Q: What is a Class 3 license in BC for drivers? A job I was thinking of applying for wants this license and I do not know what it is.
A: Classes of driver's licenses are found in Division 30 MVAR:
(a) Class 8 licence, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.10 (4), 30.11 (1) and 30.12 (1), permits operation of a motorcycle, an all terrain cycle or an all terrain vehicle;
(b) Class 8L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.06 (4), (7) (b) and (8), 30.07 (1), 30.08 (1) and (2), 30.09 (5), 30.10 (2) and 30.11 (1), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 8 licence is required;
(c) Class 7 licence, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.072, 30.10 (4) and 30.11 (1), permits operation of
(i) a 2 axle motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, but does not include a bus, school bus, special activity bus, special vehicle, taxi or ambulance, when used for its purpose as intended by design,
(ii) a 2 axle motor vehicle or 2 axle tow car with towed vehicles if the towed vehicles in that combination do not exceed 4 600 kg,
(iii) a motor home or motor home with towed vehicles if the towed vehicles in that combination do not exceed 4 600 kg,
(iv) a limited speed motorcycle, all terrain vehicle, all terrain cycle or utility vehicle,
(v) a construction vehicle, or
(vi) despite subparagraph (i), a school bus that
(A) is a passenger vehicle as defined in section 11.01 (1), and
(B) has a seating capacity of not more than 10 passengers including the driver;
(d) Class 7L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.06 (1) and (2), 30.07 (3), 30.072, 30.09 (3), 30.10 (2), and 30.11 (1), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 7 licence is required;
(e) Class 6 licence permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 8 licence is required, subject to any applicable restriction under section 30.12 (1);
(f) Class 6L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.06 (4), (7) (a) and (8), 30.07 (1), 30.08 (1) and (2) and 30.09 (1) and (11), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 6 licence is required;
(g) Class 5 licence permits
(i) operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 7 licence is required, and
(ii) if permitted on the licence, operation of a combination of vehicles referred to in paragraph (c) (ii) or (iii) that are without air brakes even if the towed vehicles in that combination exceed 4 600 kg;
(h) Class 5L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable conditions and restrictions under sections 30.06 (1) and 30.09 (8) and (9), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 5 licence referred to in paragraph (g) (i) is required;
(i) Class 4 licence permits
(i) operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 5 licence is required,
(ii) operation of an ambulance or taxi,
(iii) if permitted on the licence, operation of an ambulance or taxi with towed vehicles, none of which have air brakes, even if the towed vehicles in that combination exceed 4 600 kg,
(iv) operation of a school bus, a special activity bus, a special vehicle or a bus with a seating capacity of not more than 25 persons including the driver, or
(v) if permitted on the licence, operation of a motor vehicle referred to in subparagraph (iv) with towed vehicles, none of which have air brakes, even if the towed vehicles in that combination exceed 4 600 kg;
(j) Class 4L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to subsection (3) and the applicable condition and restriction under section 30.06 (1) and (10), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 4 licence is required;
(k) Class 3 licence permits operation of
(i) a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 5 licence is required,
(ii) a motor vehicle with 3 or more axles other than a bus when used for its purpose as intended by design,
(iii) a tow car and its recovered vehicle,
(iv) a mobile truck crane,
(v) a combination of vehicles if the towed vehicles in that combination do not exceed 4 600 kg, or
(vi) a combination of vehicles without air brakes if the towed vehicles exceed 4 600 kg;
(l) Class 3L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable condition under section 30.06 (1), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 3 licence is required;
(m) Class 2 licence permits operation of
(i) a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 4 licence is required,
(ii) a bus, school bus, special activity bus or special vehicle, or
(iii) a combination of vehicles without air brakes if the towed vehicles exceed 4 600 kg;
(n) Class 2L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable condition and restriction under sections 30.06 (1) and (10), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 2 licence is required;
(o) Class 1 licence permits operation of any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles but does not include the operation of a motorcycle other than a limited speed motorcycle or all terrain cycle;
(p) Class 1L licence is a learner's licence that, subject to the applicable condition and restriction under sections 30.06 (1) and (10), permits operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a Class 1 licence is required.
Back in the 70's, a Class 3 truck was defined as something over 24,000 pounds GVW. So you would see all these rental trucks with a 23,999 GVW so that Class 5 drivers could use operate them, whether for work or just a rental truck to move.
The big change was when they made that second rear axle the defining category for a straight truck to be defined as a Class 3 vehicle. This extra axle added something like 30,000 pounds to the potential payload, ideal for things like dump trucks, fire engines, and cement mixers. Inevitably, because of the GVW, all these vehicles also have airbrakes, so that endorsement also became pretty much necessary.
Here's a bit of trivia. At one time, around the late 80's I think, the West Vancouver Library launched their bookmobile, and it was relatively heavy so it had a tag axle at the rear that could be used when it was fully loaded carrying books safely even at highway speed (but raised so that it could more easily be maneuvered in small parking areas). So then all the librarians had to apply for a Class 3 license with a specific Class 51 Restriction that meant their license was for that (or similar) vehicles only and they couldn't drive any other C3 vehicles without taking a further C3 test. (Of course, holding that C3 with a restriction probably allowed them to use it as a Learner's License in a 'proper' Class 3 vehicle; but I doubt if any of those librarians made this different career choice).
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Class 3 trivia