Will an A2 Driver's License Be Downgraded After 12 Demerit Points?
4 Answers
According to previous regulations, a driver's license would be downgraded if it accumulated 12 demerit points. However, with the implementation of new regulations on April 1, 2022, holders of an A2 driver's license who accumulate 12 demerit points within a scoring cycle will no longer face downgrade. Instead, they need to participate in the study and examination of Subject 1 to clear the violation points and retrieve their driver's license. The A2 driver's license permits the operation of tractor-trailers, which can tow heavy and medium-sized full trailers/semi-trailers. Here, it's necessary to explain what a trailer is. Trailers are divided into two types: full trailers and semi-trailers. A full trailer bears its total weight entirely by itself, while a semi-trailer shares part of its total weight with the towing vehicle. Only drivers holding an A2 license can operate such tractor-trailers; even those with an A1 license are not permitted to drive them. To downgrade an A2 driver's license, one must visit the local vehicle management office with their ID card and driver's license: 1. An A2 license downgrade will result in a B1 or B2 license. The A2 license corresponds to tractor-trailers, the B1 license to medium-sized buses, and the B2 license to large trucks. Other vehicle types that an A2 license holder can drive include: B1 (medium-sized buses), B2 (large trucks), C1 (small cars), C2 (small automatic transmission cars), C3 (low-speed trucks), C4 (three-wheeled cars), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). Article 68 of the new traffic regulations stipulates: If a driver holding a license for large buses, tractor-trailers, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks meets any of the following conditions, the vehicle management office shall revoke their highest permitted driving qualification and notify the driver to complete the downgrade and license exchange within 30 days: Being involved in a traffic accident resulting in death and bearing equal or greater responsibility, without constituting a crime. Accumulating 12 demerit points within a scoring cycle. Failing to undergo inspection for three consecutive scoring cycles. A driver's license, officially known as a motor vehicle driver's license or simply 'license,' is a document required by law for individuals to operate motor vehicles. Driving a motor vehicle requires certain skills. Without these skills, operating a vehicle recklessly could lead to traffic accidents. Generally, individuals cannot drive without a license. However, for those who have mastered safe driving techniques, the document allowing them to drive on roads is the 'driver's license,' which serves as a 'permit.' The permission to drive is granted through the issuance of a driver's license. This indicates that obtaining a driver's license is a formal process that must be conducted by a specialized authority. Internationally, a driver's license is defined as 'a document issued by the competent authority permitting the holder to drive a car.' In China, a driver's license is defined as: A motor vehicle driver's license is a legal certificate issued by the management department to individuals who, after learning and mastering traffic regulations and driving skills, pass the required examinations, permitting them to drive specific types of motor vehicles.
I'm a long-distance truck driver, and an A2 license is our livelihood. Last year, my buddy also faced the situation of getting 12 demerit points, and his license was downgraded for real! Here's how it went: The traffic regulations clearly state that an A-class license must be downgraded for 30 days if it accumulates 12 demerit points. You need to do three things—first, attend a 7-day traffic safety course at the vehicle management office, then retake the subject one test. Once you pass the test, your license will automatically be downgraded from A2 to B1B2. The most frustrating part is, if you still want to drive articulated trucks again, you must wait at least one year after the downgrade and ensure you don’t accumulate 12 demerit points during that period before you can take the upgrade test. My buddy was out of work for almost half a year and lost tens of thousands—so make sure to protect those 12 points!
Truck drivers need to pay attention to this strict rule. After studying the driver's license management regulations, I found that once an A2 license accumulates 12 penalty points, the system will automatically trigger the downgrade process. This is no joke—you must complete full-point retraining and pass the exam before your license can be downgraded to a Class B. The key point is that after downgrading, you can no longer drive tractor-trailers directly. To restore your A2 license, you must clear three hurdles: wait one year after the downgrade, maintain no more than 11 penalty points for two consecutive scoring cycles, and then pass additional training and exams. I've seen many experienced drivers lose their jobs because of a single speeding violation that wiped out all 12 points—so it's crucial to drive steadily on the road.
Downgrade is indeed mandatory! Article 68 of the Traffic Law clearly states: Drivers holding Class A or B licenses who accumulate 12 penalty points must undergo mandatory downgrade by the vehicle management office. From personal experience, here's the process: On the day of reaching 12 points, you'll receive an SMS notification suspending your license. Then bring your ID card to the designated location for a 7-day traffic regulations course. After passing the exam, you'll receive a B1B2 license - immediately restricting you from driving semi-trailers to regular trucks only. Want to upgrade back to A2? Not only must you wait 5 years, but you'll also need to retake the entire licensing process from physical exams to all four test subjects (1-4), which is even more cumbersome than getting a new license!
