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CHI NE S E
DR I VER 'S
LI C E NS E
B y M a t t B a n k er
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2
T AB L E O F C O N T EN T S
In tro d uc t i on All-inclusive vs. Do-it-yourself
Requirements
Preparation
S te p 1 : Photos
Ga t h e r Physical Exam
D o c um e n t s Overseas License Translation
Document Checklist
S te p 2 : How to Get There
F i rs t T ri p t o Schedule Test Date
Mo to r V e hi c le Purchase Study Booklet
Adm i n i s tra t io n
S te p 3 : The Test
Stu dy Study Guide vs. iPhone App
Hints and Tips
Hand Signal Chart
S te p 4 : Take the test
Se c o n d T r ip; Retake the test
Ta ke the T e s t Arrange for License Delivery
A p p e n dix Physical Exam Form
Overseas License Translation Form
Drivers License Application Form
I NT R O D U C TI O N
Ar e yo u c ra z y ?
If you have spent any time in Beijing you may believe that you would
have to be crazy to want to take to these roads in a vehicle. Nonetheless
if youve downloaded this guide you have counted the cost and decided
to pursue a Chinese Drivers license. A couple things to know before you
start:
This guide is based upon my personal experience getting my
drivers license in Beijing in the summer of 2010. As such, it may
or may not be helpful if you live in other cities in China or if you
are reading this significantly later than 2010.
This guide is only for obtaining your license not for help in purchasing or registering a vehicle.
Ser vi c e vs . Do- I t - Y o u r s e lf
There are two paths you can take in getting your Chinese license.
1. Use a local service that helps you go through all the steps. The
service I reccomend in Beijing is the ST Auto Club.
ST Auto Club
www.stautoclub.com.cn | stautoclub@yahoo.com.cn | 8046-2075 |
139-1021-1215
Location: JingShun Road, Shunyi
Total cost: 800 rmb
Included: license translation, transportation to the Motor Vehicle
Administration to set up your appointment and again to take your test,
delivery of your license to their office.
Not included: extra trips as a result of failing the test.
2. Do-It-Yourself
The rest of this guide is dedicated to helping you navigate the process
on your own. Ill walk you step-by-step through getting your documents in order, getting photos taken, getting your medical exam done
and your license translated. Also included in the guide are maps to the
Motor Vehicle Administration, help with studying for the test, and
instructions for getting your license delivered to your home or office.
Total cost: 360 RMB
200 rmb - Transportation (taxi 4 x 50 rmb)
50 rmb - License fee
10 rmb - Delivery
90 rmb - Study Book
10 rmb - Medical Exam
Other possible costs:
120 License Translation
$2.99 - China Drive iPhone App
S TE P 1 : G ATHER DOCUMEN TS
The first thing you need to do is to get all of the neccessary papers
together so you can set up an appointment to take your test.
You can find the blank Translation Form and Medical Exam Form at
the end of the guide.
Pho to s
You are going to need six small (2.5cm x 4cm) headshot photos on a
white background. You can get them done at any little Kodak shop
with a computer. They should be able to take the photos, print them
and give them to you in less than 10 minutes. It should cost between
20 and 30 yuan. I had my pictures done at the shop across the street
from the WangJing
Hospital.
Phy s i c a l E xa m
Bring: Medical Exam Form with photo attached, Passport.
Go to a hospital.
There is a list of hospitals that do the Medical Exam on the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau website, but any provincial-level or
higher public hospital Chinese hospital can do the exam (no foreign
hospitals though).
The WangJing Hospital, where I had mine done is actually not on the
list, but I had no problems there.
The Medical Exam is basically just an eye, height, and weight exam so
no need to fear needles or the possibility of disrobing. Each hospital
is likely to have somewhat different procedures, but the basic idea is as
follows:
Check in at the Registration window or counter.
Pay the exam fee (mine was RMB 10)
Find the Eye Exam station, show the doctor or nurse your form.
Complete the
following:
o Height and weight.
o Red/Green color blindness test.
o Tumbling-E eye exam.
o Doctors signature.
Get hospital stamp (I got mine at
the first floor information counter).
Q:
Wh e n a v e hi c l e over t u r n s s l ow l y
and ju m pi n g o u t o f t h e veh i c l e i s
possib l e , t he dr i v e r s h ou l d j u m p
_____?
a. In th e d r i v i ng d i r e cti o n
b. In th e ov e r t ur ni ng d i re cti o n
c . In th e op p osi t e d i re cti o n o f th e
over tu r n
d. To the ov e r t ur ni n g s i d e
S o th e r e a r e a ppr o pr i a te ti me s
t o j u mp o u t a mo v i n g v e h i c l e ?
