- The Quick Answer
- Benefits of Driving in China
- Official Regulations
- How about an International License from Another Country?
- How to Convert my Driver's License in China?
- What is the subject one examination?
- How long should I wait to get the new license?
- How much money will it cost?
- How to get help when having driving problems in China?
- To Wrap Up
If you are planning to come to China and want to drive here, you might wonder if you can use your international driver’s license (such as US) here. In this article, we will answer the question: Can a foreigner’s driver’s license be used in China? If not, how to get one here?
The Quick Answer
Yes, you can use your international driver’s license in China, but before it is officially valid, you need to prepare some (translated) materials and pass the qualification exam (mostly subject one).
Benefits of Driving in China
There are three benefits of driving in China.
A good driveway system
Up to 2022, China has over 5 million kilometers of road length, and its paving rate is higher than that of the US (88%). In other words, nearly all areas are reachable by driving. Therefore, driving is more frequently preferred by both short and long journeys.
A simplified traffic rule
Different from the US, traffic rules in different Chinese places are consistent. As a foreign driver, you will not get confused on the way. Road signs and important information are noted in Chinese Pinyin (or international measurement units), which are easy to understand.
Meanwhile, the road supervision is not as strict as in foreign countries, so you will learn how to break the restrictions skillfully from locals.
A beautiful scene along the road
China is a country full of sceneries, from breathtaking mountains, tranquil rivers, and ancient temples to bustling urban centers. Driving (instead of taking flights) allows you to have more flexibility and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations at your own pace. Additionally, driving can provide a unique perspective and allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture and surroundings.
Official Regulations
Different places have different regulations on getting a local driving license in China. Let’s take some cities as examples (the good news is: when applied in any city, it is universally recognized across China):
Beijing
According to Apply for a motor vehicle driving license with an overseas motor vehicle driving license from the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau (Origin: here):
7.1 – 7.5 Materials Required
(1) The applicant’s identity certificate;
(2) Issued by medical institutions such as second-level hospitals, township health centers, community health service centers, and health examination centers with health examination qualifications determined by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission or medical institutions at or above the regiment level determined by the military or armed police forces. “Certificate of Physical Conditions of Motor Vehicle Drivers”. If the information has been transmitted through online transmission, there is no need to submit a paper version certificate;
(3) Overseas motor vehicle driving license held by the applicant. If it is expressed in a non-Chinese language, a Chinese translation issued by a translation agency or notarized by a notary agency should also be provided;
(4) If the applicant is a mainland resident, the applicant’s passport or “Mainland Residents’ Travel Permit to Hong Kong and Macao” or “Mainland Residents’ Travel Permit to Taiwan” should also be submitted;
(5) 5 photos of motor vehicle drivers. (Photo requirements are: a straight-edge, front-facing, color ID photo of the applicant, taken within 6 months before applying for a motor vehicle driving license. The background color is white; no standard clothing is required; the portrait must be clear, rich in layers, natural in expression, and free of charge. Obvious distortion. Photo size is 32mm × 22mm (equivalent to 1 inch, head width 14mm ~ 16mm, head length 19mm ~ 22mm).Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
8.1 – 8.9 Test
(1) Those who apply for a motor vehicle driving license with an overseas motor vehicle driving license must take the test subject one. Those who apply for a driving license for large passenger cars, heavy-duty tractor-trailers, city buses, medium-sized passenger cars, or large trucks must take the examination for subjects one, two, and three. At the same time, when applying for approved driving types, it is large passenger cars and heavy-duty tractor-trailers or medium-sized buses and large trucks. Applicants must take the subject one test of the highest approved driving type and take the subject three test prescribed for the two types of vehicles. Mainland residents who hold an overseas motor vehicle driving license and have stayed in the issuing country or region for less than ninety days within one year of continuous residence when obtaining the motor vehicle driving license must take the examination for subjects one, two, and three.
(2) Applicants holding a motor vehicle driving license issued by Belgium or citizens of the United Arab Emirates holding a motor vehicle driving license issued by their own country and applying for permitted driving types of small cars or small automatic transmission cars will be exempted from the test, and a motor vehicle driving license will be issued directly.
