Can a C1 license be directly upgraded to an A3 license?
3 Answers
C1 can be directly upgraded to A3. To upgrade from C1 to A3, you need to retake all exams from Subject 1 to Subject 4. Among them, Subject 1 and Subject 4 are the same as those for C1, covering theory and civilized driving tests, while Subject 3 is also the same as C1, involving a road test. Only Subject 2 differs. The following points should be noted for the upgrade: 1. To upgrade to A3, B1, or B2 models, you must hold a C1 driver's license for at least one year. 2. During the upgrade process, there should be no penalty records for drunk driving. 3. Subject 2 for A3 consists of 16 items, including reverse parking, parallel parking, hill start, single-plank bridge, curve driving, right-angle turn, driving over bumps, passing through a narrow gate, driving on undulating roads, U-turn on a narrow road, simulating continuous sharp turns on mountain roads, simulating rainy and foggy weather, simulating slippery roads, simulating tunnel driving, simulating highway driving, and simulating emergency handling.
Back when I got my A3 license, I also upgraded from a C1. Directly upgrading? Absolutely not. You must hold the C1 license for at least one year and ensure no 12-point deductions in two consecutive scoring cycles. Your age must be between 21 and 50, and you'll need to pass a new physical exam, especially with stricter vision requirements. The key point is retaking all four exams—subjects one to four. Driving a bus in subject three is completely different from a car—heavier steering, stiffer brakes, and a much larger turning radius. Even as an experienced driver, I failed once and spent two months just practicing. So don’t think about skipping steps—just sign up at the driving school. It’s costly and time-consuming, but safety comes first.
I just helped my cousin inquire at the DMV a couple of days ago, and there's absolutely no shortcut for upgrading from C1 to A3. According to regulations, you must meet several strict requirements: you need at least one year of driving experience with a C1 license, no record of drunk driving or full-point violations in the past two years, and be aged between 21 and 50. Then, just like a beginner learning to drive, you have to retake everything from the theory test (Subject 1) to the road test (Subject 4), using a manual-transmission electric-door bus as the exam vehicle. My cousin kept getting scolded by the instructor for shifting gears too slowly during practice—after all, a bus weighs over three times more than a car. In the end, it cost him over 6,000 yuan in tuition and took four months of effort to get the license. If you're serious about driving a bus, my advice is to check the enrollment requirements for A3 upgrade courses at local driving schools right away.
