Can I Apply for Driver's License Downgrade Online?

[SanMax]

You can apply online. The driver's license downgrade can be processed through official public accounts. Vehicle owners only need to select the traffic police public account of their location to apply remotely. After submitting the required documents, wait for the approval, and the new driver's license will be delivered by mail. Drivers holding licenses for large buses, trailers, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks must have their highest-level driving qualifications revoked by the vehicle management office under the following circumstances, and they will be notified to complete the downgrade and license replacement within 30 days: Being involved in a traffic accident resulting in death and bearing equal or greater responsibility without constituting a crime. Accumulating 12 penalty points within one scoring cycle. Failing to undergo inspection for three consecutive scoring cycles. If the driver fails to complete the downgrade and license replacement within the specified time, the vehicle management office will announce the revocation of the highest-level driving qualification. After completing the downgrade and license replacement, drivers who wish to reapply for the revoked driving qualification must have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the current and the most recent scoring cycle before application, and no involvement in a traffic accident resulting in death with equal or greater responsibility. To apply for the downgrade and license replacement after revocation of the highest-level driving qualification: After passing the relevant exams, receive the "Motor Vehicle Driver's Illegal Full-Point Exam Information Feedback Notice" (for Class A and B licenses, the downgrade information will be noted on the notice). After the suspension period ends, bring your ID card and the "Motor Vehicle Driver's Illegal Full-Point Exam Information Feedback Notice" to the traffic police department where the license was suspended to retrieve your driver's license. Bring the following documents to the vehicle management office at the license issuance location to complete the downgrade and license replacement (if there are no pending traffic violations, the process will be completed within one working day): Original "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form." Original and copy of the driver's ID. Original driver's license. Three recent half-length, bareheaded, front-facing white-background color ID photos (submit the digital photo collection receipt if required by local regulations).

[Fernando]

I just dealt with this recently. You can indeed downgrade your driver's license online through the Traffic Management 12123 app. Open the driver's license services section, select the voluntary downgrade application, upload your ID and driver's license photos as required, and confirm the downgrade type. The system review is quick, usually with an SMS notification in about two or three days. However, be aware that after downgrading from Class A or B licenses, you can no longer drive large vehicles, and you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points within the last 3 years. I handled the entire process on my phone here in Changsha, but a friend in a county town had to visit the vehicle management office, so it's advisable to check local policies first. The app process is straightforward, but many people don't realize that the penalty point cycle doesn't reset after downgrading.

[PeytonLee]

Driver's license downgrade can now be processed online in many places. I completed mine using the Traffic Management 12123 app. First, log in to the app with real-name authentication, find the downgrade option under driver's license services, and follow the prompts to fill in the information and select the downgrade type. However, two conditions must be met: the license must be Class A or B, and there should be no accumulation of 12 penalty points in the last three scoring cycles. In Xiamen, I submitted the application on my phone in five minutes and received a system notification three days later to visit the vehicle management office to exchange for a Class C1 license. Policies vary by region—some smaller areas may still require an in-person medical checkup. The key point is that the original license becomes invalid after downgrading, and if you want to upgrade again, you'll need to undergo additional training. Be sure to consider this process carefully.

[DelLeonardo]

Online processing of driver's license downgrade is feasible, but it depends on specific circumstances. I downgraded from A2 to C1. When submitting the application on the Traffic Management 12123 platform, I needed to select the downgrade reason and upload a photo of my driver's license. The prerequisite is that the license must be valid and have no pending violations. After the system approves the application, you must go to the vehicle management office for a medical examination and license replacement, as the entire process cannot be completed online. Some regions like Beijing and Shanghai support full online processing, but in rural areas like Guizhou, you may need to handle it in person. After downgrading, you can no longer drive tractor-trailers, so special attention must be paid to the changes in the permissible driving scope.