Disappointingly, if you wish to hit the Chinese roads while being at the wheel yourself, your International Driver’s License will do you no good. Foreigners from any country who wish to drive in China must apply for a Chinese driver’s license. This is bec

Disappointingly, if you wish to hit the Chinese roads while being at the wheel yourself, your International Driver’s License will do you no good. Foreigners from any country who wish to drive in China must apply for a Chinese driver’s license. This is because China has not signed the convention, which created IDPS (International Driving Permits). 

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Besides, China Driver’s Licenses are valid in Mainland China only. Residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan also need to apply for it to be able to drive in the mainland. 

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*The details stated below are based on the laws of the province of Beijing, and as usually is the case in China, the requirements may differ somewhat depending on the city in which they apply.

Getting a temporary driver’s license

Tourists, who wish to drive in China for a short period of time, can get a temporary driver’s permit for a maximum of three months without needing to pass an exam. Normally, you can obtain this at the traffic police department in the city you are in. In Beijing and possibly in other large cities, it can be obtained directly at the airport.  

Necessary documents:

  • National driver’s license (of your home country)

  • International Driving Permit.

  • Chinese translation of the foreign driver’s license (consult the embassy to know where this can be done).

  • Completed application form.

  • A hotel booking for at least one day.

  • Three one-inch color photos with a white background.

Getting a Chinese driver’s license (for foreigners with Chinese residency permit) if you already have one from your home country

In this case you can get a Chinese driver’s license (valid for 6 years) just by passing a written exam. The process and the exam take place in the traffic police department in the city you live in and you may need a prior appointment. 

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Written exams can be done in English or Chinese. However, in some small cities you may be forced to do them in Chinese (sometimes they may allow you to bring a translator). On the other hand, in some of the main cities of the country, you may even find exams in languages such as Spanish, French, German or Arabic.

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The exam consists of answering 100 multiple choice questions, lasts 45 minutes, and you pass by getting more than 90% of answers right. 

There are several websites to help you prepare for the exam: 

If you don’t pass, you can repeat it at that time, and if you don’t pass the second time, you have to wait at least 20 days to take it again.

Necessary documents:

  • Passport and residence permit or Chinese Visa with at least three months of validity (original and photocopy).

  • Record of temporary residence registration obtained at the local police station (original and photocopy).

  • Driver’s license from your home country (original and photocopy).

  • Certified and notarized translation of the driver’s license from the home country to Chinese language (In many places, such as Beijing, you only need to provide a translation signed by a Chinese national and bring the copy of his/her ID card).

  • Medical certificate (complete health check-up done at a city hospital)

  • Three to five one-inch color photos with a white background.

Getting a driver’s license for the first time

If you are over 18 years of age, you have a temporary or permanent residency permit and you don’t have a driver’s license from your home country, you can still get a driver’s license in China. To do this, you’ll have to pass four exams:

1) Written exam on laws and traffic regulations and basic concepts on vehicles (100 questions).

2) Parking and basic driving skills test on a track.

3) Written exam on correct driving habits (50 questions).

4) Road test.

Necessary documents:

  • Passport and residency permit with at least 3 months of validity (original and photocopy).

  • Record of temporary residency obtained at the local police station (original and photocopy).

  • Medical certificate 

  • Three to five one-inch color photos with a white background.

Renewing or Extending existing Chinese Driving License

In this case, you should apply for renewal of the license at the China Police Vehicle Administration within 90 days before its expiration. A license with a 10-year effective period will be given to those whose penalty points are less than 12 in each of the past six years.

The Renewal Condition:

  • 90 days before the driver’s license expired.

  • Driver’s license has not been put in a suspended, canceled or revoked state.

Necessary documents:

  • Residence Permit.

  • A copy of the old and new passport main page.

  • A copy of the valid Chinese visa.

  • A copy of the latest entry stamp on your passport.

  • Original Chinese driver’s license.

  • A 1-inch Digital color photo with a white background.

  • Medical Check-Up Report 

* You don’t need to take another test for renewing your license.

Sources:

https://www.dalianlaowai.com/

https://www.saporedicina.com/

https://www.validusa.com/

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