How is the date calculated for an upgraded driver's license?

[RafaelFitz]

After upgrading a driver's license, the validity period of the motor vehicle driver's license is still calculated based on the initial issuance date of the license. The upgraded license does not display the upgrade date, only the original issuance date. The scoring cycle for a driver's license is one year, starting from 00:00 on the first day of obtaining the license and ending at 24:00 on the day before the anniversary of the initial issuance. Both the validity period and the scoring cycle of the license are calculated from the issuance date. Neither upgrading the license nor renewing it in advance will change the original issuance date. After applying to upgrade from a Class C license to a higher vehicle type, the upgraded license will combine the Class C license with the new vehicle type license. According to national regulations, an individual is only allowed to possess one driver's license, and holding two licenses is not permitted. Conditions for upgrading a driver's license: To apply for an upgraded vehicle type, the applicant must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle or the one immediately preceding the application. To apply for an upgrade to a medium-sized bus license, the applicant must have held the current license type for at least three years, not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three scoring cycles prior to the application, and be between 24 and 50 years old. To apply for an upgrade to a tractor license, the applicant 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, not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the three scoring cycles prior to the application, and be between 24 and 50 years old. To apply for an upgrade to a large bus license, the applicant must have held a medium-sized bus or large truck license for at least five years, or a tractor license for at least two years, not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the five scoring cycles prior to the application, and be between 26 and 50 years old. Additionally, a Class C1 license cannot be directly upgraded to an A2 license; the applicant must first upgrade to a Class B license before applying for an A2 upgrade.

[McZachary]

Back when I just upgraded from a Class C to a Class B license, I was also confused about how the dates were calculated. Later, an experienced driver told me that it always counts from the initial date you first obtained your driver's license. For example, if you got your Class C license in 2020 and upgraded to a Class B license in 2023, the validity period of your new license doesn't restart from 2023. Instead, it continues from 2020, counting six or ten years. The DMV handles it this way to maintain unified records and avoid confusion in renewal times due to multiple upgrades. I recommend checking the 'Date of First Issue' on your new license after upgrading to confirm it's correct. If you can't remember, you can always check the historical records on the mobile app. Don't forget to regularly maintain your vehicle lights to prevent malfunctions—safe driving is the top priority.