What are the requirements for upgrading from a B1 to an A2 driver's license?
3 Answers
The requirements for upgrading from a B1 to an A2 driver's license are as follows: 1. Driving experience: You must have held a B1 driver's license for at least three years. 2. No traffic violations: In the three most recent scoring periods before application, you must not have accumulated 12 points or more; you must not have been involved in a fatal traffic accident where you bore equal or greater responsibility; you must not have driven under the influence of alcohol; and you must not have had your driver's license revoked or rescinded within the past ten years. 3. Physical and age requirements: You must be between 24 and 50 years old, with a height of at least 155 cm; your uncorrected or corrected visual acuity in both eyes must reach at least 5.0 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart, and you must not be colorblind to red and green; you must be able to distinguish the direction of sound sources with each ear at a distance of 50 cm from a tuning fork, have both thumbs intact, have at least three fingers intact on each hand, have normal limb and finger movement functions, and have no motor dysfunction in the torso or neck.
I've been a driving instructor at a driving school for over ten years and have trained many students upgrading from B1 to A2. The minimum age requirement for the A2 license is 24 years old, a hard rule that many young people tend to overlook. You must hold a B1 license for at least three years before applying, and during those three years, you shouldn't have any accidents—especially avoid accumulating 12 penalty points in any scoring cycle within the last three years, or else your driving experience will have to be recalculated. Last month, one of my students had 12 points deducted for speeding last year and now has to wait another three years. Before taking the test, you also need to undergo a medical examination at a designated hospital—your vision must meet the standard, and color blindness or color weakness will definitely disqualify you. Once all these conditions are met, you can go to the DMV to fill out the application form and schedule the test. It's quite a hassle, but it's worth it—after all, an A2 license allows you to drive trailers and haul cargo, doubling your income in the transportation business.
I'm a veteran semi-truck driver. Back when upgrading from B1 to A2, the toughest part was the demerit point cycle requirements. Simply put: you must hold the license for at least three years with no drunk/drug driving records, and in the most recent three consecutive scoring cycles (roughly three years), each cycle's deductions must not exceed 11 points. I've seen several buddies get their 12 points wiped out for overload violations while rushing deliveries, forcing them to restart the three-year count. Also, pay special attention to the age threshold of 24 – they won't accept applications even one day short. The tests are easier now though – the theory exam is more flexible than a decade ago, and with enough practice, maneuvers like reverse parking in the yard test (Subject 2) become manageable.
