Can you drive a manual transmission car with an automatic transmission license?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission license does not permit driving a manual transmission car. Here are the relevant details: 1. Automatic transmission license is classified as C2: According to China's traffic regulations, a C2 license only allows driving small and micro automatic transmission passenger cars, as well as light and micro automatic transmission cargo vehicles. 2. Driving a manual transmission car with a C2 license is invalid: Driving a manual transmission car with a C2 license is equivalent to driving without a license and will result in severe legal penalties. If this leads to a traffic accident causing injury or death, the driver will also bear legal responsibility.
I just finished my driver's license course, and the instructor often reminded me of this. With an automatic transmission license, such as the common C2 license, you are not allowed to drive manual transmission cars. This is mainly because manual transmission requires operating the clutch and gear stick, which are not taught at all in automatic transmission training. If you force yourself to drive a manual car and fail to control the clutch properly, leading to stalling or an accident, the risks are significant. I've seen beginners on the road trying to drive manual cars, only to end up with the car shaking uncontrollably, nearly causing a rear-end collision. The law states that an automatic transmission license only permits driving automatic cars. If caught driving a manual transmission vehicle, it counts as driving without a license and can result in fines, penalty points, or even license revocation. My advice is to consider your needs when taking the driver's license test: if you plan to drive manual cars in the future, it's better to directly take the C1 license to avoid trouble. Alternatively, you can quickly upgrade by retaking the test—I helped a friend do it, and it was a breeze.