Do you miss the freedom of being able to drive a car and having the ability to go on road trips? Getting a driver’s license in China as a foreigner can be a bit tricky. Plus, unless you own a car, going through the process of getting a license may not actually be worth it if all you are looking for is to rent a vehicle.
Unlike other countries an International Driving Permit or any other foreign driver’s license is not valid in China; however, a temporary driver’s license may be the perfect solution for those who want to drive a car for the short term.
Starting in September of 2019, foreigners are allowed to apply for a temporary driver’s permit without having to go through the usual steps for a full driver’s license (such as getting a physical examination/medical report).
The only documents needed for a temporary driver’s permit are a valid passport and a valid foreign driving license with a notarized Chinese translation, but an accommodation registration form is required in some cities. There are many services that can help you attain a notarized translation. These should be in the 50 – 80 RMB range.
A temporary driver’s permit/license is not the same as a regular Chinese license and has some limitations. First, you can only use this license to drive a rental car. Next, this license is paired with your current visa (which means that if your visa expires, so does your temporary permit. Lastly, the temporary permit can only be used for a period of one year.
Once you have all your documents ready, you need to take a trip to your city’s local vehicle administration office. There, you will need to take photographs for your new permit (3 color photos on a white background) and fill out the required forms.
The whole procedure takes about two hours, though most of this time will be spent waiting because you do not need to take a written or driving exam for this permit.
