Can You Get an A1 Driving License Directly?
3 Answers
A1 driving license cannot be obtained directly; it must be acquired through an upgrade process. Here are the relevant details: 1. Vehicle Types Allowed: An A1 driving license permits the holder to drive buses with more than 20 seats and passenger vehicles with a body length exceeding 6 meters. 2. Upgrade Requirements: Applicants for an A1 driving license must be at least 26 years old and must upgrade from a B2, B1, or A2 license; upgrading from a C1 license is not allowed. A B-class license holder must have held the license for at least five years before upgrading to an A1 license, and during the period of holding the B-class license, there must be no record of 12 penalty points in any three consecutive cycles. If the applicant wishes to upgrade from an A2 license to an A1 license, they must have held the A2 license for at least two years, and there must be no record of 12 penalty points in the previous cycle during the period of holding the A2 license.
In China, driver's license management is very strict. The A1 license is specifically for driving large buses and cannot be obtained directly from scratch. You must first have other licenses, such as holding a B1 or B2 license for at least 5 years, or an A2 license for at least 2 years, and then pass an additional driving test to upgrade. This regulation is quite reasonable because driving large buses involves passenger safety and requires accumulated experience. Beginners should start with a C license to learn how to drive small cars, which is easier to handle. After becoming familiar with roads and driving, considering an additional license is safer. Don't rush, otherwise, if an accident happens, the consequences could be severe. I think this is the traffic department's way of protecting everyone, ensuring that every driver is qualified before handling large vehicles.
I remember when I first drove trucks a few years ago, I wanted to upgrade to an A1 license to operate long-distance coaches, but the instructor said no. You need to have a B2 license for at least 5 years and accumulate safe mileage before you can upgrade. The process was quite challenging—training and exams took several weeks, and the hands-on practice involved handling large vehicles, which is much harder than small cars. My advice to fellow drivers is to build a solid foundation first; don’t expect to leapfrog ahead. Spend a few more years getting familiar with road conditions and the environment. Driving schools will teach you the skills when upgrading, but safety comes first. This system really prevents many inexperienced drivers from causing trouble, especially since large vehicles are harder to control in traffic jams—only experience can keep you steady.
