Can a Motorcycle License and a Car License Not Be Combined?
3 Answers
Motorcycle licenses and car licenses must be combined. The training department will actively request the driver's license, and once the exams are passed, the two licenses can be merged. For those who already have a car driver's license and want to obtain a motorcycle license: First, the car driver's license must have passed the probationary period, and there should be no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the previous and current scoring cycles before applying for the additional license. Then, an application for an additional license must be submitted to the local vehicle management office where the driver's license was issued, requesting to add the motorcycle driving category. After passing all the motorcycle license exams, the vehicle management office will revoke the original license and issue a new combined license. Process for applying for an additional license: The applicant submits a locally valid motor vehicle driver's license and other required documents to the driving school, fills out the application form, and passes a medical examination. After reviewing the documents submitted by the driving school, the vehicle management office will accept the additional license application and issue an appointment notice for the first written test. The applicant attends the first written test at the designated time. The applicant then undergoes driving skill training at the driving school. The driving school will coordinate the scheduling for the second and third practical tests and organize applicants to attend these tests at the vehicle management office. Within two working days after passing the exams, the vehicle management office will issue the motor vehicle driver's license, which can be collected at the driving school or delivered via express mail.
Last time I went to the DMV to renew my driver's license, I specifically asked about this. Both motorcycle and car licenses must be combined into one license here. The DMV system stipulates that one person can only hold one driver's license number, so even if you take separate tests for two types of vehicles, they will eventually be merged into one license. Like me, I first got a C1 car license, and later added a motorcycle E license. The staff directly took away the old license and issued a new one, with the permitted vehicle types column stating C1E. After merging, it's quite convenient—no need to worry about which license to bring when going out. However, you must remember the probation period and point deduction rules clearly. Traffic violations on motorcycles still count toward the total points of the car license; if you lose all 12 points, you'll have to retake the test.
I've been a driving instructor at a driving school for seven or eight years, and I often encounter students asking this question. Simply put, domestic policies don't allow obtaining two separate driver's licenses. If you get a car driver's license first and then a motorcycle license, the system will automatically merge them into an additional license, with all permitted vehicle types printed on the same card. I had a student last year who first obtained a D license to ride a three-wheeled motorcycle, and this year wanted to drive a car, so he had to use the same license to add a C1 endorsement. Every time you renew your license, the DMV will verify all permitted vehicle types. Although merging them makes management easier, there's a small inconvenience: the medical examination deadlines for different vehicle types may overlap. Cars require renewal every six years, while motorcycles may need an earlier medical check-up, so you'll have to keep track of the timelines yourself.
