Which is better for a car driver's license, C1 or C2?
3 Answers
Most people obtain a C1 driver's license. Here are the reasons for choosing a C1 license: 1. Regarding the difference between the two, a C1 license allows you to drive both manual and automatic transmission cars, while a C2 license only permits driving automatic transmission cars. Analyzing the current trend, more and more people are buying automatic transmission cars because they are simpler to operate, especially for novice drivers. Operating an automatic transmission car does not require the same level of technical proficiency as a manual transmission car. From this perspective, choosing a C2 license might be sufficient. 2. However, in daily life, if you need to drive a manual transmission car—for example, when your own car is being repaired—a C2 license would not allow you to do so. From this standpoint, a C1 license still holds an advantage. In terms of the examination process, both licenses require passing from Subject 1 to Subject 4.
I also struggled with getting a driver's license back then. A C1 license allows you to drive both manual and automatic transmission vehicles, while a C2 only permits automatic. With automatic cars dominating the streets nowadays, choosing C2 is indeed hassle-free—no clutch pedal to press, no gears to memorize, and no sore left foot during traffic jams. However, learning C1 comes with a hidden buff: if you ever need to drive a friend's manual pickup for moving or rent a car only to find manual transmissions available, you've hit the jackpot! Spending those extra two or three weeks practicing is like buying insurance for your driving skills. I recommend young folks in their early 20s to go straight for C1—consider it unlocking an extra skill!
A friend in his thirties preparing for a job change asked me this question, and here's what I said: If you're in a hurry to get a driver's license for work, C2 is definitely the most efficient choice. In driving schools, C2 learners get their licenses on average half a month faster than C1 learners, and there's one less test item—the hundred-meter gear shifting. Look at ride-hailing and car-sharing services nowadays; they all use automatic transmissions. Even the electric cars bought for home use mostly come with single-pedal mode. Unless you plan to drive construction vehicles or engage in long-distance transportation, you'll hardly use those manual gear-shifting skills from C1. My driving instructor even complained that the gearbox on the Santana they use to teach C1 students is almost rusted from disuse in recent years.