What is the difference between upgrading a license and directly applying for one?
2 Answers
The main differences between directly applying for a B2 license and upgrading to a B2 license are that upgrading requires taking the test twice and paying two fees. Directly applying for a B2 license means you do not need to pay the C1 application fee. Additionally, upgrading from C1 to B2 requires that the C1 license has been held for at least one year, with no more than 12 penalty points, no speeding violations, no drunk driving, or other major violations before applying for the B2 upgrade. Differences between C1 and B2 licenses: 1. Age requirement for application: C1 can be applied for at 18 years old, while B2 requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old. 2. Types of vehicles allowed to drive: C1 permits driving the following vehicle types: C1 small cars; C2 small automatic transmission cars; C3 low-speed trucks; C4 three-wheeled cars. B2 permits driving the following vehicle types: B2 large trucks; C1 small cars; C2 small automatic transmission cars; C3 low-speed trucks; C4 three-wheeled cars; M wheeled self-propelled machinery. 3. Location for application: C1 can be applied for at any city's vehicle management office. B2 must be applied for at the vehicle management office in the applicant's registered residence location.
As someone who has been driving for over a decade, I've gone through the entire process of adding a license class. Adding a license class means obtaining a driver's license for another vehicle type when you already have one—for example, upgrading from a C1 (passenger car) to a D (motorcycle) license. This requires retaking the exams, but it's easier than applying from scratch: you might skip part of the theory test, and the road test omits basic operations. Applying from scratch means starting as a complete beginner, learning traffic rules and practicing maneuvers like reverse parking. Time-wise, adding a license class is usually faster by a few weeks since you already have driving experience and don't need to relearn basics like starting and stopping. Costs are also lower, as you avoid paying for duplicate training. However, note that after adding a license class, there's a new probation period with stricter penalty point rules, and your license's validity period will reset.
