What is the difference between C2 and C1 driver's licenses?
2 Answers
The difference between C1 and C2 driver's licenses can be simply stated as: C1 is for manual transmission vehicles, while C2 is for automatic transmission vehicles. C1 is a manual transmission small vehicle license, and C2 is an automatic transmission small vehicle license. Vehicles that C2 is authorized to drive can all be driven with a C1 license, but not all vehicles that C1 is authorized to drive can be driven with a C2 license. Vehicles authorized for C1 license: The driving scope of a C1 driver's license includes small and micro passenger vehicles, light and micro cargo vehicles; light, small, and micro special operation vehicles; small passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of 9 or fewer people. Vehicles that a C1 driver's license cannot drive: large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, light motorcycles, wheeled self-propelled machinery, trolleybuses, and trams. Additionally, a C1 license cannot drive vehicles with more than 9 seats, nor can it drive trucks with a total length exceeding 6 meters.
After getting my C2 driver's license, I realized the options were too limited—I could only drive automatic transmission cars and couldn't touch manual ones. My friend with a C1 license has much more flexibility, facing no restrictions when renting or borrowing cars. When taking the driving test, C2 is simpler—no need to use the clutch or shift gears, and you can get the hang of it after just a few days of practice. But if you travel often or encounter areas with many manual transmission cars, C1 is definitely worth it. I advise beginners not to take the easy way out—spend a little more time practicing for C1. In case of emergencies where you need to drive a friend's manual car, it could save you a lot of trouble. In terms of the test content, C1 includes an additional gear-shifting section, but with enough practice, it's easy to pass. In the long run, a C1 license can make life easier, especially in congested cities where manual transmissions can be more fuel-efficient.
