How long does it take to upgrade from C1 to B1?
4 Answers
C1 driver's license upgrade to B1 driver's license requires three years. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," if you already hold a C1 driver's license and apply for an additional B1 driving category, you must have held the C1 driving qualification for more than three years and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent three consecutive scoring cycles. As long as you have not accumulated 12 penalty points in the most recent three consecutive scoring cycles, you can apply for the B1 upgrade after holding the C1 license for three years. Specific requirements for the upgrade: You must have held a C1 driver's license for more than three years, with no record of full penalty points in the most recent two scoring cycles, no record of drunk driving, and no record of being primarily or fully responsible in a fatal accident. Applicants must be between 21 and 50 years old, with a height of at least 155 cm, and uncorrected or corrected visual acuity reaching 5.0 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. According to China's "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," the C1 driver's license covers small and micro passenger vehicles, light and micro cargo vehicles, and light, small, and micro special-purpose vehicles. The B1 license covers medium-sized passenger vehicles with a length of less than 6 meters (such as city buses carrying 10 to 19 passengers) and other permitted driving categories.
Last year, it took me a full three and a half months to upgrade from a C1 to a B1 license. After enrollment, the driving school first arranged a medical checkup and document review, which dragged on for over a week. The theoretical training took two weeks, including studying the subject one question bank and mock exams. The practical driving practice was the most time-consuming, with two to three visits to the driving school each week—practicing reversing into a parking space and hill starts for subject two, and urban road condition driving for subject three. There was always a queue between exams, with about ten days between each subject, and exam days were packed with students, making it hard to get a turn. Before getting the new license, there was also a wait for the certificate to be issued. In total, the process took a considerable amount of time, so it's advisable to plan ahead and avoid enrolling during peak periods, otherwise, delays of one or two months are possible. Realistically, from application to receiving the license, the fastest would be at least two months, with some taking up to half a year.
I was quite touched when my child asked about this. The young man next door took a little over four months to upgrade his license, mainly due to the driving experience requirement—you must have held a C1 license for at least one year before applying for a B1. The physical examination was straightforward, but the document verification process was a bit tedious. The learning phase is divided into theory and practical training. For the theory part (Subject 1), you need to memorize hundreds of questions, and you must thoroughly study the materials provided by the driving school. Practice for Subject 2 and Subject 3 is crucial; you should spend at least 20 hours on each to ensure passing the tests. Scheduling the exams is really frustrating, especially with popular driving schools where slots are always fully booked. The entire process reasonably takes about two to three months, but don’t rush it at the expense of safety training. Only by learning properly can you drive with peace of mind after getting your license.
I'm swamped with work, but last year I managed to squeeze in time to upgrade my license to B1. The shortest possible time to get it done is two months, but that's almost impossible; it usually takes at least three months. Signing up and completing the medical check can be done within a week. For the theory part, self-study is faster, and you can cram on weekends. The practical part is more troublesome as you need to find time to go to the driving school. It's recommended to enroll in evening or weekend classes to minimize taking leave. A ten-day gap between each test subject is common, and you must wait for the results to be entered into the system before proceeding to the next round. After passing all tests, the new license will be issued within one or two weeks. The total time required is heavily influenced by personal learning speed. If you only work on it on weekends, it might drag on until April or May. Try to choose a driving school near your home to save on commuting time.
