What is the difference between C1 and C2 licenses?
2 Answers
The differences between C1 and C2 driver's licenses are as follows: From the perspective of vehicle types allowed to drive: C1 license can drive: small cars and C2, C3, C4 (passenger vehicles with fewer than 9 seats such as sedans are considered small cars). C2 license can drive: small automatic transmission cars. From the perspective of exam difficulty: C1 driving learning is relatively more difficult and prone to mistakes. C2 automatic transmission cars are easier to learn and drive, with fewer actions required during the exam, resulting in fewer mistakes under nervous conditions and a higher overall pass rate. From the perspective of learning costs: The registration fee for C1 is lower than that for C2. Age requirements: The minimum age limit for both C1 and C2 licenses is 18 years old, with no upper age limit. However, applicants over 70 years old must pass tests on memory, judgment, and reaction abilities.
I just got my driver's license not long ago, and I struggled for a while deciding between C1 and C2. C1 is a manual transmission license, requiring operation of the clutch and gear shift, which involves more challenges in learning, such as stalling on hill starts and not passing the test on the first try. C2 is for automatic transmission, where you don’t need to worry about shifting gears—just step on the gas and go, making it simpler and quicker to learn. I chose C2 because my family car is automatic, and it’s more convenient for city driving, making the learning process enjoyable. However, C1 has greater advantages, like being able to drive manual transmission vehicles, which opens up more job opportunities, such as delivering food or driving small trucks. Learning C1 builds a solid foundation, enhances driving skills, and prevents future limitations of not being able to drive manual cars. The costs are similar, but C2 might save practice time. For young people, I recommend getting a C1 license for long-term benefits—learning more skills never hurts.
