Can a motorcycle license and a car license be combined?
2 Answers
C1 car license and motorcycle license can be combined into one. Disadvantages of combining two licenses: The two vehicles can only have a total of 12 points deducted at most. Previously, one vehicle could have up to 12 points deducted, but now the two vehicles share 12 points. This means that if each vehicle has 6 points deducted, the total 12 points on the license will be used up, and the license will need to be revoked and re-obtained. Consequences of not combining two licenses: Regulations state that a person can only hold one driver's license. If the licenses are not combined, the C1 license will be revoked. Currently, there is a mandatory requirement to combine the C1 license and E license into a C1E license. Additionally, there is no longer a situation where points are deducted separately. Even if the two licenses were obtained before the regulation to combine them, they must be submitted for combination when renewing the license.
I've driven cars and motorcycles for many years and find the combined license very convenient. In China, it's possible to merge motorcycle and car licenses into one, which is called 'license upgrading'. The specific process is: if you already have a C1 car license and want to ride a motorcycle, you enroll in a driving school to upgrade to an E license (for two-wheeled motorcycles) or D license (for three-wheeled motorcycles). After passing the theory test and road test, your license will be updated to show the permitted vehicle codes, such as CE or CD, indicating you can drive both. This way, you only need to carry one card when going out, which is much more convenient. I remember doing this about ten years ago, and the cost was slightly cheaper than getting two separate licenses. However, you need to take the motorcycle test seriously, as riding skills are completely different from driving and it's easy to skid or fall, so safety should be the focus during training. The advantage is that it's easier to manage after merging, and the risk of losing it is reduced. The only downside is that the process can take a few months, so it's best to upgrade as soon as you get your car license.
