Can an Automatic Transmission License Be Upgraded to a Manual Transmission License?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission license can be upgraded to a manual transmission license. Process for upgrading from C2 to C1: 1. First, the following conditions must be met: The applicant must already hold a motor vehicle driver's license. To apply for an additional driving category, the applicant must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle before the application. 2. Required materials: Proof of identity; original and photocopy of the applicant's motor vehicle driver's license; medical certificate of physical condition issued by a medical institution at or above the county level; recent one-inch bareheaded white-background photo. 3. Application process: Provide digital photos; fill out the "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form"; undergo a physical examination with proof of identity; provide the motor vehicle driver's license; register at a local motor vehicle driver training institution; take the scheduled examination; upon passing the exam, the new driver's license will be issued by the Vehicle Management Office.
I've driven automatic transmission cars for decades and later wanted to challenge myself with a manual transmission. I discovered that an automatic license cannot be directly upgraded to a manual one; you must retake the full driver's license test, including both the theoretical written exam and the practical road test. I gave it a try—reviewed basic rules for the theory part and spent time practicing clutch and gear coordination for the practical part. Hill starts were the most challenging, as stalling happened easily. During the test, the examiner focused on smoothness and safety awareness, and you had to handle complex road conditions flawlessly to pass. This isn't an upgrade but obtaining a new license, costing a few hundred dollars. I recommend practicing with an instructor's car first to avoid the lax habits from driving automatics. Manual transmissions improve driving control, but the learning phase can be quite exhausting.
