Is an exam required for upgrading from C1 to B2 license?

[Adalynn]

Yes, an exam is required. Below are the conditions for upgrading from C1 to B2: Hold a small car C1 driver's license for more than 3 years, with no full-point record in the last three consecutive scoring cycles, aged between 20 and 50 years old, no record of causing a fatal traffic accident with equal or greater responsibility; no record of drunk driving; and no revocation or cancellation of the driver's license within the last ten years. C1 is a code for a type of driver's license. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 123), C1 refers to a license that permits driving small and micro passenger vehicles, light and micro cargo vehicles, as well as light and micro special-purpose vehicles, and also allows driving vehicles under the C2, C3, and C4 license categories. The B2 license allows driving heavy and medium-duty cargo vehicles or large, heavy, and medium-duty special-purpose vehicles. Heavy and medium-duty cargo vehicles are mostly trucks, such as the large dump trucks commonly seen on roads, which fall under the category of heavy trucks. Large, heavy, and medium-duty special-purpose vehicles refer to vehicles equipped with special devices or equipment, such as water sprinklers, concrete mixers, fire trucks, etc. Article 14 of the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" states that first-time applicants for a motor vehicle driver's license can apply for licenses that permit driving city buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo vehicles, three-wheeled cars, small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. For those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to add additional license categories, the additional categories that can be applied for include large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo vehicles, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. Article 15 states that those who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to add additional license categories must have no record of accumulating 12 points in the current scoring cycle and the most recent scoring cycle before the application. Applicants for adding medium-sized buses, tractors, or large buses must also meet the following requirements: Applicants for adding a medium-sized bus license must have held a city bus, large truck, small car, small automatic transmission car, low-speed cargo vehicle, or three-wheeled car license for more than three years, with no full-point record in the last three consecutive scoring cycles before the application. Applicants for adding a tractor license must have held a medium-sized bus or large truck license for more than three years, or a large bus license for more than one year, with no full-point record in the last three consecutive scoring cycles before the application. Applicants for adding a large bus license must have held a city bus, medium-sized bus, or large truck license for more than five years, or a tractor license for more than two years, with no full-point record in the last five consecutive scoring cycles before the application. Full-time driving vocational education students who have obtained a small car license while in school and have no full-point record in the current scoring cycle and the most recent scoring cycle before the application can apply to add large bus or tractor licenses.

[JesseFitz]

I've been driving for almost 20 years. Upgrading from C1 to B2 license requires real exams, including not just theory but also road and field tests. Traffic regulations clearly stipulate this to ensure proficiency in driving large vehicles, with safety as the top priority. The exams cover subjects one to four. During preparation, it's advisable to enroll in a driving school for training because handling large vehicles is different, and maneuvers like reversing into parking spaces require extra practice. Skipping exams for license upgrade is illegal and may lead to accidents harming both yourself and others. If you want to upgrade, first check if your C1 license has been held for at least one year—this is a mandatory requirement. Start preparing early; passing the exams opens up more opportunities for driving trucks.

[AshleyFitz]

I did a similar license upgrade two years ago, from C1 to B2. Let me tell you, exams are definitely required. At that time, I took both the theoretical knowledge test and practical operation test. For the theory test, you need to study traffic regulations related to large vehicles. The practical test, especially backing up and road driving, is particularly crucial. I recommend downloading a driving test app to practice questions or finding an instructor to guide you. Don't look for shortcuts—follow the regulations step by step, and you'll feel at ease after completing the exams.