(3) The applicant has lived in France continuously or cumulatively for one year, and obtained a driving license during the period of residence. The permitted driving types are AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, and D1E. , D, DE, and the driver’s license he holds belongs to the EU format French driver’s license issued on September 16, 2013 (excluding trainee driver’s license, learner driver’s license and military driver’s license), the applicant complies with the Ministry of Public Security’s “Motor Vehicle Driving License” Those who comply with the application conditions of “License Application and Use Regulations” will be exempted from the test and can directly exchange for the corresponding permitted driving types of motor vehicle driving licenses for C1, C2, D, E, and F categories.
(4) If the applicant has stayed in my country for more than one year, and the permitted driving types are Serbian AM, A1 and other 14 categories of driving licenses (excluding learner’s driving licenses, temporary driving licenses and international driving licenses), the applicant must comply with the Ministry of Public Security’s Machinery Those who meet the application conditions of “Regulations on Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving License” are exempted from taking the test and can directly exchange for the corresponding driving licenses for C1, C2, D, E, and F types of motor vehicles. For mainland residents and residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who hold a Serbian driver’s license, Serbia should be the holder’s country of permanent residence when the driver’s license is issued.
(5) The applicant is a permanent resident of the Macao Special Administrative Region, holds a valid Macao official driving license for light vehicles (Class B) or above, and meets the age, physical and other conditions for first-time application for a driving license. After studying road traffic safety laws and regulations, he or she can Replacement of small car (C1) driving license without test; holding a valid Macao light car (Category B: only light cars with automatic transmission can be driven) or above official driving license for permitted driving types, and meeting the age, physical and other conditions for applying for a driver’s license for the first time , after learning the road traffic safety laws and regulations, you can exchange for a small automatic transmission car (C2) driving license without taking a test.
(6) Personnel from foreign embassies and consulates in China and personnel from representative offices of international organizations in China who apply for motor vehicle driving licenses shall apply in accordance with the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.
(7) The applicant shall complete all subject examinations within three years from the date of acceptance by the Vehicle Management Office.
(8) The requirements for the content, mileage, passing standards and examination time of the examination shall refer to the regulations for initial application and additional permitted driving type examinations.
(For more information, please refer to the official website of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau: https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/93950/jwgk/jsrgl/205296/index.html)
Shanghai
According to the Procedures for applying for a motor vehicle driving license with an overseas (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) driving license issued by Shanghai Public Security Bureau (Origin: here):
2.1 – 2.6 Materials Required
1. “Application Form for Motor Vehicle Driving License” (How to obtain it: Download from all branches of the Vehicle Management Office, driver management windows of each district (county) traffic police branch (brigade), driving schools, special digital photo shooting points for driver’s licenses, and public security portals Print);
2. Physical condition certificate issued by a hospital at or above the district (county) level confirmed by the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, or the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention and its affiliated health inspection stations, or a medical institution at or above the regiment level of the army stationed in Shanghai; it is an application for driving disability If a small automatic passenger vehicle is used for personal use, a certificate of relevant physical condition issued by a specialized medical institution designated by the provincial health authority shall be submitted. Applicants who are staff of foreign embassies and consulates in China or staff of representative offices of international organizations in China do not need to provide a “Certificate of Physical Conditions”;
3. The applicant’s identity certificate and copy;
4. If the overseas motor vehicle driving license and its copy are expressed in a language other than Chinese, a Chinese translation must also be issued;
5. The overseas driving license must be a valid driving license with the qualification to drive alone and is not temporary. If the driving license has expired, is a temporary driving license, or has driving restrictions endorsed, it cannot be renewed.
6. Digital photos.
Note
6.1 – 6.4 Test
1. If you apply for a motor vehicle driving license for a large passenger car, a tractor, a medium passenger car, or a large truck, or if you apply for two or more permitted driving types, one of which is a large passenger car, a tractor, a medium passenger car, or a large truck, the applicant After passing the test subjects one and three, the vehicle management office will produce and issue a motor vehicle driving license;
2. If you apply for a large passenger car and a tractor-trailer at the same time, or apply for a motor vehicle driving license for a medium-sized passenger car and a large truck at the same time, the vehicle management office shall follow the test subject one of the highest permitted driving type and the two permitted driving types respectively. Specifies three examination subjects;
3. If you apply for a motor vehicle driving license for permitted types of vehicles other than large buses, tractors, medium buses and large trucks, and if the regulations are met and the procedures are complete, the motor vehicle driving license will be issued on the spot after the applicant passes the examination subject;
4. Applicants should complete the subject examination within three years from the date of acceptance by the Vehicle Management Office.
