How to apply for a temporary driving permit

Visiting foreigners who need to drive vehicles in China can apply for a temporary driving permit.

A temporary driving permit refers to the short-term motor vehicle driving permit that allows foreigners who come to China for a short stay to drive motor vehicles within the Chinese border. This temporary driving permit shall be issued by the traffic police department of the public security organ.

Those staying for less than three months can apply for a temporary three-month driving license. For those staying for more than three months, the validity period of a permit can be extended up to one year.

The permit is used for driving "motor vehicles temporarily brought into China" or "rented motor vehicles in China". The specific types of motor vehicles to be driven are subject to the following rules:

The vehicle must be in the same category as stated in the applicant's foreign motor vehicle driving license.

For those who drive motor vehicles temporarily brought into China by themselves, the vehicle type stated in the temporary driving permit must be the same as that of the motor vehicles they are driving.

For those who drive rented motor vehicles in China, only small-size vehicles (C1) or small-size vehicles with auto transmission automatic (C2) are allowed for temporary driving permit.

How to apply for a temporary driving permit

The required materials include entry and exit identity documents, such as passport and foreign driving license.

If your foreign driving license is not in Chinese, you need to translate it into Chinese. You can apply for translation service through translation agencies directly by email; or you can approach to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) staff for help on applying for translation.

Please bring the above-mentioned materials to the DMV to take photo and submit application form. After learning and gaining knowledge about Chinese road traffic laws and regulations at sessions organized by the traffic police department, you will receive the permit on-site.

The circumstances under which an applicant cannot apply for a temporary driving permit:

The applicant fails to meet the required age conditions for Chinese driving permit application. For those who temporarily need to rent Chinese motor vehicles and drive within Chinese border, the temporary driving permit Type 3 is only for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission. Those who apply for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission must be at least 18 years old.

Applicants who have record of committing hit-and-run offense within the territory of China are not accessible to the temporary driving permit;

A driver who has accumulated 12 points within a single scoring period is required to undertake a retraining session and take an exam on road traffic safety laws, regulations and other related knowledge. Otherwise, he or she cannot re-apply for a temporary driving permit.

Applicants who have committed road traffic offenses and had unresolved traffic accidents are not accessible to the application;

Applicants who provide invalid & incomplete & unmatched certification and proofs, or those who have not participated in road traffic safety laws and regulations learning are not accessible to the driving permit.

What else should be noted when applying for a temporary driving permit?

The temporary driving permit should be carried while driving and be used together with the foreign driving license and its Chinese translation.

Online translation of foreign driving licenses is only for applying for the temporary driving permit. The payment method for online translation is provided by the translation agencies.

When driving a rented motor vehicle in China, please carry the car rental contract with you for traffic police inspection.

Applicants aged 70 and above must take a capacity test in Theory Test Room (the validity period of the capacity test is one year from the first day you take the exam; applicants can take the test for free five times). Only after passing the test can applicants apply for a temporary driving permit. Please check the "Traffic Management 12123" (交管12123) app for the detailed addresses of Theory Test Room.

Source: The Traffic Police Corps of Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security