If yo u mu s t ju mp, PL E A S E
j u mp a w a y f r o m th e d i r e c ti o n
t h a t y o u r c a r i s o v e r tu r n i n g
a s to a v o i d be i n g c r u s h e d ; th e
a l te r n a ti v e i s te r r i bl y c o u n te r p r o d u c ti v e .
A:
c. I n t he op p osi te d i re cti o n o f th e
over tu r n.
Overs e a s L ic e n s e T r a n s lat i on
Bring: Overseas Drivers License, Translation Form.
The most amiguous part of the process is the overseas drivers license
translation. It is somewhat unclear as to who can translate it for you.
Most sources on the internet say that you need an official, legal translation, but nothing on the form or website actually say that. I know
several people who have translated the form themselves or had a friend
do it, and had no problems at the Motor Vehicle Administration.
Lama Temple
Subway Station
He Ping Li
East Road
It cost 120 RMB for the official translation, but they were able to do it
in about 10 minutes.
If you have a friend translate the form for you, may want to have them
help you fill out the License Application form at the same time as well.
Do c u m e n t C h ec k l i s t
This is a check list of everything your need to bring with you to
the Motor Vehicle Administration in order to schedule your test.
Once you have these items you can head to the MVA.
Required:
6 Photos of yourself
Passport
Visa - Z (work) or F (business) valid for at least 3 months
Residence Permit
Overseas Drivers License
Completed Medical Exam Form*
Completed Overseas License Translation Form*
Optional:
Q:
W he n a he a d- o n c ol l i s i on i s
unav o i da bl e , t h e dr i ver s h ou l d f r ee
t he ste e ri ng whe e l , r ai s e t h e l eg s
and lie si de wa r d o n t h e r i g h t s eat at
t he mom e nt o f t he h ead - on c ol l i s i on .
This c a n e n su re h i s b od y i s n ot s t u c k
by t he st e e ri ng wheel .
Tr u e or F a l se ?
A:
True .
If yo u h a v e ti me to d o a l l o f th a t,
I t h i n k th e h e a d - o n c o l l i s i o n w a s
p roba bl y a v o i d a bl e .
ST EP 2: FIRS T TRIP TO M O T O R
VEHI C L E AD MIN IS TR AT I O N
Getti ng to th e M o t or Ve h ic le
Admi ni s tra ti o n
Once you have all of the documents on the check-list you can head
down to the MVA. Their hours are weekdays 8:30am - 5:00pm. You
can take the 740, 840, 803 or 952 bus to Shi Ba Li Dian Nan Qiao, or
take a cab. Tell the driver Shi Ba Li Dian Qiao, and then show him the
map below or give him directions when you get close.
gJ
Jin
h
ut
So
ay
sw
Ea
s
t4
th
es
pr
Ri
Ex
ng
Ro
ad
n
Ta
in
Go South on East 4th Ring
Road Exit after ShiBaLiDianQiao
at BoDa Road, turn left and and
take the first right. Go past Toyota
dealership and take a quick right
and left into the MVA complex.
R
Da
"
oa
S. 4th Ring Rd
18
10
Q:
A ft e r a v e hi c l e f al l s i n t o w at er t h e w r on g
met hod fo r t he dr i v er t o r es c u e h i ms el f i s t o
______ ?
a. Close t he w i nd ow to p re v e n t w a te r f ro m f l o w ing
in to th e v e hi c l e
b. Imm e d i a t e l y use h a n d to o p e n d o o r
c . L et t he w a t e r t o f i l l u p th e d ri ve r s ca b s o th a t t he
water p r e ssur e b ot h i n s i d e a n d o u ts i d e i s e q u a l
d. Use a l a r ge p l a st i c ba g to co v e r th e h e a d a n d t ight
th e n e c k c l ose l y
S o c o v e r i n g yo u r
h e a d w i th a pl a s ti c
ba g a n d ti g h ti n g
th e n e c k c l o s e l y i s a
good idea?
A:
a. C l ose t he w i n d o w to p re v e n t w a te r f ro m
flowing i nt o t he v e h i cl e .
11
Foreign Drivers
Administration
Info Desk
Motor Vehicle
Administration
Print Shop
dence permit there is a small shop on the right side of the main gate
when you enter the Motor Vehicle Administration complex. There is
also a small photo shop there for pictures.
Q:
If a wo u nde d p er s on i s
breathl e ss, i t i s n e ces s ar y t o
immedi a t e l y c o n du c t m ou t h - t omout h a rt i fi c i a l r e s p i r at i on .
Tr u e or F a l se ?
A:
12
True .
Girl: Des pi te my i n ju r e d a r m, th e
su n set t h r o u g h th e s mo k e o f o u r
b u rn in g c a r i s s o be a u ti f u l i t ta k e s my
b rea t h a w a y .
