In Russia, a car called the Gazelle was widely used. The imagination immediately brings about the image of a beautiful animal, a graceful fallow deer, running away very quickly, as soon as it sees danger. Indeed, this machine is easy to maintain, unpretentious and budget. However, due to the variety of modifications of this car, a reasonable question arises: what category is needed on the 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 launched, then Gazelle-Next. On the basis of this bestseller, small-capacity trucks and vans such as Valdai, Sobol and Barguzin were assembled. In addition, even in neighboring countries this car is produced, sometimes under different names.
In addition to various names, the model was also produced in various versions: the Gazelle cargo, passenger and cargo-passenger. There are options for an elongated model. Different cars need different categories of driver’s licenses. "Gazelle" serves a variety of purposes, whether shuttle taxi or freight transportation.
Each driver has a driver license category. So, what category is needed on the "Gazelle", will help to understand the law and traffic rules.
Cargo model
What is a "Gazelle" freight? This is a light truck with a maximum authorized mass 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 fully open body and a Gazelle thermal booth. Category B is required by the rules of the road to drive such a vehicle, namely with a maximum curb weight of up to 3.5 tons.
Therefore, to find out whether it is only possible to manage your Gazelle with this category, you need to look into the passport of a technical tool (PTS). It is there that at the point the maximum curb weight is the figure that is decisive in this matter. So, if in the TCP the mass is less than or equal to 3500 kg, then this car can be controlled with the rights of category B.
Gazelle passenger
Another thing when it comes to a minibus, such as the GAZ-3221. This part of the Gazelle family is very often used for transporting people over short distances, for example, for commercial transportation on given city routes. According to the rules of the road and current legislation, category B is not enough to control this type of transport, since the number of passengers carried is more than eight. If, for example, you take a minivan, even a Hyundai-Stareks or Mercedes-Vito, then category B is enough for them. However, a Gazelle passenger carries 13, or even 15 passengers. It turns out that management needs category D rights, which makes it possible to drive buses.
And, indeed, all drivers of minibuses open this category before they get behind the wheel of this type of transport. Incidentally, very often, in addition to category D itself, employers also require experience in this field, thereby taking care of the safety of transport and passengers.
Passenger and cargo
What category is needed on the Gazelle when it comes to all-metal vans? They can be either with full glazing, which is called in a circle, or half.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 with products.
Such "Gazelle" can be used for long journeys, trips to the sea with family, especially in the performance of luxury. The seats in this car are quite comfortable for everyone. What category of rights is needed to drive such a car? Since the maximum authorized weight of the cargo-and-passenger Gazelle is less than 3,500 kg, category B rights are sufficient to operate it. Only one condition must be observed - the number of seats. It should be no more than eight, including the driver's seat. Then there will be enough rights of category B.
Category C rights for the Gazelle
However, a situation may arise in which category B or D rights may not be sufficient to drive this vehicle. Sometimes you need category C rights to drive this truck. In what cases?
According to the current legislation, category C rights needed to drive a vehicle with a maximum authorized weight of more than 3500 kg. There are some modifications of the Gazelle, for example, the elongated GAZ-33022, which has a maximum authorized weight of 3600 kg. Even if you will not load the car completely, by law, category C is still required for control.
Gazelle with a trailer
But what if you need to use the Gazelle with a trailer? What category of rights is needed then? In general, for driving cars with trailers, category E is required, moreover, of several types, depending on the vehicle. According to the gradation of categories of traffic rules, if the mass 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 mass without a trailer approaches 3500 kg. This means that even if the trailer weighs 750 kg, the total maximum permitted mass of the received road train is more than 3500 kg, and the rights of categories E and C are already required for management. That is, category C must be opened, and category E.
But someone will say that you can get around the driver’s license category. "Gazelle" can carry much more than the stated 1.5 tons. Simply put reinforced springs, and everything will be in order. However, this is a misconception. The manufacturer is not in vain in the technical specifications declares the maximum permitted mass. After all, all structural elements are designed specifically for this weight. For example, the brakes may not withstand the additional load, and the braking will no longer be as effective, and in an emergency, the car may not stop at all.
Category re-registration
Sometimes there is a need to re-register a “Gazelle” of category D to another one, for example, B. The owner simply does not use the seats in the cabin, and decided to simply remove them. Then you need to contact the traffic police, and there, after some procedures, they will draw up all the necessary documents.
So, what category is needed for the Gazelle: B, C, D, and in some cases even E. In order not to get into trouble, carefully study your vehicle’s passport, and then you can safely go on the road.