Car and driving licence in China: one theory test, and the car stays at home

No, you may not drive in China on your Dutch licence, and the international driving permit does not help: China does not accept it. You can, however, apply for a Chinese licence without driving lessons and without a practical test. You only take the theory test, Subject One, and pass with 90 out of 100 points. The pitfall is in the preparation: a recognised Chinese translation, a medical and your police registration slip must be ready. Bringing your car is not an option for almost anyone.

How do you get a Chinese driving licence?

Whoever holds a valid foreign licence (not a learner's, provisional or probationary licence) and stays in China for more than three months can apply for a Chinese licence of the same type at the police vehicle management office. In Beijing and Shanghai they ask for:

What	Explanation
Passport	original and copy
Visa or residence permit	valid for a stay of more than three months
Registration of your address	proof of your registration with the police
Your Dutch licence	original and copy
Chinese translation of your licence	from a translation agency with seal and copy of its business licence, from a notary, or from the embassy
Medical	a medical certificate for drivers from a designated hospital or institution
Photos	in Beijing three one-inch photos, white background

A few countries have an agreement with China under which the theory test is waived too: Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, France and Serbia. The Netherlands is not among them.

How does the theory test work?

Part	Rule
Test	Subject One: traffic rules, traffic signs, violations and accidents
Languages in Shanghai	fifteen
Time in Shanghai	45 minutes
Pass mark	at least 90 out of 100 points
Attempts	two per appointment; fail twice and you book and pay again
Deadline	all tests within three years of your application being accepted
Issue	in Shanghai usually right after passing

For a passenger car this one test is all. Whoever wants a licence for buses or lorries also takes the practical tests.

Driving before the test? Only with a temporary permit. For the first months you can apply in Shanghai for a temporary driving permit: up to three months, or with a stay of more than three months up to a year at most. With it you drive a car you bring temporarily or a rental car (passenger car). With only your Dutch or international licence you are driving in China without a valid licence.

Can you take your car to China?

For most emigrants, no. Chinese customs only allows the import of a vehicle as household effects to permanent personnel: staff of recognised representative offices of foreign companies, of companies with foreign capital, and professionals working in China long-term. Even then it is one vehicle per person, and a car never falls under the duty-free first shipment: you pay import duties and tax.

Then you still need a licence plate. In Shanghai plates go through an auction, and to be allowed to bid as a foreigner you must, among other things:

• hold a residence permit with at least six months left, plus the Shanghai residence card;
• have paid social insurance or income tax in Shanghai for at least a year;
• hold a Chinese driving licence, with no serious violations in the past year.

The review takes twenty working days. On the Dutch side you get no BPM back on export to China: that refund only applies if the car is registered in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. For almost everyone the conclusion is therefore: sell the car in the Netherlands, deregister it with the RDW, and only decide in China after a year whether you want one.

What else you arrange on arrival is in your first weeks in China.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey, step 4.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to China or go straight to step 4.4 in the open plan.