What are the disadvantages of upgrading from a B2 license to a D license?
4 Answers
There are no disadvantages to upgrading from a B2 license to a D license. Here are the relevant details: Conditions for upgrading: If you already have a C1 driver's license and want to upgrade to a B2 license, you must first ensure that the C1 license has passed the probationary period. Additionally, there should be no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the previous scoring cycle and the current scoring cycle before applying for the upgrade. Then, you need to submit an upgrade application to the vehicle management office where the license was issued, requesting to add the B2 driving category. After passing all the required driving tests for the B2 category, the vehicle management office will revoke the original license and issue a new B2 license. Important notes: Any upgrade to a new driving category requires taking the corresponding driving tests, and no subject can be skipped.
Last time I considered upgrading my license from B2 to D, I almost signed up. But after carefully calculating the costs, it really didn't make financial sense. The training and exam fees would cost at least 2,000 yuan, plus 30-40 hours of driving lessons. As a truck driver with a tight schedule, I'd have to take time off work and lose wages. If I don't end up driving three-wheeled motorcycles much after the upgrade, not only would the money be wasted, but insurance companies might see multiple license types as higher risk, increasing my annual premium by several hundred yuan - those long-term losses add up. What's more annoying is that three-wheelers are hardly necessary for city living; electric bikes or public transport are more convenient. That money would be better spent elsewhere. Personally, unless it's for professional needs or a special hobby, I don't see the point in wasting this money - life's stressful enough as it is.
Getting a Class D license sounds exciting, but the actual time commitment gave me a headache. I tried it last year—after signing up, I had to sacrifice three or four rest days every week for training, which lasted over a month. I missed gatherings with friends and even delayed work. On exam day, I waited in line for hours, completely exhausted. After passing, I realized opportunities to ride a tricycle were almost nonexistent. Living in a big city with terrible traffic, tricycles can hardly hit the highways or go far, and my truck already handles daily needs. With such high time costs, I’d rather catch up on sleep or work on side gigs. If I could choose again, I’d drop the idea entirely to avoid the hassle.
Holding multiple driver's licenses may seem beneficial, but it actually increases risks significantly. Based on my driving experience, three-wheeled motorcycles have poor stability and are prone to accidents during turns, especially for inexperienced riders with higher accident rates that could harm themselves or others. Once violations lead to point deductions affecting the B2 license record, it could mean losing the job of driving trucks, resulting in greater losses. Personally, I am cautious about adding a D-class license as it divides attention and makes errors more likely in complex road conditions. Safety should always come first; it's more reliable to master one skill thoroughly before considering others.
