What are the conditions for taking the C-class license upgrade test in Vietnam? How long does it take to upgrade a C-Class License?

Main Content

• What is a C-Class License? What are the types of vehicles that drivers can control with a C-Class License in Vietnam?
• What are the conditions for taking the C-class license upgrade test in Vietnam?
• How long does it take to upgrade a C-Class License in Vietnam?
• What is the validity period of driver licenses in Vietnam?

What is a C-Class License? What are the types of vehicles that drivers can control with a C-Class License in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 8, Article 16 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, which specifically lists the types of vehicles that C-Class license holders are allowed to drive, which are:

"Article 16. Classification of driver licenses

...

8. C class licenses issued to drivers controlling following types of cars:

a) Trucks, including special trucks with design loading capacity from 3.500 kg and over;

b) Tractors hauling a trailer with design loading capacity from 3,500 kg and over;

c) Cars intended for B1 and B2 classes."

What are the conditions for taking the C-class license upgrade test in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 7 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT (point dd is supplemented by Clause 5, Article 1 of Circular 38/2019/TT-BGTVT) as follows:

"Article 7. Requirements for driving learners

1. Vietnamese citizens, foreigners who are eligible for residing, working or studying in Vietnam.

2. Minimum ages (to the time of attending the test), health and educational level as prescribed; those who apply for license upgrade may learn in advance but must be old enough to attend the test as prescribed.

3. Learners that apply for a license upgrade must obtain time and number of kilometers of safe driving as follows:

B1 class with automatic transmissions to B1: at least 01 year of driving and 12,000 km of safe driving;

b) B1 class to B2: at least 01 year of driving and 12,000 km of safe driving;

c) B2 class to C, C class to D, D class to E; B2, C, D, E classes to F; D, E classes to FC: at least 03 years of practicing as a driver and 50,000 km of safe driving;

d) B2 class to Article, C class to E: at least 05 year of practicing as a driver and 100,000 km of safe driving.

dd) If a learner who applies for a license upgrade commits administrative violation against regulations on road traffic and has his/her driving license suspended, the safe driving period shall begin from the date on which he/she finishes abiding by the decision on penalty for administrative violation.

4. Learners that apply for upgrade their license to D, E classes must obtain lower secondary education degree or above."

Thus, according to the above regulations, if the driver's license is upgraded from B2 to C, the driver must have practiced for 3 years or more and safely drive 50,000 km or more.

What are the conditions for taking the C-class license upgrade test in Vietnam? How long does it take to upgrade a C-Class License? (Image from the internet)

How long does it take to upgrade a C-Class License in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 14 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT stipulating the training time and test subjects for learners to upgrade their driving license as follows:

"Article 14. License upgrade training

1. Training time

B1 class (automatic transmission) to B1: 120 hours (practice: 120);

b) B1 class to B2: 94 hours (theory: 44, practice: 50);

c) B2 class to C: 192 hours (theory: 48, practice: 144);

d) C class to D: 192 hours (theory: 48, practice: 144);

dd) D class to E: 192 hours (theory: 48, practice: 144);

e) B2 class to D: 336 hours (theory: 56, practice: 280);

g) C class to E: 336 hours (theory: 56, practice: 280);

h) B2, D, E class to F: 192 hours (theory: 48, practice: 144);

i) C, D, E class to FC: 272 hours (theory: 48, practice: 224).

2. Test subjects

Test shall include all the subjects;

b) Tests for upgrade to class B1, B2, C, D and E license at the end of the course include such subjects as ‘Law on road traffic’ and ‘Driving practice’ including continuous test with driving forward and backward in a zigzag, driving on public road;

c) Tests for upgrade from class B2, C, D, E licenses to class F licenses include subjects ‘Law on road traffic’ according to theory test questions and driving test along the track and on public roads using the test for class F licenses."

Thus, the training time, the test subjects are specified as above.

What is the validity period of driver licenses in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 17 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT stipulating the duration of a driving license is prescribed as follows:

"Article 17. Validity period of driver licenses

1. The validity period of A1, A2, A3 class licenses is permanent.

2. The validity period of B1 class licenses shall expire when drivers reach the age of 55 for female and 60 for male; if drivers are over 45 (female) and over 50 (male), validity period is 10 years since the date of issuance.

3. The validity period of A4, B2 class licenses are 10 years since the date of issuance.

4. The validity period of C, D, E, FB2, FC, FD, FE class licenses is 05 years since the date of issuance.”

Thus, the duration of the driving license is specified as above.