When Can I Upgrade My Driver's License?
3 Answers
Specific time requirements for upgrading a driver's license: Upgrading to an A1 license: You must have held an A3 or B1 license for at least five years, or a B2 license for at least three years, or an A2 license for at least two years. Additionally, you must not have accumulated 12 penalty points in any of the last five scoring cycles. Upgrading to an A2 license: You must have held a B1 license for at least three years, or a B2 license for at least two years, or an A1 license for at least one year. You must also not have accumulated 12 penalty points in any of the last three scoring cycles. Upgrading to an A3 or B2 license: You must have held a C1 license for at least one year and not have accumulated 12 penalty points in the last scoring cycle or the current one. Upgrading to a B1 license: You must have held an A3, C1, C2, C3, or C4 license for at least three years, or a B2 license for at least two years, and not have accumulated 12 penalty points in any of the last three scoring cycles. Physical requirements for upgrading a driver's license: For A and B class licenses, the visual acuity requirement is 5.0 or above. For C1 and below, the visual acuity requirement is 4.9 or above. For upgrading to A1, A2, A3, B2, or N licenses, the height requirement is 155 cm or above. For other license classes, the height requirement is 150 cm or above. Applicants must not have red-green color blindness, as they need to distinguish traffic light signals. Hearing must be sufficient to distinguish sounds at a distance of 50 cm and identify the direction of the sound source. Lower limb mobility must be normal. For manual transmission vehicles, the difference in leg length must not exceed 5 cm. Applicants with only a healthy right lower limb can apply for a C2 license. There must be no motor dysfunction in the torso, neck, or other body parts.
I just got my C1 driver's license not long ago and I'm already thinking about upgrading it. Generally, you need to hold your original driver's license for at least one year before you can apply for an upgrade to, say, a B1 class. I got my C license earlier this year, so I'll have to wait until next year to take the test. This time requirement is to ensure you have enough driving experience for a safe transition. The upgrade process includes a physical exam to check normal vision and hearing, a theory test reviewing new rules, and practical exercises for driving larger vehicles like minibuses. I've watched tutorials online and discussed with friends—the test involves simulated reversing and hill starts, among other things. Upgrading to drive medium and large vehicles has many benefits, making it easier to travel long distances with supplies or take group trips. But don’t rush it; patiently wait until the one-year mark to apply, as rushing might lead to violations that could delay your progress.
Looking back on my experience of upgrading from a C1 to a B1 license, the rules were quite clear. You had to hold the original license for at least 12 months before applying. I did it when I was 25, waited a full year, and then went to the driving school for training and registration. After passing a simple physical exam, the test consisted of two parts: a written test on basic traffic rule changes and a road test where I drove a medium-sized bus on simulated real roads. I got my new license soon after passing. The current requirements for license upgrades are similar, aiming to prevent accidents caused by inexperienced drivers handling large vehicles. I also recommend practicing your skills more after upgrading to adapt to the new vehicle. Although the waiting time can feel a bit long, safety comes first.
