Which vehicles to drive with a B license? (scooters, electric, motorcycles, 3-wheelers)

The “pink paper”, which today has taken the form of a credit card, allows you to drive any car with four wheels and a steering wheel. But, thanks to him, the holder of the B license can also sit behind a handlebar !

Landed in France in 2006, the Piaggio MP3 revolutionized the world of scooters. By exploiting perfectly legislation specific to motorized tricycles, the Italian manufacturer has succeeded in marketing a machine accessible to motorists, without capacity limitation. The success was immediate: having three wheels reassures the uninitiated and performances of the machine delight the drivers. Since the arrival of MP3, many other manufacturers have stepped into the breach.

Driving a 125cc or a three-wheeler: who has the right?

It is mandatory, since 1^is January 2011, to follow a seven hour training before driving these machines. However, there are exceptions: drivers who can prove experience in the 125 cm3 category during the last five years are exempt. They must provide a certificate of prior driving a motorized two-wheeler or an insurance information statement. Holders of A licenses, known as “motorcycle” licenses, do not need this training either.

This 7-hour training (2 hours of theory, 2 hours of driving off traffic, 3 hours of driving in traffic) accessible to holders of the B license for two years, allows driving 125 cm3 whose power does not exceed 11 kW (i.e. 15 hp) and 3-wheel scooters (category L5e) whose weight is less than 1000 kg .

B license: which vehicles to choose?

There are many 125 scooters available on the market. Among the best-selling are Honda Forza, Yamaha X Max, Honda PCX, Piaggio XEvo, Yamaha NMax, Vespa GTS et Peugeot Satelis.

Vehicles with three or four wheels are also increasingly common. The Piaggio MP3 was at the top of sales in 2016, ahead of Peugeot Metropolis, Piaggio Yourban and Yamaha Tricity. On the side of “4-wheel scooters”, only the Quadro 4 is easily accessible in France.

Attracted by an electric vehicle?

The Renault Twizy can be driven with license B. Displayed from € 7,540, this enigmatic “displeasure” is worth commercially. Other 100% electric vehicles are available on the market, including a powerful and remarkable BMW scooter whose power (11 kW) climbs up to 35 kW (47.5 hp) at peak. The BMW C evolution has a range of 100 km in urban use.

The American brand Zero Motorcycles also offers the Zero S, which spins at 143 km / h (from € 12,890). Many other models also exist on the electric market, sold for example by Bultaco and Volta.

Everything for an original look?

Certain vehicles accessible by license B are much more original. This is the case of the Can-Am Spyder (from € 18,999 in F3 version), of which 933 units were sold in France in 2016. S ‘he does not lean in the bends and, as such, could disappoint bikers, its large and powerful Rotax engine 998 cm³ 106 hp generates impressive performance.

Just as offbeat but with wheels at the rear, the Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide (from € 39,999), which has a 1745 cm twin³, sold 128 copies in France in 2016.

There remains the very unique Polaris Slingshot (65 sales), which has a steering wheel and not a handlebar. Also approved in the tricycles category (L5e), it trades from € 30,000 and can be driven without a helmet. It has a single rear wheel powered by a 4-cylinder 2.4 liters developing 173 hp.

The most cute, according to us: the LML Tristar 125 cm³ 4T, hitched. To choose it is the assurance of driving different. And slowly, since its single cylinder develops 8 hp and does not exceed 90 km / h. Count 6,000 € minimum for this magnificent toy approved 3 places !

The category B driving license, the most popular in France

According to statistics, the practical test in category B of the driving license is the most passed examination in France. This is explained by a desire for emancipation from young drivers. Indeed, being the holder of a B permit allows driving without the presence of a qualified teacher or a certified attendant to supervise driving. In any case, each road user must take out minimum insurance, such as car insurance with allianz.fr.
In addition to the classic B license, there is also the additional mention B96. Obtaining this mention follows a training course lasting 7 hours, with a circulation sequence (CIR) and a non-circulation session (HC). It grants permission to drive a heavier team:

A car with a trailer, weighing more than 750 kg
A vehicle (car + trailer) weighing more than 3500 kg without exceeding 4250 kg.

Other indications and codes may accompany the mention B on the driving license. These elements specify the holder’s right to drive, as a restriction for medical reasons, administrative restriction or adaptation of the vehicle.

The categories of vehicles that can be driven with only the B license

Good news for road users! Obtaining a category B driving license allows them to drive automobiles as well as motor homes, a certain category of two-wheelers or agricultural vehicles under certain conditions.

Authorization to drive cars

In principle, the category B of the driving license is reserved for the validation of the capacities of a use of the road, to the driving of a motor vehicle on the French road network. This category concerns the driving of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
However, there is a limit to this driving possibility as well as to the choice of vehicles, which is their PTAC. Indeed, this indicator must not exceed 3.5 tonnes.

The possibility of driving vehicles towing trailers

Category B driving license holders are also authorized to drive vehicles towing a trailer. The prerogatives still relate to the GVW, which does not exceed 740 kg or that the sum of all the GVWs of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3.5 tons.
In order to be able to go beyond this limit, up to 4,250 kg for the GVWR of the whole, the driver must take the training to obtain the mention 96 of the B permit.

The possibility of driving agricultural and forestry vehicles

Get the category B the driving license gives the right to the possibility of driving a vehicle intended for the exploitation of agricultural or forestry plots. These drivers can thus choose any vehicle, while respecting the only condition linked to the maximum speed. This must not exceed 40 km / h.

Authorization to drive a motorhome

Motorists with a B license also have the right to drive a motorhome, regardless of its model. However, they must respect the PTAC which must not be greater than 3.5 tonnes. The only exceptions are users who obtained a driving license before January 20, 1975. The latter have the right to drive in camping-car over 3.5 tonnes without additional mention. Users holding a B license from this date are required to take the exam to obtain category C1, if they want to drive a motorhome exceeding the PTAC.

Two-wheelers and motorized tricycles covered by category B of the driving license

A road user, having obtained the category B driving license, is authorized to use two-wheelers and motorized tricycles. This authorization is however subject to certain conditions. Indeed, drivers must have held a license for more than 2 years. They must also undergo practical training, lasting 7 hours. In addition, users must be at least 21 years old, in order to be able to drive a motorized tricycle.
However, some users are exempt from this training. These are those who obtained their driving license before March 1, 1980 or those who drove and insured a light motorcycle or motorized tricycle 5 years before 2011.