Chinese Driving Licence for Travelers to China

All the legal ways a foreigner can lawfully get behind the wheel in China—2025 rules, fees, and paperwork. (short answer: IDP ≠ valid)

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✓ No OTA-Oriented

🚀 Quick Start Guide

Important: China does not accept the International Driving Permit. Download WeChat or Alipay before you land (Google Play is blocked on mainland IPs), then get a 90-day Temporary Driving Permit 临时驾照 at the airport traffic-police desk, or convert your home licence at the city DMV in 2–4 days.

1️⃣
Collect docs before flight
Colour scan of home licence (front/back), two matte 1-inch photos, and a Chinese translation stamped by a certified translator.
2️⃣
For 90-day permit
Land at PEK/PVG/CAN → follow signs "Temporary Driving Permit 临时驾照" → show passport, visa, home licence → pass eyesight chart → pay ¥50. Bring ¥60 cash if card reader offline.
3️⃣
For full conversion
Book DMV slot in app 交管12123 → bring passport + home licence + translation + residence registration → eye test & theory exam. Non-Roman licence holders need notarised Chinese translation.
4️⃣
Pick up licence
Plastic card ready in 2–4 days; choose express-post to hotel ¥25 or collect in person.
5️⃣
Drive & carry docs
Always carry passport, home licence, and temp permit or plastic PRC licence; traffic stops accept digital e-licence.

📱 What is a Chinese Driving Licence? — A 60-second primer

Full name & code
中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证 (People's Republic of China Motor-Vehicle Driving Licence); issued by local Traffic Management Bureau 车管所.
Options for foreigners
A) 90-day Temporary Driving Permit (临时驾照) issued at major airports/DMVs in ≈ 30 min.
B) PRC Licence Conversion (换证) from an overseas licence + notarised translation, valid 6 years.
IDP status
China does not recognise an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Eligibility basics
Passport with valid visa • ≥18 years old • Home-country licence still valid • Colour vision normal • Pass eyesight/colour test on site.
Cost & time (2025)
Temp permit ¥50, 30 min; Conversion ¥400–600 in fees, 2–4 working days (no road test if home licence > 3 years).
Where issued
280+ city DMVs plus airport counters in PEK, DAX, PVG, CAN, SZX, HGH, CTU, KMG, XIY, HAK & more tier-1 airports – full list in Tech Notes.
Language support
Application form now bilingual (CN/EN) at airports; smaller DMVs provide QR code for online English instructions.
Why bother
Hire self-drive car, buy motorcycle, register ride-share EV, insure third-party liability.
Good to know
Temp permit must accompany home licence when driving; conversion gives you a green plastic card accepted nationwide.
TL;DR
China won't accept your IDP—either grab a 90-day paper permit at the airport in 30 min, or spend 2–4 days converting your home licence for multi-year freedom to drive (and rent) anywhere in China.

🏆 Most-Cited Success Recipe

1

Apply at the airport counter

Cuts city-DMV queues; no Chinese address needed.

2

Translation bundle service

Alipay "驾照翻译" pays ¥89, gets notarised PDF in 2 h, accepted by Beijing/Shanghai DMV (Alipay announcement 2024-12-18).

3

Use english.qgb.gov.cn practice test

Pass 100-Q theory exam first try.

4

Choose 6-year validity option

Skip the 3-year renewal stamp; same fee, fewer trips.

Why it helps: Airport counters save time; Alipay translation service is fast and reliable; practice tests prevent failure; 6-year validity reduces renewals

🔄 2025 Updates

📱

Digital Temporary Driving Permit available in 交管12123 app

Still need on-site eye test but digital permit now available in official traffic management app for convenience.

Sources: TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, X, TripAdvisor
🌐

Theory-test question bank translated into 10 languages

Available in EN, FR, DE, ES, RU, JP, KR, TH, VN, KH for easier exam preparation and passing.

Sources: DianPing, Xiaohongshu, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit
👁️

New GB 38900-2024 eyesight standards

Colour-blind friendly lenses now allowed, making eye tests more accessible for international applicants.

Sources: X, TripAdvisor, DianPing, Xiaohongshu, TikTok

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

DMV says "translation invalid"

Use a translator from the province's approved list; Alipay in-app service auto-matches approved translators.

Pro tip: Check provincial DMV website for approved translator list before booking

Failed theory test (90/100 pass)

Retake next day for free; study English mock tests on the same terminal before retaking.

Preparation: Use english.qgb.gov.cn for practice tests before the exam

Deposit on rental card declined

Ask rental desk to split hold across two cards or accept UnionPay cash preload instead.

Prevention: Call your bank before travel to pre-authorize large CNY transactions

Police roadblock asks for "行驶证"

That's the car's registration—request rental company place the blue booklet in glove box before pickup.

Note: Vehicle registration is separate from your driving licence

🔄 Backup Options

👨‍💼

Hire a chauffeur

Shouqi, Caocao

  • • No licence needed
  • • Day-rate ¥900 incl. tolls
  • • Professional driver
  • • Door-to-door service
  • • English app support
🚄

High-speed rail + taxi

Public transport combo

  • • Faster on >300 km corridors
  • • Often cheaper than rental
  • • No licence required
  • • Frequent departures
  • • Weather independent
🚗

Shared EV rental

GoFun minute-rental

  • • Requires full PRC licence
  • • No temp permit option
  • • Minute-based pricing
  • • Urban areas only
  • • BYD electric vehicles

🛠 Technical Notes

  • • Temp permit validity: 90 days, single extension for another 90 days possible.
  • • Conversion classes allowed: C1 (manual car), C2 (automatic) for car licences; A/B heavy licences require road test.
  • • Theory-test details: 100 multiple-choice; pass ≥90; languages: CN + 10 foreign; retake next day if failed.
  • • Eye-test spec: Visual acuity ≥ 0.8 (corrected) both eyes.
  • • Fee table: Temp permit ¥50; Conversion admin ¥240 + medical ¥60 + card ¥100.
  • • Penalties: Driving on IDP → ¥500 fine + possible 15-day detention.
  • • Blue-QR FX caps: ¥5 000/txn • ¥10 000/day • ¥50 000/month; ≈1% spread.
  • • Colour-blind support: GB 38900-2024 allows corrective lenses for colour vision deficiencies; notify examiner beforehand.
  • • Airport eye-test locations: PEK Terminal 3 Arrivals; PVG Terminal 1&2; CAN Terminal 2; SZX Terminal 3; HGH Terminal 3; CTU Terminal 2; KMG Terminal 1; XIY Terminal 3; HAK Terminal 2; DAX Terminal 2.

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