In China,anyone who holds a foreign or international driver’s license is not allowed to drive a car. Foreigners who wish to drive have to apply for a regular, Chinese one. There are two types of license that we are going to introduce.
In China,anyone who holds a foreign or international driver’s license is not allowed to drive a car. Foreigners who wish to drive have to apply for a regular, Chinese one. There are two types of license that we are going to introduce.
Credit to: https://motorhome-china.com/report_dl.html
Q & A
Here are some questions that our readers have asked us in the past, regarding drivers’ licenses in China.
Q: What kind of medical certificate do you need?
A: You will need a certificate from a hospital or medical examination center. In most cases, a general medical report will do.
Q: Do I need to take both the driving and written test or just written test?
A: If you have a valid foreign driver’s license, then you do not need to take the driving test. Remember to check whether your foreign license has expired or not.
Q: What about an International Driver’s License? Can I use it in China? How can I turn it into a Chinese one?
A: Drivers holding an International Driver’s License cannot drive in China. It is treated the same way as foreign driver’s license. So you will need to go through the same process.
Q: Where can I download a question guide for the written test?
A: You can download study guide apps like, “Driving in China” or “China Driving Theory Test” from the App Store. Search “China Driving Theory Test” and you will find these two apps.
Q: What about a motorcycle driver’s license?
A: You don’t need to take a test for a motorcycle license. You can just go to the local traffic administration to register for it.
Q: Do I need a Chinese name to put on the driver license?
A: According to the feedback of our readers, you do need to give yourself a Chinese name, which you need to sign on your Chinese Driver License.
How to find Department of Motor Vehicle Administration nearby?
You can search for “Vehicle Management Bureau” on the map, and find one that is closest to you. Here we have listed out the addresses in some cities.
Vehicle Management Bureau in Shenzhen
Vehicle Management Bureau in Shanghai
Vehicle Management Bureau in Guangzhou
Vehicle Management Bureau in Beijing
When you look for the place, try to find these characters “车辆管理所”. This is the department specifically for vehicle management and where you should go. Normal traffic police stations do not get involved with driver’s license issues.
Credit to: https://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4c1104ee0102vvrg.html
Everyone who lives in China knows that the traffic is a pain, although the public transportation system is as developed as it is now. The government is well aware of the challenges to the road network. According to a report from 2013, 4.7 trillion CNY(about 767 billion USD) will be spent on road construction until by 2030, to help cope with the rising demands of traffic in China.
When driving in China, you will encounter 4 types of roads:
- Expressways are very well-maintained, with a general speed limit of 120 km/h. Traffic signs are typically in English and Mandarin.
- Express Routes are usually found in cities with a speed limit of 100 km/h.
- National Highways have a speed limit of 40 km/h in a city and 80 km/h outside of a city.
- City Roads and Provincial/Country Highways are often only one lane in each direction with speed limits ranging between 30–70 km/h.
Rules and Regulations
Before you get your license, there are some important rules that you need know.
– You must be at least 18 years old and in possession of a valid (temporary) Chinese driver’s license.
– Traffic in China is on the right-hand side of the road.
– Handheld mobile phone use is prohibited while driving.
– Seatbelts (or safety helmets for motorcyclists) must be worn at all times.
– Do not drive after drinking alcohol. You may be fined and have your license suspended for six months if you drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.2–0.8‰. A BAC of over 0.8‰ is considered a criminal offense and leads to at least a five-year loss of your permit.
– Do not drive your car in lanes for buses or non-motorized vehicles.
– Make way for crossing pedestrians.
