Driving license category C - through the eyes of a woman

I present to you my summary of the course and exam for the category C driving license, which I did in the first half of 2021. The order of the described events is not accidental. For example, I recommend that you immediately buy a book and courses for learning theory online, so that, while completing the formalities, you can already prepare at home for the theoretical exam. Seriously - buy the book and online course with tests now!

Why do I need a category C driving license?

I need a category C driving license because we are testing more and more motorhomes with a GVM over 3.5 tons. And we like these the most :)

Why do we prefer to drive motorhomes with a GVM of over 3.5 tons? First of all, such cars are more solidly made of heavier materials. Secondly, these campers are usually quieter inside, which is also due to the material used. Third, we can pack more things into the motorhome. Here, in turn, we have several benefits associated with it:

• we don't have to limit ourselves in taking things with us,
• you have to try hard to overload such a motorhome over the GVM
• and most importantly, if there is a collision, the insurer will not question the exceeding of the DMC and will not charge any costs.

I did a category C driving license without professional qualifications, which are not needed to drive cars over 3.5 tons for private purposes. In the near future I will want to get E powers to C.

Driving license step by step

1. Buy a book with a theoretical course and tests online at prawko.pl (about PLN 70 together with shipping)
2. Sign up for a medical examination (occupational medicine) - PLN 350
3. Take a photo for a new document - about PLN 30
4. PKK product at the Office - personal visit required - PLN 0
5. Sign up for the theoretical exam - about PLN 30
6. After passing the exam, enroll in driving in a selected driving school
   • Course for a category C driving license - about PLN 2,700
   • Driving license E to C - PLN 2600
7. Sign up for a practical exam - 202 PLN
8. Issuing a new driving license - PLN 102

So the total cost of making a driving license, including additional fees, is about PLN 3,500 for a C driving license and about PLN 6,100 for a C + E driving license. Course fees certainly differ from driving school, and exam fees vary between centers.

Medical examinations, psycho-technical examinations

Medical examinations are required to obtain a PKK number. If you hesitate to take a course only for C or C + E, do a psycho-technical test for both the C and C + E driving license. The cost of the study will be the same and you will save your time. If you wear glasses and use lenses occasionally, ask your doctor about the possibility of including this in the report. Without this, you cannot take the driving test with lenses at all and then you cannot drive a car in them!

• Ophthalmological consultation - PLN 40
• Medical examination - PLN 150
• Psychotechnical tests - 150 PLN
• Glucose - PLN 10

Driver Candidate Profile - PKK

This is the number at which the Office collects information on the course of driving courses and exams. You will get a separate number for a category C driving license, and a separate number for a C + E license. Again, I recommend that you download two issues right away. It costs nothing and you will only save your time.

How to prepare for the theoretical exam

You can prepare for the theoretical exam on courses at the nursery or individually. If you do not have time or the opportunity to participate in classes, I recommend that you prepare yourself at home. A book and online tests are more than enough for this.

How to choose a driving school

At the beginning, I was looking for a school that would be friendly to women, and among the opinions of other Bielsko residents, I did not find any bad opinions about any of the nurseries and then I even thought that it was a big and harmful stereotype that I deepened myself, so I focused on other advantages of the school.

In the end, I chose a school to which I had to travel several kilometers, but which rented a car for the exam . Apart from the fact that I knew the car in which I drove 30 hours, I could sign up for the exam faster, because waiting for the exam on the car belonging to the center is simply longer.

Is it profitable to do C + E at the same time

You have to remember that to pass the E to C exam you must first pass the C exam and of course you can take both exams on one day. For me, it was more convenient to go to the C course first, and then to E to C. I wouldn't have had an additional 25 hours to leave the course with the trailer before the summer holidays.

At the same time, I encourage you to do E to C qualifications immediately after passing the C exam. This was confirmed by every person who took the courses with a trailer in this way.

Exam

I waited a week for the exam in Bielsko WORD. In the event that I did not have an examination car borrowed by the school, the waiting time would certainly be longer. You need a physical ID card for the exam. E-ID cannot be presented. You must have a mask, and some centers (such as ours in Bielsko-Biała) require their own disposable gloves. You must have your face mask and gloves. No center can provide them.

The mask may hinder visibility if you wear glasses, therefore glasses often choose lenses, but remember to be able to participate in the exam with lenses, you must have the permission to wear lenses entered in the medical certificate!

Summary of driving license, category C

Like everyone who has done a category C driving license, I will say that the course and exam have taught me a lot of humility towards drivers of large vehicles working in this way. The course and exam made me a much better driver on B. Now I like to sit behind the wheel of smaller motorhomes.

The course itself, despite the fact that it consumes a lot of time and energy, was also a form of springboard for me, and passing the exam the first time gave me a lot of satisfaction.