Is a C1 Driver's License for Manual or Automatic Transmission?
3 Answers
A C1 driver's license is for manual transmission vehicles, but it also allows the holder to drive automatic transmission vehicles. The vehicle types permitted under a C1 license include: small and micro passenger vehicles, as well as light and micro cargo vehicles, and light, small, and micro special-purpose vehicles. Other vehicle types permitted under a C1 license include those covered by C2 and C3 licenses. The requirements for vehicles under a C1 license are: light general cargo vehicles with a length of no less than 5 meters, small general passenger vehicles with a length of no less than 4 meters, or cars with a length of no less than 4 meters. The full name of a driver's license is a motor vehicle driving license, and the permission to drive a vehicle is granted through the issuance of a driving license. This indicates that obtaining a driver's license is a formal process that must be carried out by a specialized authority.
The C1 driver's license is essentially the manual transmission license. When I first enrolled in driving school, the instructor specifically emphasized that to obtain a C1 license, you must train with a manual transmission car equipped with a clutch pedal, handling everything from starting to gear shifting yourself. During my practice, I dreaded hill starts the most—every time I failed to coordinate the accelerator and clutch properly, the car would stall, and the instructor would get so frustrated he'd slap his thigh. After obtaining the C1 license, you can not only drive regular manual transmission sedans but also 9-seater commercial vehicles. However, automatic transmission cars are also allowed, as the C1 license covers the C2 category, but not vice versa. If you usually only drive your family's automatic car, you really need to practice manual transmission seriously for the test—otherwise, you're highly likely to fail the third road test.
The definition of C1 corresponding to manual transmission vehicles is very clear. In the driver's license classification, C licenses are mainly divided into three categories: C1, C2, and C5, with C1 explicitly covering manual transmission vehicles. Last year when I accompanied a friend to the DMV for license renewal, I saw a posted notice stating: C1 permits driving blue-plate manual transmission vehicles with a total mass under 4.5 tons and fewer than 9 seats. Interestingly, while C2 license test vehicles must use automatic transmission, C1 tests allow choosing either automatic or manual transmission vehicles, but only choosing manual transmission for the test activates the C1 qualification. For vehicles like small trucks that require frequent gear shifting, those with a C2 license are not allowed to drive them—a C1 license is mandatory.
