine. However, this is a misconception. It is not for nothing that the manufacturer states in the technical specifications the maximum permitted weight. After all, all structural elements are designed specifically for this weight. For example, the brakes may not be able to withstand the additional load, and braking will no longer be as effective, and in an emergency the car may not stop at all.
What category of license is required to drive a Gazelle car?
Each specific model of this type of transport will require its own category of rights.
But first, it’s worth understanding which categories are intended for which vehicles:
- "B"
Gives the right to drive a vehicle weighing no more than 3.5 tons and the number of seats no more than 8.
- «C»
Allows you to control a car weighing more than 3.5 tons. A license in this category is required even when the driver does not plan to load the vehicle.
- «D»
Required for driving a car designed to transport passengers and having more than 8 seats.
If a driver drives a vehicle without the appropriate category, he may be issued a fine in the amount of 5 to 15 thousand rubles. In this case, the car will be transported to the impound lot.
Cargo model
This model is a light-duty truck that weighs 3,500 kg and can transport cargo weighing 1.5 tons. But this characteristic does not apply to all cars. After all, there are also models with open and closed bodies, as well as other variants of these vehicles.
To drive a car weighing 3.5 tons, you will need a category B license.
To find out what category of license is required for your Gazelle car, you need to look at the PTS. If, according to the documents, the weight of the vehicle is no more than 3.5 tons, then a category B license is sufficient to drive the vehicle.
Passenger model
If it comes to the GAZ-3221 minibus, then a completely different category of rights will be required. This model is often used to transport passengers in cities.
According to the traffic rules, category B will not be enough to drive this vehicle, since the number of seats in it exceeds 8. If we consider any minivan, for example, a Mercedes-Vito, then category B will be enough for it.
But unlike this vehicle, the passenger Gazelle can carry up to 15 passengers. This means that to drive it you need to obtain a category D license.
So all drivers of regular city minibuses must have it. By the way, many employers, in addition to having this category, also require experience in the field of passenger transportation. And this is right, because we are talking about people’s safety.
Utility model
It can have full glazing or partial. This model can accommodate several passenger seats. The Gazelle has a large luggage compartment in which you can transport large items. This model is perfect for traveling long distances and moving. The seats in it are very comfortable.
What category is needed for such a Gazelle?
Since the permissible weight of such a gazelle model does not exceed 3.5 tons, category B is enough to drive it. It is important that the number of seats meets the established standards. There should be no more than 8 such places.
Category C license for Gazelle
There are times when category B and D licenses are not enough to drive this vehicle. Sometimes you may need to obtain a category C license.
According to the law, this is required for driving a vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons. There are certain modifications of vehicles whose weight is 3,600 kg. Even if the car is not loaded, according to the rules, to drive it you will need to obtain a category C license.
Gazelle with trailer
In general, in order to drive a car with a trailer, you need to have license category E. According to the traffic rules, if the weight of the vehicle is not more than 3.5 tons, then category B will be enough. But this has nothing to do with the Gazelle, because its weight is trailer is almost 3,500 kg. So with a trailer it will weigh more than 3,500 kg.
So, to drive such a road train you will need category E and C licenses. That is. Category C is quite enough, but you can already get an additional E for it.
Some drivers believe that the Gazelle can transport many times more than the indicated one and a half tons. You just need to install stronger springs. But this opinion is completely wrong. It’s not for nothing that the manufacturer indicated the maximum permissible weight. All components of the design of this car are designed for exactly this weight. Let's say it will be difficult for the brakes to cope with the additional load, so braking will no longer be as effective. In an emergency, the car may simply not stop. This can lead to an accident with unpleasant consequences.
The limitation of load capacity is not associated with the springs or even the suspension, but with the mechanical design of the components of a given vehicle. Huge loads on transmissions are undesirable. The Gazelle has a five-speed gearbox, which is designed for passenger cars. So she has to function under overload. The rear axle is also not designed for significant loads of more than 40 tons per square centimeter. So if you do not use it according to the rules, it can quickly break.