Gu y ( ru sh i n g o v e r to h e r ) : D o n t w o r r y ;
I kn o w C P R !
ST U DY F O R TH E TEST
The T e s t
The test itself is 100 randomly selected questions from a pool of 1300.
If you have driven for a long time or fancy yourself as an especially
good test-taker, you may be tempted to just go ahead and take the test
without studying. This would be a mistake. The Chinese drivers test
is very difficult because there is little correlation between the correct
answers and common sense. Heres my guess at how it all breaks down:
4 3% are worded or translated strangely and are therefore difficult to figure out.
Q:
W he n pu t t i n g ou t a f i r e d i s as t er t h at g i v es o ut
erosiv e st e a m o r poi s on ou s g as , t h e f i r ef i g h t ers
should we a r g a s m as k s an d ot h er r el at ed p r otectiv e
artic le s a n d sho u l d op er at e f r om t h e w i n d w ard sid e.
Tr u e or F a l se ?
A:
True .
T h a t s e e ms l i k e
pr e tty s o l i d
advice for a
f i r e f i g h te r . W h y
i s th i s qu e s ti o n
o n th e d r i v e r s
l i c e n s e te s t?
13
Q.
W he n a v e hi c l e r ol l s
c ont inu o u sl y t o a d eep d i t c h ,
t he d r i v e r sh o u l d sw i f t l y h i d e
his b o dy t o t he l o w er s p ac e i n
front o f h i s se a t , h ol d _ _ _ _ _ _ _
t o stabi l i ze hi s bo d y s o t h at h i s
bod y wi l l n o t ro l l an d g et h u r t .
a. Th e p e d a l
b. Th e st e e r i ng c ol um n
c . Th e st e e r i ng w he e l
d. Th e ge a r l e v e r
A:
14
b. T he st e e r i ng co l u m n .
Ho n est ly th e a n s w e r to th i s qu e s ti o n i s
n o t rea lly i mpo r ta n t be c a u s e th e r e a r e
so m a n y pr o bl e ms w i th th i s qu e s ti o n
b efo re y ou e v e n g e t to th e a n s w e r s . I
will list t h r e e .
1) C o n t in u o u s l y r o l l i n g ? H a s y o u r c a r
en t ered an a by s s th a t l e a d s to h e l l ?
Ho w co n ti n u o u s c a n a r o l l be ? I t s g o t
t o st o p p r e tty s o o n .
2) Do n t t h e l a w s o f ph y s i c s s o r t o f
p ro h ib it y o u f r o m be i n g a bl e to h i d e
y o u rself i n th e pe d a l w e l l w h i l e yo u r e
co n t in u ou s l y r o l l i n g ?
3) T h is who l e th i n g i s o bv i o u s l y
a ssu m in g y o u a r e n o t w e a r i n g a s e a tb elt , a n d I k n o w f o r a f a c t th a t o th e r
q u est io n s i n th i s bo o k s a i d th e d r i v e r
sh o u ld we a r a s e a t-be l t.
Tips a n d H i n t s :
There are many questions about how much a fine is for various
infractions. The answer to a vast majority of these questions is 2002000 yuan. There are a few that are 20-200 yuan for minor
infractions.
Despite personal experience on Chinese roads the answer is always
Q:
T he m a i n fe a t u r e of p ed es t r i an s
partic i pa t i ng i n r o a d t r af f i c i s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
a. Th ey m ov e sl ow l y
b. Th e y l i ke t o ge t t o g e th e r a n d l o o k o n
c . Th ey a r e not st a b l e
d. Th e y w a l k a r ound a t w i l l a n d ca n e a s i l y ch a n ge
dir ecti ons.
A:
d. T he y w a l k a r o u n d a t w i l l a n d ca n e a s i l y
c h an ge d i r e c t i ons.
,
P e d e s tr i a n s o n s a l e
N O W ! T h e s l o w mo v i n g ,
u n s ta bl e , a n d l o o k i n g o n f e a tu r e s th a t yo u
l o v e P L U S th e br a n d n e w ma i n f e a tu r e
WALKING AROUND AND
CHANGING DIRECTIONS
EASILY.
G e t yo u r s w h i l e s u ppl i e s
l a s t. T o l l F r e e :
1 -8 0 0 -P E D E S T R I A N .
15
Go Straight
Turn Left
Sharply
Go Straight
Turn Left
Sharply
Auxiliary Signal
Go Straight
2.4.1.8
Turn Right
Wait to
Turn Left
Turn Left
Gently
2.4.1.3
Turn Left Gently
App
Rule Breaking
Vehicle Pull Over
Rule Breaking
Vehicle Pull Over
Book
Pull Over
Stop
Slow Down
Con tra d i c ti on s
You may have notice on the hand signal chart on the previous page
there were two contradiction signals (the ones with numbers). One is
for turning right, and the other for turning left gently. In the
book its the exact same picture for both questions (pg. 60-61), but
different answers. Hopefully you wont get one of those questions on
your test, but if you do you may be able to fight it. You can call over
the attendant and ask them about it.
