Foreigner's Guide to Getting a Chinese Driver's License

Getting a Chinese driver’s license as a foreigner is a bit complicated, but certainly not impossible! Here’s a step by step guide on how to do it.

First, it’s important to note a couple of things:

Foreigners wanting to drive here must have a Chinese driver’s license. Driving with a foreign or international license in China is illegal, so don’t go driving around with a California license unless you want to get in a lot of trouble.

All in all, getting a Chinese driver’s license in Shanghai will cost you about a day’s worth of time, and RMB 1200.

Your visa must be valid for at least 90 days.

Get Your Paperwork Together

And speaking of paperwork, get that in order. You’ll need photocopies of a whole bunch of documents, including:

- Foreign driver’s license  (*if you have one of these, the SVMB will translate it for you onsite for a small fee of RMB50-100, and you’ll most likely be excused from the actual driving test)

-Photocopies of your foreign license (front and back)

-Passport

-Photocopy of passport photo page

-Photocopy of current visa (which by the way must be valid for at least 90 days)

- Photocopy of Temporary registration form (from local police station)

-Health check certificate (can get this at the same place you apply for license, the SVMB)

- Address and your Chinese name (Both must be written in Chinese characters).

Health Check

Once the written test is over, foreigners who already have a driver’s license from their home country are not required to take a practical test. But a health check is mandatory.

Go to the Shanghai Vehicle Management Bureau (SVMB)

Out near the Shanghai Zoo, the SVMB (Shanghai Vehicle Management Bureau) is where you’ll want to go next. Bring all those documents (and any other ones you have just to be safe).

As we mentioned above, you’ll need a health check which you can get in the same building. It costs RMB60. You’ll also need an official photograph for your documents, which you must have taken there for RMB40.

When you arrive there, go first to building 10 for your photograph and they’ll instruct you on where to go next.

Photo source: Victor Nugter

Address: 1721 Hami Lu, near Jinbang Lu.

Driving Theory Test (Written)

Assuming all your documents are in order, you can make an appointment to take the test (can do this the same day at the SVMB if you go early enough).

You can study and take the test in several different languages, including English. The written test has 100 questions, for a preview you can check this URL:

http://www.chinesedrivingtest.com/

The test is done on a computer, and it’s timed, you’ll have 45 minutes to answer 100 questions. To pass the test, you must get a 90% or above. If you fail the first time you can retake once for free.

If you have a foreign driver’s license (like we mentioned above) and got it translated, you’re done! If you don’t (or didn’t get it translated), you’ll have to take the actual road test at this point.

If you pass, you’ll be directed to another room, pay RMB55 and be given your shiny new Chinese driver’s license.

Go Drive

If you didn’t forget a document or fail the test, you’re good to go. Hit the open road and good luck! Your Chinese License will be valid for 7 years, so no rush.

Note: information for this article came from various sources, by far the most comprehensive and regularly updated is a LinkedIn article from Victor Nugter. That article can be found at:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/guide-getting-your-chinese-drivers-licence-shanghai-victor-nugter

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