Can a C1 license be directly upgraded to a B1 license?
3 Answers
C1 cannot be directly upgraded to b1, but it can be upgraded to B1. To upgrade a C1 driver's license to B1, the following four requirements must be met: Hold a C1 driver's license for more than three years; No record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the last three consecutive scoring cycles; Meet the physical conditions: Age: 21 years or older, under 50 years old; Height: 150 cm or taller; Vision: Naked or corrected vision of both eyes must reach 5.0 or above on the logarithmic visual acuity chart; Hearing: Able to distinguish the direction of sound sources with each ear at a distance of 50 cm from the tuning fork; Upper limbs: Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have three other fingers intact with normal limb and finger movement functions; Lower limbs: Both lower limbs must be intact with normal movement functions, and the length difference must not exceed 5 cm. Note: The B1 upgrade application can only be processed at the vehicle management office in the driver's registered residence.
I've been driving small cars for over ten years and got my B1 license last year. To upgrade from C1 to B1, it's not a straightforward process; you must hold the C1 license for at least one year with no major accidents during that period before you can enroll in a driving school for the test. The exam consists of two parts: theory and practical. The theory test covers differences in traffic rules, while the practical part focuses on driving techniques for medium-sized buses, such as more challenging steering and different visibility handling. I think this arrangement is quite reasonable since medium-sized buses carry more passengers and pose higher safety risks—driving them is completely different from small cars, so it's essential to take it step by step. During my test, I encountered a few novice drivers who thought upgrading would be easy, but they failed the practical section, proving that experience accumulation can't be overlooked. In short, don’t rush into it—check with the driving school for specific requirements first and prepare your time and budget accordingly.
Hey man, I just got my C1 license last year and recently thought about driving a minibus for work. Asked my driving instructor, and he said I can't directly upgrade to B1; gotta wait a year before applying, with a clean record, and then start all over learning bus driving, plus extra fees and time for the test. As a young driver, I think this policy actually protects everyone—the jump from cars to buses is huge, and accidents can happen easily if you're not careful. Learning new skills might be a hassle, but it's worth it. For example, bus brakes are more sensitive, and you need to be steadier on hills—my coach taught me to practice these areas more. For buddies wanting an easy upgrade, maybe use this gap to gain some city driving experience. When the time comes, you'll pick it up faster.
