Can a C1 license be upgraded to a B2 license?
3 Answers
An examination is required. The following are the conditions for upgrading from a C1 to a B2 license: Hold a C1 license for small cars for at least 3 years, with no full-point records in the last three consecutive scoring cycles, aged between 20 and 50 years old, no record of causing a fatal traffic accident with equal or greater responsibility; no record of drunk driving; and no revocation or cancellation of the driver's license within the last ten years. C1 is one of the codes for the types of vehicles a driver's license permits. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 123), C1 refers to a license that permits driving small and micro passenger cars, light and micro cargo trucks, and light and micro special-purpose vehicles, and also allows driving vehicles under the C2, C3, and C4 categories. A B2 license permits driving heavy and medium-duty cargo trucks or large, heavy, and medium-duty special-purpose vehicles. Heavy and medium-duty cargo trucks are mainly trucks, such as the large dump trucks commonly seen on roads, which fall under the category of heavy-duty trucks. Large, heavy, and medium-duty special-purpose vehicles refer to vehicles equipped with special devices or tools, such as water sprinklers, concrete mixers, and fire trucks. Article 14 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" states that for first-time applicants for a motor vehicle driver's license, the permitted vehicle types include city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo trucks, three-wheeled cars, small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. For those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to apply for additional permitted vehicle types, the additional types include large passenger cars, tractors, city buses, medium-sized passenger cars, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo trucks, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. Article 15 states that for those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to apply for additional permitted vehicle types, there must be no full-point records in the current scoring cycle and the most recent scoring cycle before the application. For applications to add medium-sized passenger cars, tractors, or large passenger cars, the following additional conditions must be met: For applications to add medium-sized passenger cars, the applicant must have held a city bus, large truck, small car, small automatic transmission car, low-speed cargo truck, or three-wheeled car license for at least three years, with no full-point records in the last three consecutive scoring cycles before the application. For applications to add tractors, the applicant must have held a medium-sized passenger car or large truck license for at least three years, or a large passenger car license for at least one year, with no full-point records in the last three consecutive scoring cycles before the application. For applications to add large passenger cars, the applicant must have held a city bus, medium-sized passenger car, or large truck license for at least five years, or a tractor license for at least two years, with no full-point records in the last five consecutive scoring cycles before the application. Students currently enrolled in full-time driving vocational education who have obtained a small car license and have no full-point records in the current and most recent scoring cycles before the application may apply to add large passenger cars or tractors.
As someone familiar with driving regulations, I'm often asked whether a C1 driver's license can be upgraded to a B2. The answer is yes, it's entirely possible. However, there are some basic requirements to meet. First, you must be at least 21 years old, as operating large trucks requires greater maturity. Second, you need to have held a C1 license for at least one year with no record of major accidents. A medical examination is also crucial, including meeting vision standards and having no color blindness issues. The entire process involves applying at the local vehicle management office, passing both theoretical and road tests, and typically takes about two to three months to complete. I think upgrading to a B2 license is a worthwhile investment, especially for those looking to enter the logistics industry, as it can expand career opportunities. Remember, safety comes first—operating large vehicles demands higher skills, so practicing in advance is essential.
As an ordinary driver myself, I got a clear picture of my friend’s experience upgrading from a C1 to a B2 license last time. He made the decision to pursue freight transport for income. First, he ensured he was at least 21 years old, then went straight to the driving school for registration and a medical check-up—everything went smoothly. The DMV required him to retake all four exams (Subjects 1 to 4). The theoretical part was relatively easy, but the road test posed some challenges, especially the reverse parking. The entire process took about two and a half months and cost around 5,000 RMB, depending on the region. He felt the duration wasn’t too long but recommended preparing in advance, particularly by honing large-vehicle control skills. Personally, I think this license upgrade is highly worthwhile—it allows driving more spacious vehicle types and diversifies job options. If you plan to attempt it, I’d suggest choosing a reliable driving school to avoid being scammed.
