How long after obtaining a car driver's license can one apply for a motorcycle driver's license?
3 Answers
After obtaining a car driver's license, you need to wait one year before you can apply for a motorcycle driver's license. According to regulations, you cannot apply for two types of driver's licenses within one year. You can only apply for one first, and after obtaining it, you must wait until the one-year probation period has passed, with no record of accumulating 12 penalty points during that year, before you can apply for an additional license. To apply for an additional permitted driving category, you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the current scoring cycle and the most recent scoring cycle before the application. For applying to add medium-sized passenger vehicles, tractors, or large passenger vehicles to the permitted driving categories, the following regulations must also be met: (1) To apply for adding medium-sized passenger vehicles: you must have held a license for driving city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled vehicles for more than three years, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent three consecutive scoring cycles before the application; (2) To apply for adding tractors: you must have held a license for driving medium-sized passenger vehicles or large trucks for more than three years, or have held a license for driving large passenger vehicles for more than one year, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent three consecutive scoring cycles before the application; (3) To apply for adding large passenger vehicles: you must have held a license for driving city buses, medium-sized passenger vehicles, or large trucks for more than five years, or have held a license for driving tractors for more than two years, and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent five consecutive scoring cycles before the application.
I waited until my C1 license had been valid for a full year before adding the motorcycle E license. The law stipulates that a car driver's license must complete a 1-year probationary period before adding a motorcycle type. I recommend everyone wait the full 12 months before applying. During this time, it's best to ride shared electric bikes to practice balance, which will make formal motorcycle training much easier. The test is actually simpler than for cars - practicing the slalom and single-plank bridge in Subject 2 for about three days is usually enough to pass. However, policies vary by region, so you'll need to check the specific requirements of your local vehicle management office. Some cities prohibit motorcycles or require formal training at driving schools, so it's safer to call and confirm before registering.
According to traffic regulations, you can apply for an additional motorcycle license after completing the probationary period of your car driver's license. I personally went to register for the D-class license on the very day my car license reached 12 months. Note that motorcycle licenses are categorized: D-class allows riding three-wheeled motorcycles, while E-class is for two-wheelers. Getting a D-class license directly is more practical. Remember to bring your ID card, car driver's license, and medical examination form to the DMV, and you'll need to retake the theory test (written exam). Previous car license theory test results cannot be reused. For training, I recommend choosing a covered three-wheeler—it's much more stable than two-wheelers, especially during rainy test days. The whole process can take as little as two weeks to get your license.
