Can a C1 license holder apply for an A1 license?
2 Answers
C1 license holders cannot directly upgrade to an A1 license. The A1 license is the highest level in the passenger vehicle driving license category, and one must first upgrade to a B-class license before applying for an A1. The conditions for upgrading to an A1 license are: holding an A3, B1, or B2 license for at least 5 years, or holding an A2 license for at least 2 years; no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in any of the last 5 consecutive scoring cycles prior to application; and being between 26 and 50 years old. Permitted vehicle types for C1 license: The C1 license allows driving small and mini passenger vehicles, light and mini cargo vehicles; light, small, and mini specialized operation vehicles; and small passenger vehicles with seating capacity of 9 or fewer. C1 license holders cannot drive: large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, regular three-wheeled motorcycles, regular two-wheeled motorcycles, mopeds, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. Additionally, C1 license holders cannot drive vehicles with more than 9 seats or trucks with a total length exceeding 6 meters.
I'm a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, starting with a C1 license. Later, to drive tour buses, I wanted to upgrade to an A1 license. However, it turns out you can't directly test for an A1 from a C1. You first need to upgrade to a B-class license, such as B1 or B2, drive for at least five years, and maintain a clean driving record without serious violations during that period. You must also be at least 26 years old, as driving large buses requires sufficient experience to ensure safety. After upgrading, you must pass both theoretical and practical exams to obtain the A1 license. The tests include challenging tasks like reverse parking and mountain road driving. It's not easy, but with systematic practice, passing becomes much more manageable.
