Obtaining a drivers license

Understanding the law in China can be pretty complicated, especially because the laws are changing all the time. What you need to keep on mind is that any service offered without taking at least a written test of the Chinese driving rules is bound to be fake.

No international drivers license is accepted in China, so driving without a proper Chinese issued drivers license is illegal and is punished severely, especially if you end up in an accident, be it a fender-bender or something a little more serious.

As it looks right now, you have to have a Shanghai drivers license if you work and live in Shanghai (residence permit and work permit is issued and valid for Shanghai)

Here is a general guideline on how to transfer-in your international drivers license for a Chinese one.

Holder of foreign (or Hongkong, Taiwan, Macao region) Driver's license in applying such transfer-in shall:

Documents needed

• Passport with valid Chinese visa
• Valid Residents Permit for China 
  • A permit for over one year is required for a permanent driver’s license.
  • A permit of over three months, but under a year, is required for a temporary driver’s license.
• Your current driver’s license is also required to be translated into Chinese before applying for a Chinese driver’s license, this can be done at:
  • The Translation Company of Shanghai Foreign Language University, 189 Road Xitiyuhui, Shanghai
  • Shanghai Translator Associate, 2nd floor , No. 2 Building, Kunshan School, 11 Kunshan Road, Shanghai

The procedure

• You must have recent pictures taken for the license. These can be taken at building number six on the first floor.
• Complete the driver’s license application form.
• Submit proof for passing a physical test by district/county grade(or higher) hospital.
• Take a general knowledge and communication regulation exam.
• Take the ‘behind the wheel’ test. This test is unnecessary if you have been driving for over three years. If you have been driving for less than three years, this test is required.

After passing the test

• Obtain your driver's license.
• Send the duplicate to the traffic patrol division within 1 week after the test has been passed.

Test procedure

• Courses on traffic regulation and related knowledge shall be taken in designated training centers as preparation of written examination.
  Passing score of the written test is 90. After passing the written test the applicant shall apply for a student permit in order to take driving lessons.
  The road test is designed to as a 3-stage test
  • Training-site
  • Road driving test
  • Bbasic driving test
  • Actual road driving test.
    (you have to pass the tests in the above mentioned order)
• Road test procedure
  • Applicants of large passenger carrier class license may schedule an appointment for the road test 60 days after the issuance of student permit.
  • Applicants of large vehicle class license may schedule an appointment for the road test 40 days after the issuance of student permit.
  • Applicants of small vehicle class license may schedule an appointment for the road test 20 days after the issuance of student permit.
  • Applicants of other vehicle class licenses may schedule an appointment for the road test after the training period stipulated by their individual rules is completed.
• The training center shall arrange the written examination.

Where to apply?

Permanent residence applicants must apply for the driver's license in their district/county's Motor Vehicle Administrative Office.

Provisional residents whose stay exceed 1 year may apply driver's license in the district/county's Motor Vehicle Administrative Office of provisional residence.

Addresses

Traffic Patrol Division of Shanghai Police Bureau
No.6 Building, 1101 Road Zhongshanbeiyi, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 9.00 - 11.30
Monday - Thursday 13.30 - 16.00
Phone: 6516 8168

Pudong Traffic Safety Publicity Office
1902 Road Longdong, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 9.00 - 11.30
Monday - Thursday 13.30 - 16.00
Phone: 5899 0990

Huangpu Traffic Safety Publicity Office
26 Road Tianjin, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00
Monday - Wednesday and 13.30 - 17.00
Thursday 13.30 - 16.00
Phone: 6360 0354

Luwan Traffic Safety Publicity Office,
588 Road Dapu, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30
Monday - Thursday 13.30 - 16.30
Phone: 6305 5730

Xuhui Traffic Safety Publicity Office
8 Road Yishanbei, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00 and 13.30 - 16.30
Phone: 6447 2294

Changning Traffic Safety Publicity Office
247 Road Weining, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30 and 13.30 - 17.30
Phone: 6290 1143

Jing-an Traffic Safety Publicity Office
No.4, Row 12 Road Xinhu, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday and Wednesday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00
Monday - Friday 13.30 - 16.30
Phone: 6635 4060

Putuo Traffic Safety Publicity Office
125 Road Fuchun, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00
Monday - Thursday 14.00 - 16.30
Friday 14.00 - 15.00
Phone: 6224 6220

Zhabei Traffic Safety Publicity Office
2 Road Tianmuxi, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30 and 14.00 - 16.45
Phone: 6353 7217

Hongkou Traffic Safety Publicity Office
1888 Road Shuidian, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30 and 13.30 - 17.00
Phone: 6560 0057

Yangpu Traffic Safety Publicity Office
198 Road Zhengshu, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00 and 13.30 - 16.30
Phone: 6564 3840

Baoshan Traffic Safety Publicity Office
2031 Road Baoyang, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.00
Monday - Thursday 13.30 - 16.30

Minhang Traffic Safety Publicity Office
201 Road ZhijianDong, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 16.30
Phone: 3412 0769

Jiading Traffic Safety Publicity Office
118 Highway Jiajing, Shanghai,
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30 and 13.30 - 17.30
Phone: 6998 9122

Jinshan Traffic Safety Publicity Office
179 Road Sihuarongping, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 11.30 and 13.30 - 17.30
Phone: 5794 6888

Sungkiang Traffic Safety Publicity Office
464 Road Ledu, Sungkiang Town, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.00 - 11.00 and 13.30 - 17.00
Phone: 5772 9224

Qingpu Traffic Safety Publicity Office
5540 Highway Huqingping, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.30 - 17.00
Phone: 5985 8241

Nanhui Traffic Safety Publicity Office
9847 Highway Hunan, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.00 - 11.00 and 13.30 - 17.00
Phone: 5800 2728

Fengxian Traffic Safety Publicity Office
5950 Road Nanqiaohangnan, Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.00 - 11.30 and 13.30 - 17.30
Phone: 5718 3919

Chongming Traffic Safety Publicity Office
297 Road Yulin, Town Chengqiao,Shanghai
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 8.00 - 11.15 and 13.30 - 17.30
Phone: 6962 0744

Note: Some of the above mentioned offices might be open during the weekend as well!