Do I Need to Retake the Written Test When Switching from Manual to Automatic Transmission?
3 Answers
No. Here are the details: Reason: During the examination process for a C1 driver's license, you can switch to a C2 driver's license because the C1 license covers the C2 vehicle type. Since you have already passed the written test (Subject 1), you do not need to retake it after switching to a C2 license. You can apply to the driving school to change to a C2 license, and the school will handle the modification of the registered license type at the vehicle management office. Examination: Each subject can be taken once, and if you fail, you can retake it once. If you do not attend the retake or fail again, the examination process ends, and you must reschedule the test. However, for Subject 2 and Subject 3, the rescheduling must be done at least ten days later. If you fail the Subject 3 safety and civilized driving knowledge test, the passing scores for the road driving skills test remain valid.
I've been driving for many years, and switching from a manual transmission to an automatic is really simple—you don't even need to retake the theory test (you know, the one that covers traffic rules and basic safety knowledge, which applies to all vehicle types, both manual and automatic). A friend of mine who works in freight transport switched directly from driving a manual to an automatic without retaking any tests; he just updated his license at the DMV. Driving an automatic is much more hassle-free—no constant clutch work, especially in traffic jams, it's a lot easier. But for beginners, automatics might feel too simple, so they should pay extra attention to safety and avoid distractions like using their phones. In short, changing vehicle types doesn’t affect the theory test part—just enjoy the driving experience.
I just got my driver's license not long ago. When the instructor taught us manual transmission skills, he specifically mentioned that we wouldn't need to retake the theory test (Subject 1) when switching to automatic transmission in the future, as the theoretical content remains exactly the same. The Subject 1 exam already covers all the basic knowledge for all types of vehicles, such as road signs, signals, and safe driving principles, which apply no matter what car you drive. I plan to buy an automatic transmission car after graduation. I asked the driving school instructor, and she emphasized that when changing license types, only the practical driving part is considered, and Subject 1 doesn't need to be retaken—just fill out a form to process it. The advantage of automatic transmission is that it's easier to get started, reducing stress for beginners like me, but don't get careless—you still need to follow the rules to prevent rear-end collisions.