Q:
A:
16
b. A p p l y e me r ge n cy b ra k i n g
B u t h o w d o yo u
a ppl y e me r g e n c y
br a k i n g w h e n
yo u v e th r o w n
yo u r s e l f
"s i d e w a r d " a c r o s s
th e pa s s e n g e r
s e a t i n o r d e r to
a v o i d be i n g s tu c k
by th e s te e r i n g
wheel?
FUN F A C T :
Th e s t ud y b ookl e t i s a pp a re n tl y pu bl i s h e d b y :
T h e B e ijin g M u n icipa l P ub l i c S e c ur i t y B ur e a u P ubl i c Secu ri ty Tra ffi c
Man a g e me n t B u r e a u V e hi c l e Ma na ge m e nt .
At lea st t ha t 's w ha t i t s a y s o n th e co v e r.
How s t ha t f or r e d u n d a n cy .
Q: If t h e t ra ffi c pol i c e_ _ _ _ _ _ _ , t h ey s h ou l d
It doesnt seem
th a t a r bi tr a r y to
me to te s t th e
a l c o h o l c o n te n t o f
s o me o n e w h o h a s
just caused and
a c c i d e n t. ? A l s o ,
'I n tr a c o r po r e a l '?
A:
c . F i nd a t r a f f i c a cci d e n t h a s be e n ca u s e by a
veh ic le d r i v e r a f t e r d ri n k i n g .
17
More T i p s
They use some specific terms that you may not be familiar with:
Q:
A:
True .
18
T AK I NG TH E TE S T
Tes t D a y
Bring: Reciept from when you scheduled the test and something
with your address in Chinese.
On the day of your test, go back to the Motor Vehicle Administration
building. Again, go back around to the Foreign Drivers counter with
your receipt. There will probably be about forty other people waiting
as well. When its time for your scheduled test one of the administrators dwill bring everyone into the testing room.
The testing room has forty-some desks and computers. Just pick one
and sit down. You can choose which language you would like to take
the test in, but I suggest English.
You will be given forty-five minutes for 100 questions, and you will
have the opportunity to review your answers before you submit
After you have finished bring your reciept to the attendant at the front
of the room, and
s/he will stamp it if you have passed.
Reta ki ng the T e s t
I wish I could guarentee that you pass your test on your first try because you are using my guide, but the truth is, many people fail their
first test, so dont worry about it if you do.
Q:
Wh e n a m o t o ri z ed veh i c l e c r os s es an
overfl o wi n g r o a d or b r i d g e, t h e d r i ver s h ou l d sto p
and lo o k a t t he si t u at i on , an d p as s es t h r ou g h slo wly
before he m a k e s su r e t h at i t i s s af e t o d o s o.
Tr u e or F a l se ?
A:
So w a i t a s e c o n d ,
y o u s to p a n d l o o k
a t th e s i tu a ti o n ,
bu t th e n c o n ti n u e
on BEFORE you
ma k e s u r e i t s
safe?
True
19
After you submit your test you will go back downstairs and schedule a
new test date. Its free to retake the test.
Ar rang e fo r L i ce n s e De liv e r y
If you passed your test, you will want to go back to the Foreign Driver's desk and arrange for your license to be delivered to your home or
office. Alternatively you can come back and pick it up at the MVA in a
couple days.
You will need to pay for the delivery at the Foreign Drivers desk (10
rmb) and then go out to the main hall of the MVA and go to line number 20 (marked on the diagram on page 6) to fill out the delivery card
for EMS (E-something Mail Service). Again I dont write Chinese, so
I had someone else who was standing in line help me.
I recieved my license in the mail within three days, but they say it can
take up to a week.
L as t W o rd s
So thats it. I hope you found this ebook helpful and fun. Feel free to
pass it on to your friends. My wife and I write about life, travel and
work in China at www.themiddlekingdom.org so check us out
for more tips on how to make life work in China.
Q:
T he pe rso n wh o i s ad d i c t ed t o d r u g t ak i ng
and in j e c t i o n m a y ap p l y f or a mot or i z ed veh i cle
drivin g l i c e nse when h e i s n ot over w h el med b y
drug addi c t i o n?
Tr u e or f a l se ?
A:
20
F a l se
I w o n d e r h o w ma n y
druggies are disuaded
f r o m tr y i n g to g e t th e i r
l i c e n s e s w h e n th e y
l e a r n o f th i s .
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