What are the requirements for upgrading from a B2 to an A1 driver's license?
3 Answers
The conditions for upgrading from a B2 to an A1 driver's license: the applicant must be between 26 and 50 years old. They must have held a B2 driver's license for at least five years and must not have accumulated 12 or more penalty points in any of the five consecutive scoring cycles prior to the application. If the applicant has had a history of drunk driving, failed to undergo annual review for three consecutive cycles while holding a B1 license, or been involved in an accident causing casualties, they will not be eligible to apply for an A1 license. Vehicle types permitted with an A1 license: A3 (city buses), B1 (medium-sized passenger vehicles), B2 (large trucks), C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed cargo vehicles), C4 (three-wheeled vehicles), M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). Only an A2 license allows driving tractor units. Vehicle types permitted with an A2 license: Heavy and medium-sized full trailers, semi-trailer combinations, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M.
From my experience driving trucks, there are several conditions to meet if you want to upgrade from a B2 license to an A1 license for driving large buses. First, you must have held a B2 license for at least three years to prove sufficient driving experience. Second, your driving record must be clean—serious violations or accident records will disqualify you with the traffic police. Then, you need to enroll in an upgrade course at a designated driving school, passing both the theoretical exam and practical driving test, including key skills like reverse parking. Don’t forget the medical check-up; your vision and hearing must meet the standards. After upgrading to A1, I found many more opportunities—long-distance bus driving increased my income by a significant margin, and I could also take passengers on trips. The process took about two months, so I recommend practicing large vehicle handling in advance.
As someone who usually drives small cars, I'm curious about upgrading from a B2 to an A1 license. The key requirement is holding a B2 license for at least three years without any serious violations. Then, apply for the upgrade at the vehicle management office, pass the theoretical test (Subject 1) on rules, and demonstrate practical driving skills. A health check is also required to ensure physical fitness. I recommend choosing a good driving school for a few weeks of training, focusing on practicing large vehicle turns. Once completed, driving passenger vehicles becomes more flexible, making holiday group trips much easier with manageable time investment.
