What Will an A1 Driver's License Be Downgraded To?

[TimothyAnn]

Driver's license downgrading can be categorized into mandatory downgrading and voluntary downgrading. For mandatory downgrading, an A1 license will be downgraded to A3, B1, or B2 licenses. For voluntary downgrading: according to current regulations in China, an A1 driver's license can be voluntarily downgraded to B2, C1, C2, or C3. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," the following circumstances apply to drivers holding licenses for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks. The vehicle management office shall revoke their highest permitted driving category and notify the driver to complete the downgrading and license replacement within 30 days: Being involved in a traffic accident resulting in death and bearing equal or greater responsibility without constituting a crime; Accumulating 12 penalty points within one scoring cycle; Failing to undergo inspection for three consecutive scoring cycles. If the driver fails to complete the downgrading and license replacement within the specified time, the vehicle management office shall announce the revocation of the permitted driving category. Permitted driving categories for an A1 license: According to the "Permitted Driving Categories and Codes" (Order No. 139 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China), the A1 license permits driving large buses (large passenger vehicles) and also allows driving vehicles under categories A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Permitted driving categories for an A3 license: According to the "Permitted Driving Categories and Codes" (Order No. 139 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China), the A3 license permits driving city buses (public buses with a capacity of 10 or more passengers). Other permitted categories include C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic cars), C3 (agricultural four-wheel vehicles), and C4 (agricultural three-wheel vehicles). Permitted driving categories for a B1 license: According to the "Permitted Driving Categories and Codes" (Order No. 139 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China), the B1 license permits driving medium-sized buses (vehicles shorter than 6 meters with a passenger capacity between 9 and 20). Other permitted categories include C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Permitted driving categories for a B2 license: According to the "Permitted Driving Categories and Codes" (Order No. 139 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China), the B2 license permits driving heavy and medium-duty trucks, as well as heavy and medium-duty specialized operation vehicles. Other permitted categories include C1, C2, C3, C4, and M. Documents required for driver's license downgrading application: Original "Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form"; Original and photocopy of the driver's identity proof; Original driver's license; For age-related or medical condition-related downgrading, a "Motor Vehicle Driver's Physical Condition Certificate" issued by a county-level or higher medical institution (or military regiment-level hospital) is required; Three recent half-length, front-facing, white-background, color ID photos (must be taken at a photo center equipped with an ID photo transmission system, along with a digital photo collection receipt printed by the center).

[DelAyla]

Having driven for nearly thirty years, I know all about the downgrade of the A1 driver's license. Once you pass sixty, it's mandatory to downgrade, usually to a B1 license. In my case now, I can only drive medium-sized buses or smaller vehicles, no longer the large buses I used to drive. It feels much easier and less tiring. Driving smaller vehicles saves fuel and hassle, and parking is simpler too. However, you need to be careful not to accumulate too many traffic violations. Serious point deductions can also force a downgrade to an even lower-level C1 license, which only allows driving small cars. Safety comes first, after all. The downgrade ensures that experienced drivers operate suitable vehicles to avoid accidents. I advise new drivers to think carefully about the pressure before upgrading to an A1 license.