What is the difference between adding a D license and taking the test directly?
2 Answers
The difference between adding a license and initial learning is that some subject items can be reduced. The difference between adding a B2 license with a C1 license and taking the test directly is that the start dates are different. The initial issuance date and the effective start date of the B2 driver's license are the same day. If it is an added license, the initial issuance date and the effective start date will not be the same day. The probation restrictions are different. After successfully adding a B2 license with a C1 license, driving a minibus during the probation period is not restricted by the probation period. A directly applied B2 license is subject to probation restrictions for any vehicle. The scoring cycle is different. Adding a B2 license requires meeting the condition of no 12-point record in the previous scoring cycle and the current scoring cycle, while directly applying for a B2 license does not have this restriction. The application age is different. The minimum age to apply for a C1 test is 18 years old, while the minimum age to apply for a B2 test is 21 years old. B2 requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old. The fees for adding a license and initial learning are the same. It takes at least three years to add a B2 license with a C1 license.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I believe the main differences between adding a Class D license and obtaining it directly lie in experience and time. When adding a license, I already hold another driver's license, such as a Class C1, so the driving school curriculum skips some basic knowledge and focuses on bus operation, significantly shortening the learning period—it might only take a few weeks to complete. In contrast, obtaining the license directly requires starting from scratch, learning everything from traffic rules to steering wheel operation, a process that can take several months. Additionally, in terms of costs, adding a license saves some training expenses since certain content is exempted; obtaining it directly involves higher overall costs. Regarding exam difficulty, the road test for adding a license is simpler, as the examiner knows I have more driving experience and may be slightly more lenient. Direct examinees, being new drivers, are more prone to failing under stressful situations. In terms of safety, those adding a license are usually more skilled but might also be careless, while direct examinees tend to have more solid practice. Personally, I recommend friends who want to drive buses to first obtain a basic license and then add the Class D, as it saves time and is more efficient.
