Getting a Chinese Drivers License
#31
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
i just did the test here
http://jxks.jxedt.com/exam/exam.asp?type=c#Bottom
got 80/100, i guess just have to keep working on it...yes some of the questions are pretty out of the leftfield. and now i know that you can drive 120 on the highways.....
http://jxks.jxedt.com/exam/exam.asp?type=c#Bottom
got 80/100, i guess just have to keep working on it...yes some of the questions are pretty out of the leftfield. and now i know that you can drive 120 on the highways.....
tb
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Just an update of my semi-fail of trying to get my license:
Did all this in Hangzhou
Got my US DL translated at Police Station
Had my Temp Residence Permit from Police
Had passport and US DL with L visa, 12 month multiple, 60 day stay
Go to room doing foreign licenses, everything seemed fine, until they input Visa information into system and they say cannot do it with 60 day stay, only 90+.
They said even if they do it for me, it will get kicked back at the next stage. Not sure if its a new thing or not, but they seemed like their hands were tied.
So had to resort to going to traffic police station to get temporary DL. Had to get health check and they did the license for 10rmb.
Only catch is, it's only good til the end of your current stay. So I only have 45 more days til I must leave and renter, so my temp DL expires in 45 days. Looks like I'll have to get a new one everytime.
Last data point, when I got denied, they said if I have any 90+day stay visa, I can get 6 year perm license.
Did all this in Hangzhou
Got my US DL translated at Police Station
Had my Temp Residence Permit from Police
Had passport and US DL with L visa, 12 month multiple, 60 day stay
Go to room doing foreign licenses, everything seemed fine, until they input Visa information into system and they say cannot do it with 60 day stay, only 90+.
They said even if they do it for me, it will get kicked back at the next stage. Not sure if its a new thing or not, but they seemed like their hands were tied.
So had to resort to going to traffic police station to get temporary DL. Had to get health check and they did the license for 10rmb.
Only catch is, it's only good til the end of your current stay. So I only have 45 more days til I must leave and renter, so my temp DL expires in 45 days. Looks like I'll have to get a new one everytime.
Last data point, when I got denied, they said if I have any 90+day stay visa, I can get 6 year perm license.
#33
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
The worst city for driving - DALIAN - hands down. You take your life in your hands crossing the street with the green light in your favor, crosswalks are a joke, the sidewalk is unsafe as cars drive on it honking at pedestrians - NEVER stopping, and totally clueless, it is unheard of for a driver to actually look in the rear view mirror before backing up. ...just a few of the risks .... actually too many to list completely. Good Luck!
It's actually funny in a few years of being in DLC, I've seen maybe a handful of accidents which are usually fender benders and such. Reason being, drivers are actually skilled here and have 360 situational awareness, even if they don't seem 'civilized' to the average western joe.
Of course there are some reckless and yuppie drivers who have zero consideration for others but all in, it's not really as exaggerated as you make it out with "crosswalks being a joke" etc. as even the most reckless of the cabbies I've taken obey the traffic signals.
Another point, here in Dalian I've noticed friends and colleagues are dead serious about ZERO alcohol if they drive! Compare that to 'back home' where a drink or two are both legally and socially accepted. How's that for civilized driving?
#34
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
There are many countries with an zero tolerance policy for alcohol while driving. China is one of them. There are often Friday and Saturday night police checkpoints at major intersections (near party areas) in major cities, stopping all private passenger cars in a quest for drivers who have been drinking--even if not "drunk".
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Yes, This 90+ day duration of stay requirement seems to be applicable everywhere in China as a precondition for completing a temporary drivers license.
There are many countries with an zero tolerance policy for alcohol while driving. China is one of them. There are often Friday and Saturday night police checkpoints at major intersections (near party areas) in major cities, stopping all private passenger cars in a quest for drivers who have been drinking--even if not "drunk".
There are many countries with an zero tolerance policy for alcohol while driving. China is one of them. There are often Friday and Saturday night police checkpoints at major intersections (near party areas) in major cities, stopping all private passenger cars in a quest for drivers who have been drinking--even if not "drunk".
I know a guy who got a DUI over there, a bit of money to the cops and it went away.
#36
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
#38
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
#39
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
Previously if there was no accident or damage, it wasn't a crime to drive drunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEkZg...e_gdata_player
#40
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
Looks like they amended the law that drunk driving is a crime.
Previously if there was no accident or damage, it wasn't a crime to drive drunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEkZg...e_gdata_player
Previously if there was no accident or damage, it wasn't a crime to drive drunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEkZg...e_gdata_player
#41
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
I agree that paying off cops to look the other way on a DUI is still possible but far less likely than it used to be in most major cities....unless the driver is a son of a Party official or local business boss. It also adds a large number of penalty points against the license.
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
BTW, after getting many of the "temporary" licenses, I actually find them useful, as no one seems to know what to do with them.
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
Edit: Re-adding original image
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
Edit: Re-adding original image
Last edited by pushmyredbutton; May 13, 2018 at 10:38 pm
#43
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
BTW, after getting many of the "temporary" licenses, I actually find them useful, as no one seems to know what to do with them.
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
Last edited by anacapamalibu; Aug 7, 2013 at 11:17 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,688
BTW, after getting many of the "temporary" licenses, I actually find them useful, as no one seems to know what to do with them.
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
They have no identifiable info on them other than passport #, and the hassle of reapplying every 60 days, they do the trick. Also good since if you apply traffic points to them, they expire after 60 days. (red light cameras )
Since I have a 90 day visa again I may just go the permanent route.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,884
+1!
How did you get your Chinese name on that? I have had nothing but problems when using my Chinese name (which was picked up from my HK ID card) since it is not on my passport.
This reads more like an endorsement of an international driver's license....
How did you get your Chinese name on that? I have had nothing but problems when using my Chinese name (which was picked up from my HK ID card) since it is not on my passport.
This reads more like an endorsement of an international driver's license....