What are the new regulations for upgrading from a C2 to a C1 driver's license?
3 Answers
If you already hold a C2 driver's license, you must wait for at least one year before you can re-enroll in a driving school for training and exams. According to the new regulations, those upgrading from a C2 to a C1 license only need to take the Subject 2 and Subject 3 exams. C1 driver's license exam: The exam consists of four subjects: traffic regulations and related knowledge, field driving, road driving, and safe and civilized driving knowledge. Passing standards: Traffic regulations and related knowledge (Subject 1) – Written test, scored out of 100, with a passing score of 90 or above. Field driving (Subject 2) – Conducted on-site with an actual vehicle. The minimum passing score is 80, and scores below 80 are considered failing. Road driving (Subject 3) – Conducted on a highway or simulated site with an actual vehicle. Scored out of 100, a passing score must be 90 or above. Safe and civilized driving knowledge – Written test, featuring questions in the form of case studies, images, animations, etc. The test includes true/false, single-choice, and multiple-choice questions, totaling 50 questions. Scored out of 100, a passing score is 90 or above.
I just completed the procedure for upgrading from a C2 to a C1 license. Here are the current regulations: You must hold a C2 license for at least one year, and during this period, your license should not have accumulated 12 penalty points. The test items have been simplified—only the field driving (Subject 2) and road driving (Subject 3) are required, with no need to retake the theoretical exam. During the Subject 3 test, the safety and civilized driving content is also assessed, effectively merging the original Subject 4. The best part is that the new regulations eliminate the probation period for license upgrades, so once you pass, you can drive manual transmission cars without any worries. When registering, remember to bring your driver's license, ID card, and medical examination report. The medical exam mainly checks vision, and a corrected visual acuity of 4.9 or above is considered passing. The traffic regulation training hours at the driving school have been reduced by 20 hours, while the practical training time remains unchanged. The entire process can be completed in about three months, which is much more convenient than before.
When assisting trainees with license upgrades, I found the new regulations indeed offer more convenience. There are only two application requirements: holding a C2 license for at least 12 months, and no 12-point record in the last two scoring cycles. The test now consists of just two subjects: combining yard reversing/hill starts with road test and safe driving knowledge, eliminating separate theory memorization. Special reminder: pay attention to the integrated Subject 3's nighttime light simulation test – many fail here. Applicants over 70 must take an additional reaction ability test, while other age groups follow the same medical requirements as initial license applicants. The training period is shortened by half a month, with driving schools usually charging 300-500 yuan less than initial training. After passing, the new license is issued directly with automatic system updates – remember to collect it at the DMV within a week.
