Can I drive a car during the C1 license upgrade period?

[Young]

During the license upgrade period, if the driver's license is in hand, the driver can operate vehicle types that match the current license. If the driver's license has been submitted, driving is not permitted. Additional information: According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," the following rules apply to license upgrades: If you already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and apply to add additional vehicle types, you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the most recent scoring cycle before the application. 1. To apply for a medium-sized bus license upgrade, you must have held a license for city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled vehicles for at least three years, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before the application. 2. To apply for a tractor license upgrade, you must have held a medium-sized bus or large truck license for at least three years, or a large bus license for at least one year, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three most recent consecutive scoring cycles before the application. 3. To apply for a large bus license upgrade, you must have held a medium-sized bus, city bus, or large truck license for at least five years, or a tractor license for at least two years, and must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the five most recent consecutive scoring cycles before the application.

[OAlex]

When I upgraded my license to C1 two years ago, I specifically asked the traffic police, and the answer was that it's completely fine to drive a car. Because during the upgrade training period, your original driver's license remains valid. As long as your permitted vehicle types include C1, you can drive private cars normally. However, you absolutely cannot drive the vehicle type you're currently testing for during the upgrade period. For example, if you're simultaneously upgrading to a motorcycle D license, you can't ride a motorcycle during this time. I know an old Zhang who worked while upgrading his license and still drove to work every day, as long as it didn't interfere with the training schedule. A small reminder: always carry your driver's license and upgrade proof when driving to avoid any confusion during traffic checks.

[DiNatalie]

Last year when I was applying for an additional driver's license, I also worried about this. The instructor clearly stated that driving a passenger car is no problem. As long as your license hasn't been revoked or accumulated 12 penalty points, it's completely legal to drive vehicles within your original permitted scope during the additional licensing process. I remember practicing the additional vehicle type on weekdays and driving my family to the supermarket on weekends - never had any issues. But two things are absolutely crucial: first, never drink and drive - getting caught now will disqualify you from the additional license; second, don't drive any commercial vehicles other than the training vehicles during the training period. I recommend checking your training records every time you go to the driving school to ensure you've completed enough hours, otherwise extensions become even more troublesome.

[Natasha]

Having driven a taxi for ten years, I've helped many trainees with additional driving license upgrades. Holding a C1 license, you can definitely drive your own car during the upgrade process – regulations clearly state that existing driving privileges remain unaffected. In practice, pay attention to three key points: check your license validity before driving, always carry the vehicle registration, and never drive a vehicle matching the upgrade category. Take my recent trainee Xiao Wang for example – he drove his own car to practice reversing at the driving school daily without issues before graduation. But modified vehicles require extra caution. Last year, a student driving with modified exhaust pipes got inspected, resulting in a three-month suspension of their upgrade process.

[FrankFitz]

When I applied for an additional driving license, I specifically checked the 'Regulations on the Application for Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses.' Article 22 states that 'during the additional driving license process, the original permitted driving qualifications are not affected.' This means as long as your C1 license is valid, driving a regular car is completely legal. Last week, I accompanied a friend to the vehicle management office to submit materials, and the officer at the counter confirmed this. However, keep an eye on your training progress—I once missed a deadline by three days for my third subject retake and almost delayed my annual inspection. When commuting by car during the day, remember to avoid driving school training routes. A student was mistaken for a driving instructor near the test site and had to explain for a long time. Also, it's best not to drive across provinces or cities during the additional license process, as handling violations in another region can be quite troublesome.