Originally Posted by
moondog
The rules vary widely between regions AND change frequently. If you're hell bent on getting a drivers license, I suggest you research individual provinces/municipalities, and plan on making some phone calls.
Following are questions I would focus on:
1. qualifying visa types
2. what is the visa remaining validity requirement?
3. which hospitals do you approve for the health check?
4. apart from the passport/visa, foreign drivers license, and the health check form, what other documents are required? (Most want to see a residence permit of some sort.)
Apart from the above, when you actually get around to applying, make sure you have several passport sized photos ready to give out.
I can only speak about Beijing where I got mine some time ago. You had also to get your driver's license translated into Chinese. A visa longer than 90 days was required. I had a 120-day tourist visa ( I mean duration of stay, not duration of visa). And obviously, had to write the exam and get a score of at least 90%.
The health check was a joke. no need to go to any hospital. They just run a few tests themselves (staff dressed with the white jacket to look like a nurse) like making sure that you are not color blind. When I renewed my license 2 years ago in Nanjing it was the same "health test".
Despite having a Chinese driver's license, I was never able to rent a car as they would not accept a foreign credit card. I always had to do it with my girlfriend's credit card. They might accept a foreign credit card at Hertz but when I last looked they required 6 months of driving experience in China. So, not an option for someone who just got their license.