Hello - i know this has been posted before but i am a little confused as I keep reading different things. For a TEMPORARY drivers license do you need a residence permit? also, can it be got in one day? including the eye test and paper work etc?

thanks

never heard of a temp driver's lic. dont think it exists.

Same. I've not heard of one. I would have gotten it when I thought we were here for only a year.

There is no temporary drivers license available in China at this time. There has only been talk in the past about China letting people from additoinal countries beyond what is currently permitted to operate on the license they currently hold in their country. International drivers licenses are also not recognized in China, even though several of these licenses do include a Chinese translation.

@ Reno "...International drivers licenses are also not recognized in China, even though several of these licenses do include a Chinese translation."

Well, that's definitely a newie, and an alert to new expats. BE CAREFUL. Search for details from others.

Had mine in Jakarta, flew back for family & got a renewal after a year - good as gold. Never a drama after being pulled over for wrong way up a one way street by "Ringo Ringo". (Seriously, that was his name badge).

But TIC. "We have our own way...."

Zak, seeing as you have been here for ages, would you trust one of those "agencies" to help you with your license? Cost is 1200RMB? I know there have been warnings in previous threads but wanted an opinion. Before anyone says anything, yes~ I am lazy and do not want to sit in an office taking a test that consist of 1,000 queries. I also panic during tests.

The test is for 100 questions, not 1000.
I would avoid the so-called "agencies". Most will give you a license from a far away province which will get you in trouble here in Shanghai.

From what i understand there are 1000 questions in total, from which 100 are random selected for each person sitting the test. You can download the questions from various websites. Don't have them to hand at the moment, but there are out there somewhere....

I'm a newbie compared to the senior expat crowd here ! I have no experience whatsoever in terms of getting a drivers' licence in Shanghai. Agree with Cylon though.

I s'pose it's just a matter of doing the research to get the correct approach to the matter. However, you're much braver than me - I'd only drive here if the driver became 'somehow incapacitated' due to stroke/aneurism/heart attack, and I probably wouldn't get it out of 2nd gear.

Ok~ Will brave it and do it myself. Ugh ~ better take a sedative beforehand. I get antsy just thinking of tests!

If I recall correctly, I got my license here myself for under 200RMB. Therefore, agencies are making a grand off you. And others are right, it's 100 questions; I doubt from a pool of 1000. Maybe a pool of 150-200. They give you the exam to study when you register. So basically you just have to memorize it.

They have English version.

See below

The police have recently issued warning about using agents to obtain drivers license. http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/MDForum-vi ... 2286.phtml

Marino wrote:Zak, seeing as you have been here for ages, would you trust one of those "agencies" to help you with your license? Cost is 1200RMB? I know there have been warnings in previous threads but wanted an opinion. Before anyone says anything, yes~ I am lazy and do not want to sit in an office taking a test that consist of 1,000 queries. I also panic during tests.

NEVER USE AN AGENT! NEVER!!

Just do it yourself - search the forums here its not rocket science.

wimpy wrote:If I recall correctly, I got my license here myself for under 200RMB. Therefore, agencies are making a grand off you. And others are right, it's 100 questions; I doubt from a pool of 1000. Maybe a pool of 150-200. They give you the exam to study when you register. So basically you just have to memorize it.

They have English version.

Things have changed recently, now there is a "pool" of about 1300 questions, of which 100 are randomly (?) selected for the exam. You pass the test by scoring 90 or more correct answers during the exam.