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Difference Between C1 and C2 Driver's Licenses in Colombia: What You Need to Know

Written by Yango | Colombia| Okt 15, 2024 | Update | Mar 18, 2025
Time to read: min
What kind of vehicle are you legally allowed to operate? The answer to this will depend on the driver’s license type that you’re holding. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the differences among those that are issued in Colombia, such as C1 vs C2.

By doing so, you’re making sure that you’re following the rules of the road. More importantly, you’ll be better equipped to decide what you want to get.

Overview of driver’s license categories in Colombia

What the country issues can fall under any of these three license categories:

  • Category A For riding motorcycles.
  • Category B. For private vehicles intended for personal use, such as cars, vans, and small trucks.
  • Category C. For professional and commercial driving, such as transporting cargo or passengers.

Under Category C, there are subcategories: C1, C2, and C3. The first two will be the focus of our discussion in the next sections.

What is a C1 driver’s license?

The C1 is a driving license type that lets you drive motorcycles, cars, and light trucks for commercial purposes. This is a good starting option if you want to become a partner driver in Colombia because it already covers all ride types.

What is a C2 driver’s license?

The C2 may be considered a step-up because it gives you authorization to also use vehicles that may require better driving skills. If you want to go with bigger vehicles like buses and rigid trucks, this is what you want to use.

C2 requires more training and expertise, but this isn’t necessarily required to become a Yango independent driver. However, if you want to expand your options in the industry, having this can be a huge asset.

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The differences between C1 and C2 licenses

To give you a clearer understanding of these driver’s license types, we have created the table below, the costs are also generally higher for C2 because driving schools charge more for this type of license.
C1
C2
Vehicle Type
Cars, motorcycles, light trucks
Buses and rigid trucks
Primary Purpose
Ride-hailing
Cargo and mass transport
Difficulty to Obtain
Lower. If you can already drive a car or motorcycle in Colombia, it won’t be hard to get a C1.
Higher. It requires a higher level of driving skills because the vehicle is bigger and heavier.
Required for Yango?
Yes
Only if you’re driving huge trucks under Yango Cargo services

Which license should you choose?

To help you choose between C1 vs C2, consider answering these two questions:

  • Which type of commercial driving service do you want to provide? If you want to focus on small, private rides, C1 is already enough.
  • Do you want to use bigger vehicles too? In this case, the C2 option will be required. The focus of Yango is largely on individual clients or passengers, so the demand from the app may not be as great.

If you’re undecided, we recommend starting with C1. We work across major cities in Colombia, so you’ll have lots of opportunities to enhance your skills. And should you decide to branch out later on, you can do so with full confidence that you’re making an information-based decision.

Final thoughts

Choosing between these two options may sound like a huge career decision, but we believe that you can have the best of both. As a Yango partner driver in Colombia, you can hit the road faster and more frequently with a C1 license. Still, its C2 counterpart can be nice to have if you want to open more doors career-wise.

No matter what you decide on, make sure to go through the right process. Only go with an accredited driving school to avoid any legal roadblocks as you try to get your license. Once you have one, you can download the Yango Pro app and start your application. Our verification process only takes a couple of days, so you can start earning in no time.

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Wed Sep 24 2025 09:34:54 GMT+0300 (Moscow Standard Time)