[How To]: Get a Chinese Driver’s License

Driving a car in Shanghai has become a lot less absolutely terrifying in recent years, compared to, let’s say, 10 years ago when traffic rules were kinda more just suggestions than actual regulations. For most people, owning a car is more something for long-term expats with money to spare. Renting a car, however, is a fun and affordable way to get out of the city for a weekend trip, and something relatively easy to do.

 

The first rule to know is this: Foreigners aren’t allowed to drive in China using their home country driver’s license. Nor can you drive with an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).

 

So. Here’s the full guide on how to get a Chinese driver’s license.

 

You’re coming at this three ways depending on your own situation. Skip to the section that applies to you and read on.

 

You can get a…

 

• • Temporary Driver’s License (临时驾照). You already have a driver’s license from your home country and you just want to drive rental cars.

 

• • Permanent Driver’s License (长期驾照). You already have a driver’s license from your own home country and you want to be able to drive any car, including your own.

 

 

OR

 

• • You’ve never had a driver’s license before and are starting from scratch to get a Permanent Driver’s License.

 

 

 

 

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How to Get a Temporary Driver’s License If You’ve Already Got a Full License From Your Own Country

 

That’s the easiest of the 3 options. You don’t have to take any exams; it’s just a bit of paperwork. The downside side is that you are limited to rental cars and your permit will expire when your visa does.

 

We covered the whole process already right here.

 

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How to Get the Permanent Driver’s License If You’ve Already Got One From Your Home Country

 

 

If you currently have a valid driver’s license from your home country, getting a proper Permanent Driver’s License is a simple and straightforward process that should only take a few days — and you don’t even need to be able to speak any Chinese to get it.

 



Step 1: Get Your Documents Translated

 

You need to get your current home country driver’s license translated by an official authority. Take your driver’s license and your passport to the Shanghai Interpreters’ Association (or send a courier). Your visa needs to be valid for at least another 90 days. The price of verification depends on your country and starts at 50rmb. It should take two to three days. Don’t open the envelope that you get back from the Interpreters’ Association.

 

Step 2: Study for the License Written (Theory) Exam

 

Don’t sleep on the written test. This is the most difficult part. The infamous Chinese driver’s license test. You need to study for this thing.

 

Administered by the transportation bureau, you will need to answer 100 random questions out of a pool of 1,500 that you are required to study before hand. You need to get 90 of them right. All the questions are multiple-choice and true / false questions. 90% of the questions are common sense and you’d already know the answer even if you’ve never been behind the wheel.

 

Like this one.

 

 

The other 10% you’ll really have to learn.

 

“What’s the maximum speed limit on a mountain road covered in snow?”

 

30 kilometers per hour.

 

“How many penalty points will you receive for driving through a red light?”

 

6 points.

 

In addition to the China-specific content, another challenge is the awkward wording. Some of the questions, you are only really able to answer correctly if you have learned them and memorized before just because of how they are worded.

 

For one of them, they show you a picture of a car driving away from a traffic accident.

 

“Is this a “Law-Breaking Act” or a “Criminal Act”?

 

Uhh. I just know you’re not supposed to do that… is that right?

 

 

Step 3: Register Your Application and Take the Test

 

Go down to the No. 1 Branch of Vehicle Administrative Office in Pudong. You can just show up, there’s no need for a prior appointment.

 

Bring the following documents:

 

• • Your unopened enveloped with the certified translation of your home country driver’s license

 

• • Your original home country driver’s license and a photocopy of it (front and back)

 

• • Your passport and a photocopy of it

 

• • Your residence permit and a photocopy

 

 

We forgot the copies and they were kind enough to do it for us but it’s just safer to come with your own.

 

Standard gov’ bureaucracy stuff from here. Pick a number at the entrance and wait for your number to be called. Register. Receive your appointment for the written test, which is usually right on the same morning.

 

After the registration, you’ll be send to a room to take a short health and eyesight test.

 

Go up to the second floor and take your exam.

 

Step 4: Taking the Written (Theory) Exam

 

The exam: You have 45 minutes to answer the 100 questions and you need to get 90 questions correct to pass the exam. Ahead of the test, you’ll be asked which language you want to take the test in. You can’t change the language during the exam. Obviously, you can’t bring your phone or any personal belongings. Taken on a computer, the interface of the test software looks different from the apps we used to study so that takes a second to get used to. You can change your answers at any time during the test. Once you are done answering 100 questions, click a button to finalize the exam, and that’s it. You’ll get the result right away.

 

89 of 100 points?

 

FAIL.

 

If you fail, you can take the exam one more time on the same day, so pro tip: show up early so that you have enough time for two tests. If you fail again you can register for a new appointment for the next week.

 

And they don’t even show you which questions you got wrong… brutal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Receiving Your Driver’s Licence

 

 

When you pass the exam, you’ll get your driving licence on the spot one room over.  At the time of this writing (June 2021), it’s still a paper licence, but Shanghai has already announced that these will be updated into electronic licences soon.  It’s valid for 5 years. —

 

 

 

3) How to Get a Driver’s License If You’re Starting From Scratch

 

 

Pretty much the same way as how you would in a your home country. You go to an accredited driving school (required in China), you complete the courses work, you practice driving with an instructor, and then you take a series of tests.

 

When you pass the written test (the same theory test from above), you take a “circuit driving exam” (a close course test). When you pass the circuit driving exam, you take an on-the-road driving exam.

 

When you pass that you are licensed to drive.

 

Whoa. Pump the brakes. There are several driving school options in Shanghai — we’ve got a bunch listed here — but, currently, there are no schools that provide English-language classes. Gap in the market maybe?

 

But yeah, you’re not going to be able to find a school that provides English-language classes. So, at this point, we’re assuming that if your Chinese skills are good enough to learn how to drive in the language, you don’t need us to further your research. Also, when you register at a driving school, they’ll be with you on this process of registering at the proper place and getting you sorted for your driving tests.

 

A few notes of interest if you’re thinking about getting into it…

 

On Schools and Classes

 

In our research, the average price for an entire driving course is 7,000rmb. Schools help organize a teacher for one-on-one classes and a timetable for benchmarks. On average, the time to complete the course is three to six months, depending on the individual student’s schedule. Courses on manual and automatic transmissions available. Courses break down in two sections: at the school campus and on the road classes.

 

On the Driving Test

 

There’s a slightly different registration process for people applying for new driver’s licenses. Your school / instructor can walk you through it. As far as the testing goes, the written element is the same as above.

 

After you fail it several times and finally pass it, you’re ready to move on into the driving test element, usually scheduled for the following week.

 

The circuit exam will have you driving with an examiner through the campus’ designated training. There are seven tasks to accomplish:

 

• • Reverse parking

 

• • Parallel parking

 

• • Stopping then driving over a hill

 

• • U-Turn

 

• • S-weave (driving through an s-shaped grid)

 

• • Sharp-angle right turn

 

• • Emergency stop

 

 

And after that it’s out on the road for the final element. Don’t run any reds. Only drive on the sidewalk after you pass the test.

 

So yeah, if you’re starting from scratch trying to get a license, that’s basically it: Speak decent Chinese. Go to a driving school. Do what they tell you to do.

 

Safe travels.

 

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