Taking part in traffic in China as a pedestrian or cyclist is already quite challening eventhough I still missed being able to drive a car on my own. This post is a guide to how I managed to get my Chinese Drivers Licence in Shanghai.

As you might or might not know China does not recognize a foreign or international drivers licence. But if you poses a valid foreign licence you can convert it to an Chinese licence by doing an exam. I just passed the exam with 95 points after filing all necessary paperwork and thus as of today I’m officially allowed to drive a car in China.

The best information on the paperwork and the steps of the process I got from the ShanghaiHalfpat Blog and The Middle Kingdom blog. Here is an update/summary on that information, credits and thanks go out Shanghaihalfpat and The Middle Kingdom. If you follow all these steps you will be able to get everything done without having to speak Chinese, speaking some off course does make it easier.

1. Make sure your visa is valid for at least 90 days. Take note: The minimum entry period has to be 90 days, no matter which visa you have (updated).

2. Make sure your current drivers licence is valid and is NOT a temporary or learners licence. The staff has an ipad with apparently photos of licenses from all over the world and they will check in their database if they are not sure.

2. Get a certified translation of your driver’s license

You need a certified translation of your original driving license. Bring your original driving license to the address below. Prices vary depending on the country of origin, for a Netherlands licence translated to English the fee was 100 RMB.

上海市外事翻译工作者协会, Shanghai Interpreters’ Association
北京西路1277号（国旅大厦）1607室
Rm. 1607, No. 1277 Beijing Road (W)
Tel. 63239910

Opening Hours: 9AM-4:30PM, Monday-Friday

3. Obtain temporary residence permit from police station. This applies to all foreigners, even if you already have your residence permit in your passport. Click on the thumbnails to see examples.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Take the physical check-up, process documents, and apply for a theory test date

Bring the following documents to the Driving License Issuing Authority at the Shanghai Vehicle Management Bureau ( 哈密路1330号 /Hāmì street nr. 1330). Ensure you have all the documents ready and do NOT forget the photocopies

1. Certified translation of foreign driving license
2. Original driving license + photocopy (front + back)
3. Passport + Passport copy (front page + residence permit page)
4. Temporary residence permit + photocopy
5. Address and your Chinese name (Both in characters).

Without a Chinese name you cannot get a licence, it is enough to use a translation of your first name. Best way to get a Chinese name is to ask a Chinese friend, this way you’re sure it is a proper name. Another good way is figure out the Chinese name of a famous person/actor you share your name with.

To get  to the Shanghai Vehicle Management Bureau take by public transport take subway line 10 to Shanghai Zoo, take exit 1 and up the stairs go left and cross the bridge. You will see the main street and a side street to the left. Take this side street and walk for about 20 minutes or take any bus (196, 739, 91) from this bus stop en get of the third stop.

Enter at the main gate and you’ll see a map of the buildings. First go to Building 10 to take your photographs (price 25 RMB), then go to Building 9 to collect your pictures. After you have your pictures bring them to the lady/man with the medical forms, then fill the forms with the black pens provided (do not use any other color). (Or let the staff fill it for you) You have to pay 60 RMB for the medical checks. See examples of the forms by clicking on the thumbnails.

After this you’ll have to take the medical exam in the same building. Because it’s on the second floor you have to go outside, go left and enter the door with the big sign and go upstairs. The medical check has quite a few steps, but you just have to go from door to door (start with the lowest number and keep going up in room numbers). After the last room go to the man at the end of the room and have the forms stamped for approval.

Now go to Building 1 to get the date of your written test. After you enter on the left there is a desk to get a number and you will probably need to show your papers. If you look foreign they will give you a number for the second floor (Foreign application desk). If you understand Chinese it might be confusing because they tell you to go to ‘Er lou’ which could also mean building number 2 but they definitely mean second floor. Go to the very end of the second floor (desk 40-41) and wait for your turn. They will check all the paperwork and give you a date for the exam, I was lucky to be able to choose a date within a week.

If you have all the paperwork ready, then you’ll be given a date for the test.

5. Taking the test.

To take the test go back to the second floor and go all the way to the end, there you will find a door, go right and then left to the outside, take  the stairs to the third floor and enter. Hand all forms to the guard of lady and wait until your name (in Chinese) is called. Give the lady at the desk your passport and the will ask in which language you want to take your test. I recommend taking it in English because all the exercises you will find are in English. You can however take it in Chinese, English, Japanese, French, Spanish or Russian.

Tips during the test:

• Read all questions carefully and make sure you don’t miss the trick contradictory words.
• Do not get to frustrated with the translations as there will surely be some questions you cannot possibly answer.
• If you have time go through all the questions again by clicking on number one.
• When you are finished click ‘ hand in’  and it will tell you directly if you have passed.

If you pass they give you a form at the same desk. If you don’t pass you will need to rebook. For either situation go back to the first floor and get a new number for the Foreigners desk. Go back up to the second floor and when it is your turn hand in all forms. You will be told to pay at desk 30-31 on the same floor. Cost is 50 RMB in total. After paying go back to the room with desk 40-41 and go to the desk on the far left. They will make your licence on the spot. When handed your licence your finished.

6. Studying tips.

Preparing for the exam is a little bit complicated because there are no official books or study material. The following tips will help you for sure.

• Download on the following apps (IOS, please post Android suggestions to comments) to study the questions.
  • Driving in China (recommended)
  • China Driving test pro
• All traffic signs with English explanations from the Shanghai Traffic Bureau official site
• Wikitravel on driving in China. Mostly useful with some tips for after the exam.
• Wikipedia on China’s Highways, especially for understanding the numbering of roads.
• Blog post in Chinese on the points system relatively usable with google translate. These points change regularly so make sure to look up recent information. With this link you will get a search query on Baidu for the points system (扣分规则).
• Police gestures are hard to understand. This movie  and this website (both in Chinese) helped me a lot. The biggest revelation was that you have to imagine seeing most of them from the side and not direct (liking turning your head 90 degrees).

Most notable differences between The Netherlands (Europe) and China:

• Big turn goes before small turn: This means the car turning left and crossing the road has preference above the car turning right. This is quite logical if you read the next rule ‘right turn free’ because cars that turn left have less opportunity (they have to wait for traffic light) to turn then cars that turn right do.
• Right turn free: If you are at a crossing and there is no specific traffic light for turning right you are free to turn right.
• Taking over on the right is NOT allowed: The rule is actually the same as in Europe but if you look around in China you would believe it uses the ‘keep your lane’ system.
• The give preference sign means Reduce speed and yield: On this sign you can see the character ‘让‘ (rang) which translates as ‘to yield, to permit, to let sb. do sth. In europe this signs means to give preference.
• Drinking and driving: Regulations on drinking and driving are extremely tight and you should never combine the two. A violation will cost at least 12 points and thus cancellation of your licences, your cannot reapply for a licence within 3 years and go to prison 15 days to 6 months. If you cause an accident while drunk you’re in real trouble and could go to prison for more than 7 years. Compared to all this rules on drinking and driving in Europe are very weak.
• Speed limits: Big numbers in Yellow mean a speed LIMIT and in white a MINIMUM speed. Both rules are enforced and fined.

Happy driving.