Can a C1 driver's license be directly upgraded to an A3?
2 Answers
C1 can be directly upgraded to A3. If you have held a C1 driver's license for more than one year and have not accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle before application, you can apply for an A3 upgrade. Below is the relevant information: Regulations: According to Article 15 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and apply to add a permitted vehicle type must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle before application. Those applying to add medium-sized buses, trailers, or large buses to their permitted vehicle types must also meet the following requirements: (1) For adding a medium-sized bus, the applicant must have held a license for city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled cars for more than three years and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before application. (2) For adding a trailer, the applicant must have held a license for medium-sized buses or large trucks for more than three years, or a license for large buses for more than one year, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before application.
I've been driving for over a decade and helped many friends inquire about license upgrades. The C1 license is your credential for driving small vehicles, while the A3 is specifically for operating city buses. You can't directly upgrade from C1 to A3; you need to meet basic requirements. First, you must have at least three years of experience with a C1 license, be at least 21 years old, and be in good health without major issues. Then, enroll in a formal driving school for A3 training, learning new traffic rules and bus operation techniques. The exams are stricter, including theoretical tests on urban traffic management and practical tests where you drive a bus, simulating daily stops at stations. These regulations make sense—driving a bus carries significant responsibility with dozens of passengers onboard. Without proper experience, it's easy to cause accidents. I recommend starting the training as soon as you meet the requirements; passing the exam opens up many job opportunities.
