What are the requirements for upgrading from a C1 driver's license to an A1?
2 Answers
C1 driver's license cannot be directly upgraded to A1. You need to first upgrade to B1 or B2 and hold it for more than five years. To upgrade from a B1 driver's license to A1, you must have held the B1 license for over five years and have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent five consecutive scoring cycles before applying for the upgrade. To upgrade from B2 to A2, you must have held the B2 license for at least two years, have no record of full penalty points in two consecutive scoring cycles, and be between 24 and 50 years old. To apply for an upgrade to a large bus driving qualification, you must meet one of the following conditions: have held a city bus or medium-sized bus driving qualification for more than five years; have held a large truck driver's license for more than three years; or have held a tractor driving qualification for more than two years. Additionally, you must have no record of accumulating 12 penalty points in the most recent five consecutive scoring cycles before applying. For vehicle owners who already hold a motor vehicle driver's license and wish to apply for additional driving qualifications, the available options include large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams.
I've been driving for over 30 years. My experience upgrading from C1 to A1 is that you must first be at least 26 years old - this age requirement is strictly enforced. In terms of driving experience, you generally need to hold a Class B license for at least five years with no major accidents or 12-point penalty records during that period, otherwise you'll have to start over. The tests include Theory (Subject 1), Field (Subject 2), Road (Subject 3), and Safety & Civility (Subject 4), with the practical tests being particularly technically demanding. Medical checks are essential - my examination included vision, heart condition, etc., and they won't tolerate any shortcomings. After obtaining the A1 license, you can drive large passenger vehicles with significantly more job opportunities, but the upgrade process is lengthy and must be done step by step. Practicing more with Class B vehicles beforehand can help avoid detours.
