Driving & getting a driver's license in China

Hi guys,

I have been driving in China for about a year now and I thought I'd share my experiences (plus it's about time I contributed something to this great forum).

I only know a handful of expats drivers here in Nanjing/China. I find this surprising considering how easy it is to get a license. Below is the procedure for attaining one;(it was organised by a Nanjing lady...anyone in Nj who needs here number let me know)

Processes of getting Chinese drivers license:
1.   Take all the original required documents.
2.   Appoint a date for doing the test at the traffic police station (work days and Saturday only ).
3.   Before the test:

i/fingerprints collection (about 5 mins)                       
ii/documents check (about 5 mins) Note:If we pass the process, everything will be OK. Otherwise, we can’t do the test.
The waiting time depends on how many people are in front of us.
iii/Take a photograph for drivers license (about 15 mins)The waiting time depends on how many people are in front of us.
iv/Healthy examination, including your height, eyesight test and colorblindness (about 5 mins)28RMB fee
v/Arrange the test and register your information (about 10 mins) and pay 30 yuan for the test

4.   We do the test together so don’t worry. (about 20 mins)
5.   After passing the test, you will get your Chinese drivers license at once.
(It takes about an hour for the whole process. The test is very easy, but all the required documents are very important.)
The way to the Traffic Police Station:
Take metro line 1 to Nanjing Railway Station (the old one), then you can go to the Traffic Police Station (车管所【che guan suo】) by taxi for about 15 yuan.

And:
必须需提供资料（资料不全，无法考驾照）：
Required documents (Application will not be accepted without complete documents.):

   护照原件（有南京公安局出入境页的，在有效入境时间内的）
valid original passport (one of passport pages has been printed by Public Security    Entry-Exit Reception office make sure the valid time is more than 3 month.)

   南京签发的中华人名共和国外国人居留许可（在有效期内的，最好间隔三个月的）
Residence Permit for Foreigner in the People’s Republic of China in Nanjing (within the valid term, an interval for 3 months preferred.)
  (on the passport)
   非国际驾照的驾照原件
Original Drivers license (International driving licence excluded).

   驾照翻译件
Chinese translation of drivers license (I offer it for you)

   临时住宿登记表（派出所盖章且有效期不少于外国人居留许可上的有效日期）
Registration Form of Temporary Residence should be printed from the police station with its office seal (within the valid term, the valid date should be consistent with or no less than Residence Permit for Foreigner in the People’s Republic of China.)
     











备注
Notes：

   翻译件上的中文姓名需与《临时住宿登记表》上的姓名一致。
The holder's name on the Chinese translation of drivers license shall be in conformity with that on the Registration Form of Temporary Residence in Nanjing.
 


Price:
英语驾照翻译Chinese translation of Drivers license   100元   One hundred RMB
陪同口译Interpretation   400元   Four hundred RMB
总计In total   500元   Five hundred RMB

[it is possible to go through this process for approx 300RMB with another company but I chose this lady)

I also bought my car about a year ago too. I opted for a cheap BYD F0 (actually not too sure if it's called an F0 of Fo!). It cost approx 37,000RMB for the car. Tax and insurance extra. I'm happy with my choice of car despite some of the slagging I get over it:) I wouldn't want to spend over 100,000RMB for a foreign brand especially as it's my first car in China.

One major drawback to driving in Nanjing though is the amount of fines/tickets I get. They (whoever THEY are) send a message to your phone stating (in Chinese naturally) that you have broken some rule on some road. The info they send is very brief and leaves u with no idea of the rule you actually broke. However, the fines and too big.
50-100 parking fine
100 speeding
200 driving in a bus lane
(these fines seem to vary depending how central in the city you are)

Oh, and they have traffic/speeding cameras everywhere here:(

Very interesting! What is the test like? Just your typical drive around the orange cones thing? Or street driving?

Sounds like what I went through 2 1/2 years ago. Here in Dongguan they offer the computer test in English, so I didn't need a translator. What I DID need was the study questions in English. I paid a driver training school for that. Along with the English sample test questions, they processed all my paperwork. They told me everything I needed, checked it carefully, made my test appointment (English test was only offered one day each week) and even provided a driver to take me to the examination center on test day.

Very interesting! What is the test like? Just your typical drive around the orange cones thing? Or street driving?

No driving test if you have a valid license from your home country. I had to get mine translated. They were mostly concerned that my Florida license said I need to wear my glasses when I drive. With a valid foreign license you just have to take a 100-question computer test and score 90 or higher.

No driving test if you have a valid license from your home country. I had to get mine translated. They were mostly concerned that my Florida license said I need to wear my glasses when I drive. With a valid foreign license you just have to take a 100-question computer test and score 90 or higher.

