Will an A2 license be downgraded after accumulating 12 points?
2 Answers
According to previous regulations, a driver's license would be downgraded if it accumulated 12 penalty points. However, with the implementation of the new regulations on April 1, 2022, A2 license holders who accumulate 12 points in a single scoring cycle will no longer face downgrading. Instead, they are required to participate in the study and examination of Subject 1 to clear the penalty points and reclaim their license. The A2 license permits the holder to drive articulated vehicles, which can tow heavy and medium-sized full trailers or semi-trailers. Here, I’d like to explain what a trailer is. Trailers are divided into two types: full trailers and semi-trailers. A full trailer bears its entire weight, while a semi-trailer transfers part of its weight to the towing vehicle. Only drivers with an A2 license can operate such articulated vehicles—even those with an A1 license are not permitted to drive them. To downgrade an A2 license, the driver must visit the local vehicle management office with their ID card and driver's license. The A2 license will be downgraded to either a B1 or B2 license. The A2 license corresponds to articulated vehicles, 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 vehicles), and M (wheeled self-propelled machinery). Article 68 of the new traffic regulations states: If a driver holding a license for large buses, articulated vehicles, city buses, medium-sized buses, or large trucks meets any of the following conditions, the vehicle management office shall revoke their highest-level driving qualification and notify the driver to complete the downgrade process within 30 days: 1. Being involved in a fatal traffic accident and bearing equal or greater responsibility without constituting a crime. 2. Accumulating 12 penalty points in a single scoring cycle. 3. Failing to undergo the required inspection for three consecutive scoring cycles. A driver's license, officially known as a motor vehicle driving license or simply "license," is a legal document required for operating motor vehicles. Driving a motor vehicle requires specific skills, and those lacking such skills may cause accidents if they drive recklessly. Generally, individuals cannot drive without a license. However, for those who have mastered safe driving techniques, the license serves as a "permit" allowing them to drive on public roads. The authorization to drive is granted through the issuance of a driver's license, indicating that obtaining one is a formal process overseen by designated authorities. Internationally, a driver's license is defined as "a document issued by the competent authority permitting the holder to drive a motor vehicle." In China, a driver's license is defined as a legal credential issued to individuals who, after studying traffic laws and mastering driving skills, pass the relevant examinations conducted by the administrative authorities, permitting them to operate specific types of motor vehicles.
A while ago, I specifically checked the relevant regulations, and an A2 driver's license will be downgraded if it accumulates 12 penalty points. The traffic management department clearly stipulates that as long as 12 points are accumulated within a scoring cycle, the license will first be confiscated, and the driver must attend a seven-day mandatory study session. Only after passing the subject one test can the new license be retrieved. The key point is that it will be directly downgraded to a B1 or B2 license, and the original qualification to drive a tractor-trailer will be lost. For those of us who drive large vehicles, this is our worst fear—it essentially means half of our livelihood is gone. To restore the A2 license after downgrading, one must wait five years without accumulating another 12 points, and then retake both the subject one and subject three tests, which is much harder than obtaining a regular driver's license. Usually, when I see speed cameras on the highway, I consciously ease off the accelerator—I’d rather drive slower than risk getting penalized.
