Can a C1 driver's license be directly upgraded to an A2 driver's license?
2 Answers
C1 driver's license cannot be directly upgraded to an A2 driver's license. To upgrade from C1 to A2, you must first upgrade from C1 to B1 or B2, and then from B1 or B2 to A2. It is not possible to upgrade directly from C1 to A2. To upgrade from C1 to a B-class license, you must be at least 21 years old. Specifically, upgrading to B2 requires holding a C1 license for more than one year, while upgrading to B1 requires holding a C1 license for more than three years. To upgrade from a B-class license to A2, you must be at least 22 years old and meet one of the following conditions: holding a B1 license for more than three years or holding a B2 license for more than two years. Additionally, you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in any of the three consecutive scoring cycles prior to the application. Each upgrade requires completing courses and passing exams from Subject 1 to Subject 4 at a designated driving school. Although the A2 license can only be applied for in the applicant's registered residence, it is possible to apply in another location by obtaining a local residence permit, provided that both the driving school and vehicle management office are available there. If the applicant has a history of drunk driving or fatal traffic accidents before upgrading to A2, they will be ineligible for an A2 license. After upgrading, only one driver's license is used, sharing the same 12-point limit. Violations committed while driving either C1 or A2 vehicles will deduct points from these 12 points. If all 12 points are deducted, the highest driving level will be revoked—for example, A2 will be downgraded to B1. The downgrade continues step by step until reaching C1, and ultimately, the license may be revoked. If the driver is over 60 years old, the A2 license will be directly downgraded to C1.
I've been driving for over a decade, starting with a C1 license for small cars, and have accumulated plenty of experience. Can you directly upgrade from C1 to A2? No, that's against traffic regulations—you must follow the steps. First, you need to hold a C1 license for at least three years to qualify for upgrading to a higher category. An A2 license is for large tractor-trailers, which carries greater risks and stricter requirements. So, you’ll first need to upgrade to a B-class license, such as B1 or B2, which allows you to drive medium-sized buses or trucks. After upgrading to B-class, you must hold it for another one or two years before applying for the A2 exam. The test is demanding: the theory section revisits traffic rules, while the road test involves practical simulations with large vehicles. The minimum age requirement is 24—younger drivers lack sufficient experience and are more prone to accidents. I’ve seen friends rush to upgrade to A2 only to get stuck in exams, taking over a year to pass. Safety is key—large vehicles are harder to control, and accidents can have severe consequences. My advice is not to skip steps; visit the DMV for detailed local policy guidance and proceed steadily.