(For more information, please refer to the official website of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/shga/wzXxfbGj/detail?pa=e318da3674ae679af89cd8d0bb43e938)
Shenzhen
According to the knowledge center of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau (Origin: here):
When a person holding an overseas motor vehicle driving license applies for a motor vehicle driving license, he or she must confirm the application information and submit the following certificates and vouchers:
(1) The applicant’s identity certificate;
(2) Certificate of physical condition issued by a medical institution;
(3) Motor vehicle driving license held. If the expression is in a non-Chinese language, a Chinese translation issued by a translation agency or notarized by a notary agency should also be provided.
Notice:
1. Those who have stayed in the issuing country or region for more than ninety days in total within one year when obtaining an overseas motor vehicle driving license can apply for a motor vehicle driving license corresponding to the permitted driving type. If you are applying for permitted driving types A1, A2, or B1, you must also obtain the corresponding overseas permitted driving type motor vehicle driving license for more than two years.
2. If you apply for a motor vehicle driving license with an overseas motor vehicle driving license, you must take the test subject one. If you apply for an approved driving type of A1, A2, A3, B1, or B2, you should take the test in subject one, subject two and subject three.
3. The applicant is a foreigner: a valid visa or stay or residence permit, and the number of days of stay for each entry must be more than 90 days (inclusive); the residence permit is issued in Guangdong.
(For more information, please refer to the official website of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau: http://ga.sz.gov.cn/JMHD/YWZSK/YWZSK_JT/content/post_9804711.html)
In other Chinese cities, the regulations for foreigners to get a driver’s license are similar. Like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, for most people, the key rules are:
- Make sure that you are not a new driver;
- Translate your license into Chinese (Jinyu can help you);
- Take the subject one examination;
How about an International License from Another Country?
As we have seen in the above section, all countries have the same treat in getting a Chinese driving license.
However, if you are in Beijing and have a license from the following countries (or areas), you can have a test exemption:
- Belgium
- United Arab Emirates
- France (from 2013)
- Serbia
- Macau
By default, all foreigners need to translate their licenses and take the subject one examination.
How to Convert my Driver’s License in China?
Wherever you are, Jinyu can help you translate your driver’s license into Chinese. After you get the translated document (with our official stamp), go to the local Public Security Bureau with related materials (origin license, photo, application form, etc.) to convert the driver’s license into Chinese.
What is the subject one examination?
Chinese subject one examination is the written test of the traffic rules (for example, traffic lights, road signs, penalties, basic rules, etc.). All questions are multiple choices.
In the exam, you have to get 90 out of 100 to pass it.
For foreigners, there are 6 versions of the subject one exam: English, French, Japanese, German, Korean, and Russian.
You can find examples of real exam questions here (Google Translate it).
How long should I wait to get the new license?
Normally, the transportation department can issue a new driver’s license instantly. However, the process may be longer based on the actual working schedule.
For driving license translation, it will take 1-3 working days to get the document.
However, the time to pass the subject one examination is not fixed. So, if you don’t want to waste more time on it, prepare for the exam now.
How much money will it cost?
The prices for converting your driving license from the foreign version to the Chinese version vary among different areas.
In general, it will cost around $15 for the production and exam. For translation fee, it will cost around $35. So, the total cost is around $50 (Note: if you failed the subject one exam, you have to pay an extra make-up fee).
How to get help when having driving problems in China?
Call 120 for any emergency. In China, 120 is the ambulance call. Safety is the first priority.
Call 122 for any traffic accident. It is the transportation police call. You can call 122 for general help, too.
Call your insurance company after calling 122. Try to take as many photos as you can of the injured cars before they come. Don’t move your car, and stay safe.
To Wrap Up
Yes, you can drive in China with a foreign license. For small vehicle drivers, you will need to translate your license into Chinese (we can help you) and pass the subject one exam.
Have a nice journey here!
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