Wow, really?! This is something I might need to look into then. I thought the whole process would be a huge beaurocratic pain in the ass. But you guys make it sound so easy.

What if you don't have a license already? Do they offer the theory book and test in English? If they do, that would be sweet...

I only know a handful of expats drivers here in Nanjing/China. I find this surprising considering how easy it is to get a license.

Papillon, thanks for a great thread. There's no reason to be surprised by the paucity of foreign drivers on Chinese roads. It is a matter of cowardice in the face of Chinese traffic, not to mention physical fitness, cost savings, and of course preserving the environment. Even with my misgivings, probably next year I will be forced to buy a car to placate my wife, who needs it to visit her mother in the countryside. Plus, she needs to show off to her siblings. She can drive it without my help.

What if you don't have a license already? Do they offer the theory book and test in English? If they do, that would be sweet...

In Dongguan I wasn't able to get the book in English. However, the driver training center I went through (recommended by an American colleague) provided sample test questions. It was enough for me to study with. Test was in English. If you are in a large enough city it should be available to you.

My husband got his license in SmallTown, Liaoning and needed a translator. We were the only foreigners in that city, so not much call for driving tests to be in English 

Very interesting! What is the test like? Just your typical drive around the orange cones thing? Or street driving?

No driving test if you have a valid license from your home country. I had to get mine translated. They were mostly concerned that my Florida license said I need to wear my glasses when I drive. With a valid foreign license you just have to take a 100-question computer test and score 90 or higher.
[/quote]

Sorry, I should have been clearer about that. Ruth is right, this is the procedure for getting a Chinese drivers license when you already have a license from another country.
For my test I just needed to accompany the translator and they did the test for me.

I did accompany a Chinese friend on one of her driving lessons a while back out of curiosity. I think it involves a 5 day test (to be completed over a certain time period). One of the days is spent completely devoted to reversing! The instructors encourage the learner drivers to use the car horn regularly (surprise surprisse ) and that crossing your hands while driving is ok.

Quote from: Papillon on July 13, 2012, 03:55:57 PM

I only know a handful of expats drivers here in Nanjing/China. I find this surprising considering how easy it is to get a license.

Papillon, thanks for a great thread. There's no reason to be surprised by the paucity of foreign drivers on Chinese roads. It is a matter of cowardice in the face of Chinese traffic, not to mention physical fitness, cost savings, and of course preserving the environment. Even with my misgivings, probably next year I will be forced to buy a car to placate my wife, who needs it to visit her mother in the countryside. Plus, she needs to show off to her siblings. She can drive it without my help.

Cheers Randyjac. I find that I need to driver a lot more aggressively here as opposed to anywhere else I've driven. If you give an inch they'll take a mile. However, I do believe the way they drive here works quite well. Back home we were told be be aware of what's happening for 360 degrees around you but here they only focus on what's in front of them. Therefore it's your responsibility to not hit anything in front of you and that car has the right of way at all times.

On another note, I recently found out that Chinese people who have studied abroad get a 10% discount when they are buying a new car. Not sure if this applies to your missus randyjac.

So in order to rent a car here all you need is to do this computer test thing online if you have a foreign drivers' licence? Or have I misunderstood something here..?

Is anything here useful?
http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Driving_in_China

If not, it is a wiki and anyone can edit. Please improve it.

Quote from: randyjac on July 16, 2012, 01:05:47 AM

Quote from: Papillon on July 13, 2012, 03:55:57 PM

I only know a handful of expats drivers here in Nanjing/China. I find this surprising considering how easy it is to get a license.

Papillon, thanks for a great thread. There's no reason to be surprised by the paucity of foreign drivers on Chinese roads. It is a matter of cowardice in the face of Chinese traffic, not to mention physical fitness, cost savings, and of course preserving the environment. Even with my misgivings, probably next year I will be forced to buy a car to placate my wife, who needs it to visit her mother in the countryside. Plus, she needs to show off to her siblings. She can drive it without my help.

However, I do believe the way they drive here works quite well.

SERIOUS?  I'd love to see some reliable statistics, (though I'm sure none exist), because at face value I can't believe it and I drive with some regularity.  What's the rate of pedestrian maimings and killings?

SERIOUS?  I'd love to see some reliable statistics, (though I'm sure none exist), because at face value I can't believe it and I drive with some regularity.  What's the rate of pedestrian maimings and killings?

There are stats in the article I linked above, from 2007 or so. China said 100,000 or so traffic deaths/year but WHO said more like 250,000.

Interesting. Has anyone ever done the HK route?