Can a manual transmission license holder drive an automatic transmission car?
2 Answers
Yes; as long as the permitted vehicle types match, you can drive both automatic and manual transmission cars. Here is some information about the manual transmission license (C1): 1. C1 license holders can drive not only the vehicle types permitted under C2 but also manual transmission cars, whereas C2 license holders can only drive automatic transmission cars. 2. C1 refers to a license that permits driving small and micro passenger cars, light and micro trucks, as well as light and micro special-purpose vehicles. It also allows driving the vehicle types permitted under C2, C3, and C4; the driving scope of a C1 license includes C2, C3, and C4.
I remember choosing a manual transmission when learning to drive back then, because everyone said it was more fundamental and comprehensive. Now, driving an automatic transmission car is completely fine. From the day I got my C1 driver's license, the law has allowed me to drive all small passenger vehicles, including automatics, without any additional tests or procedures. My experience is that the effort put into learning manual transmission actually helps build a solid driving foundation, such as controlling the clutch and shifting gears. Driving an automatic afterward feels like a breeze—less operational hassle and more focus on road safety. However, it's worth noting that if you plan to drive trucks or manual cars in the future, these basic skills do come in handy. But nowadays, with automatics dominating the streets, most people have long stopped touching manual cars. In short, don't overthink it—getting a manual transmission license is definitely a worthwhile investment, and driving an automatic is a piece of cake.
