How Long Does It Take to Upgrade from C1 to A1?

[McPatrick]

C1 license holders can upgrade to an A1 license after holding a B2 license for 5 years and meeting the following conditions. The upgrade process is as follows: After holding a C1 license for one year, you can apply for a B2 license. After holding the B2 license for 5 years, you can then apply for an A1 license. License classifications: A1: Large buses and A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M A2: Tractor trucks and B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M A3: City buses and C1, C2, C3, C4 B1: Medium-sized buses and C1, C2, C3, C4, M (Medium-sized buses refer to those with fewer than 19 seats, such as minibuses and vans) B2: Large trucks and C1, C2, C3, C4, M C1: Small cars and C2, C3 (Small cars refer to passenger vehicles with fewer than 9 seats, such as sedans) C2: Small automatic transmission cars C3: Low-speed trucks and C4 C4: Three-wheeled cars C5: Small automatic transmission passenger cars for disabled individuals (referring to five categories of people: those with right lower limb disabilities, both lower limb disabilities, hearing impairments, missing right thumbs, or finger end joint defects) D: Regular three-wheeled motorcycles and E E: Regular two-wheeled motorcycles and F F: Light motorcycles M: Wheeled self-propelled machinery vehicles N: Trolleybuses P: Trams

[LeXavier]

I remember researching this when I wanted to drive a bus after getting my C1 license. The fastest path from C1 to A1 takes at least 6 years: You must hold a C1 license for 1 year before upgrading to B2, then drive with B2 for 5 years before applying for A1. During this period, you cannot accumulate 12 penalty points on your license at any time, otherwise the clock resets. My friend had to delay his A1 application by 2 years because he got 12 points for speeding. You also need medical checks, theory and practical tests, and must be at least 22 years old. It's a lengthy process, but safety comes first - the responsibility of driving a passenger coach is no joke.

[LeAlan]

Last time I checked the license upgrade policy for my cousin, it's impossible to jump directly from C1 to A1. It must be done in two steps. First, you need to drive with a C1 license for at least one year before upgrading to B2, and then drive with B2 for five years before qualifying for A1. During these five years, you must not have any full-point penalty records in each scoring cycle, and you also need to pass both the theoretical and road tests. I recommend using this time to obtain a passenger transport qualification certificate, which will make you more competitive in the job market. Many driving schools now offer upgrade packages that can save you some money.

[Nova]

The timeline from C1 to A1 is clearly defined: a minimum of six years of continuous driving. The first year is spent gaining experience with a C1 license, followed by upgrading to a B2 license and completing five years of transportation work before becoming eligible for the A1 license. My friend in the transportation industry went through this process, and he said the hardest part wasn't the time requirement but the need to be extremely cautious about every traffic violation during those five years. It's also advisable to get a physical check-up in advance, as failing to meet certain criteria like vision below 5.0 or height under 155 cm could disqualify you.