How long does it take to upgrade from A3 to A1?
2 Answers
For individuals holding an A3 driver's license, the license must have been in use for more than 5 years, with no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the last 5 scoring cycles. Additionally, the driver's age must be between 26 and 50 years old. Furthermore, the following conditions must be met: Height must be above 155 centimeters. Each ear must be able to distinguish the direction of sound sources at a distance of 50 centimeters from a tuning fork. Unaided or corrected visual acuity must reach 5.0 or above on the standard vision chart, with no red-green color blindness. No motor dysfunction in the torso, neck, or limbs, ensuring normal movement. Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have at least 3 fully functional fingers. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" and the "New Regulations on Streamlining Administration and Delegating Power," applicants for upgrading to a large passenger vehicle (A1) must meet one of the following conditions: Have held a city bus or medium-sized bus (B1) driver's license for at least two years; Have held a large truck (B2) driver's license for at least three years; Have held a tractor (A2) driver's license for at least one year. In addition to meeting one of the above conditions, applicants must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the last three consecutive scoring cycles before applying. The following circumstances disqualify applicants from upgrading to A1: According to Article 16 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," the following individuals are not eligible to apply for large passenger vehicles, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks: Those who have caused a fatal traffic accident and bear equal or greater responsibility; Those who have driven under the influence of alcohol; Those whose driver's license has been revoked or canceled within the last 10 years.
It took me about fifteen months to upgrade to an A1 license, starting from an A3. You must hold an A3 license for at least one year before applying for the upgrade training—this is a mandatory requirement. After that, you need to attend theoretical and practical courses, which take about a month and cover the safe operation and regulations of large buses. The application approval process involves waiting in line, and if the local vehicle management office is busy, it might take two or three months to schedule the exam. The exam itself is straightforward and can be passed in one attempt, but you shouldn’t skimp on study time. I recommend practicing driving skills in advance, such as driving large vehicles in open spaces, which can save time and improve safety. The most time-consuming parts of the process are waiting to meet the driving experience requirement and queuing for approval. If you coordinate well with the training institution, the fastest you can complete it is seven or eight months, but on average, it’s safer to expect over a year.
