My home country's driver's license is going to expire soon but I will be sent a temporary license in the meantime until I go renew back in my country.

Does your home country driver's license need to have your photo on it in order to apply for a Chinese driver's license?

Well can you get a temp license with your picture on it? If not then I would say take your old and new license and pay a little visit to the place that knows if you can or cant use it. Its called the Chinese traffic police/license office.

Just got mu license using my hong kong license. I used a company in Hong Kong and what they did was go to Guangdong with relevant documents and got me my Guang dong drivers license that can be used anywhere in CHina. The license is legit and valid for 6 years. woo hoo.

Romeolo888 wrote:Just got mu license using my hong kong license. I used a company in Hong Kong and what they did was go to Guangdong with relevant documents and got me my Guang dong drivers license that can be used anywhere in CHina. The license is legit and valid for 6 years. woo hoo.

Hi Romeolo,
Just read your posts on Geoexpat as well. Could you advise the name of the company, which transferred your HKDL to a Mainland Chinese? Interested in it too.

aladin wrote:

Romeolo888 wrote:Just got mu license using my hong kong license. I used a company in Hong Kong and what they did was go to Guangdong with relevant documents and got me my Guang dong drivers license that can be used anywhere in CHina. The license is legit and valid for 6 years. woo hoo.

Hi Romeolo,
Just read your posts on Geoexpat as well. Could you advise the name of the company, which transferred your HKDL to a Mainland Chinese? Interested in it too.

you have pm

When I sat the computer test in Suzhou most of the dudes there had the question and answer study book with them and had a mate sitting beside them turning the pages for them. Cool.

Hey KKO, just sent ya a PM. Cheers!

zincy wrote:Hey KKO, just sent ya a PM. Cheers!

Yo. I PMed you back. Getting the license is as simple as falling off a Chinese bicycle.

Studying for the test now. Is it just me, or do the traffic police hand signals make absolutely no sense at all? Has anyone found a good explanation of them, rather than just the correct answers in the test document?

Also, the ChinaDrive app is pretty good, but found a number of blatant errors in the flashcard section. Now I don't trust the answers in the practice tests.

The traffic cops hand signals make sence when you are driving on the road and you see them in action! Remember you also see them from the side on view aswell. Some of the signals are for full 90 degree turns and others for 45 degree turns, or big and little turns. The angle of the arm gives an indication of what traffic stream the signal is intended for.

Some of the questions in the actual exam are written in 'Shinglish' and the question and answers make no sence, so you have to go with just learning the answers. You also get a complete random set of questions and not just on the 'highway code/signals'. Thats where I went wron the first time and had to resit a second time. Remember to learn the First Aid and Legal/Law answers as well.

sense mister happy sense lol

My husband and myself got the licence in our 1st try. Not as difficult as being told. Just need to answer 100 questions within 45mins. But must score at least 90% Good luck !

Hi All, an update, do note that the current location for the Foreign License Conversion thingy is located at Ha Mi Lu (Ha Mi Road), Chang Ling District.

Cheers!

If I get a license issued by Shanghai municipality, and soon move to Beijing, will I need to have another driver's license issued by Beijing municipality in the future? Or are the licenses universal (by Country), and reciprocal (by Municipality)? Thanks.

You will need to take the license to the local office in Beijing and have your address changed. No need to retake the lucky dip question answer test.

dtcepl wrote:Hi All, an update, do note that the current location for the Foreign License Conversion thingy is located at Ha Mi Lu (Ha Mi Road), Chang Ling District.

Cheers!

Name of building and address?

Do you have to retake the test to renew? Mine expires in a few months.

7thGreen wrote:Do you have to retake the test to renew? Mine expires in a few months.

Do not have to retake, renew 3 months before expiry

thanks

if any one need english updated question bank 2011 for chinese driving license can contact me on my email: honbb92(at)hotmail.com

If you already have driving license in your country it will cost you less then 800 RMB all together (translations, notarizations, applications, body check,...)and few days of learning..

The test wasn't bad. It took me 8 hours studing the simplified version. I find this website very useful http://mnks.jxedt.com/ (simplified Chinese version only) I went through all the questions once, picked out the ones I did wrong and just memorize these questions.

blondesands wrote:

dtcepl wrote:Hi All, an update, do note that the current location for the Foreign License Conversion thingy is located at Ha Mi Lu (Ha Mi Road), Chang Ling District.

Cheers!

Name of building and address?

It is at 1330 Hami Lu (哈密路）
It's a big compound with multiple entrances. If you are facing the compound, take the entrance on the right to Building 1. Second floor is for foreigners. The security guard inside the building will point you to the staircase.

where to take these now? since it moved to hami lu

Certified translation 50RMB
Photos 40RMB
Physical check-up 60RMB

do they do the physical check up at the 1330 Hami Lu place?
anyone can give me a quick answer? i might go there today

hi Romeolo888 - I just sent you a PM. Thanks.

Can somebody confirm the total cost for starting with a foreign DL and getting a Chinese one? Is it RMB 800 as stated above, or RMB 200 as quoted earlier?

I seem to remember the total price was around 500ish rmb from walking in the door and then walking out with your licence 3 weeks later.

Is it just me, or is this question bank hilarious?

1.1.1.11 The driver may drive a motorized vehicle __________________.
A. After drinking alcohol
B. When he suffers from a disease that impedes safe driving
C. When he is exhausted
D. After drinking tea

1.1.1.21 When running on the road having no traffic signs or markings, the motorized vehicle
should ___________________________.
A. Drive at will
B. Speed up
C. Stop and look around before going ahead
D. Pass if it is safe to do so and the traffic is not obstructed


1.1.1.28 When encountering slow-moving vehicles at an intersection that has no traffic signals, the motorized vehicle should ___________________.
A. Move to the right lane and overtake
B. Overtake from the left
C. Pass alternately
D. Cut in the waiting vehicles


1.1.1.33 When pedestrians are crossing a crosswalk, the motorized vehicle should _________.
A. Stop and yield
B. Bypass
C. Honk continuously and pass
D. Speed up in advance and pass

Anyone else have some good ones to share? I think i've had personal experiences with all of the above

Update to this post with current info as of May 2012.

First get your foreign license translated at 1277 Beijing West Rd, unit 1607.
Then head to 1330 Hami Rd, head to building 10 and get your photo taken.
Then head to building 9 and up to the second floor to get all the health tests, they are ridiculously easy, and it takes less than 15minutes, provided it isn't busy.
Then head back to building one, talk to the security guard at the door, tell them your changing your foreign license into a Chinese one and they will give you a number, head upstairs and to the far end room and wait your number, then apply to take the test.

Easy and straightforward. One note, the guy would not let me use my English name, said it had to be Chinese, which was a bummer, so if you don't have a Chinese name, you might want to come prepared with one.