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I need a valid foreign motorcycle license in order to get C1E and since my license expired and have not got a chance to get it renew yet, I am trying my luck with just C1 for now. Hopefully by the time I have foreign license renew I can get it convert to C1E easily. :icon10:Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
Sorry, jaywidz, but someone has misinformed you. There are plenty of foreigners who arrive in China without a home-country motorcycle license and get one here -- a C1E or a C1D or in rare occasions just an E or D. There are examples of all of these, some quite recent, in this very thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaywidz
It is LESS HASSLE if you have a license from your own country, as you can avoid the road training and road test portion of the licensing process. But that process is fully open to foreigners in most cities, as long as you don't run into some halfwit clerk who takes it upon themselves to make decisions for you about what class of license to have.
Where did you get the idea that you can't get a motorcycle license in China without having a valid own-country license. This is not true. Please stop repeating it!
As for "trying your luck" in the meantime, if you mean riding a motorcycle with just a C1 license, especially in a heavily policed city like Beijing, luck will do you little good if you are caught. If you've read Lao Jia Hou's crackdown thread, you'll realize that they are looking precisely for scofflaws who choose to "try their luck" without being legal.
cheers
euphonius
Called my local traffic ploice DMV and got the usual run around (no test here call Beijing. Beijing says call your local government). But I do remember when I was going to take the test they were setting me up on a D not sure what that means other than I could've driven a three wheeled bike.
The C1D is the "highest" motorbike licence you can get. Find a good dealer or friend in your town, who will help you through the process. Alone you will not manage it. (Or not easy manage it) I upgraded my license from C1F to C1D last weeks. I was allowed to skip the school and only make the 2 theoretical tests at the police station and passed with 100% the riding test with my sidecar. Its not a big deal
Sabine is correct that the C1D is the most comprehensive motorcycle license, as it licenses you to drive a passenger car (C1) and any two- or three-wheel motorcycle, including sidecars. However, I've read at least one post in MCM from someone who had license that was just a D rather than a C1D. This D only license was good only for two- and three-wheel motorcycles, and did not permit driving of a car.
Precision is important, even in China. Nay, especially in China!
Anyway, all of these issues are covered numerous times in this Getting a License thread, so please take the time to give it a thorough read. It includes lots of information about the changes in licensing implemented nationwide at the beginning of 2013.
cheers
euphonius
Hi jaywidz and all
Just a update to what happen today ... I try and help people with all the paperwork involved in getting a chinese DL bike or just car. To make sure all is in order, now what i am going to say only applies to UK DL holders .This guy needed a C1E but only had class B on his UK DL for bikes its A or A1 for Uk DL holders, but if you passed a car test (B) before 1st February 2001 you do not need to take training before riding a moped on the road this is shown on your UK DL as category (P)
Mopeds with an engine size of up
to 50cc and a maximum speed of
up to 50km/h.
So with this in mind when we went to the translation office to get the UK DL translated in to chineses i took copy of the DVLA imformation on driving licences on a USB stick you could print it out and take a hard copy but i went down the line with a stick !
down load here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum.../dg_067673.pdf
Go to the desk and ask the lady could you translate this UK DL and we need a C1E please ??? The lady looked at the DL and said no car only ... no sorry but it has category P as well . What is category "P" she asked i gave her the stick and asked to open the file to read what category P covers ...
comes back with the chineses translated paperwork to shown car/bike C1E .
Happy days ... i ask was all ok and she said could not open stick???
Now the point i am saying is catergory "p" covers you to ride a 50cc bike back in the UK but it still a bike as far i am concerned and does chinese law on a C1E
states at what CC it becomes a bike coverd under catergory C1E ?
It worked for me and my friend today took it to the police to check said all ok so booked the theory test for C1E with no bike DL for the UK
Maybe we was lucky
There is something else to think about.
Here in Suzhou, you only can register a bike in your name, if you have a C1D. Another rule is: 1 Person = 1 Bike registered in your name
Quote:
Originally Posted by SabineHartmann
Hi Sabinel
why can you only register a bike in you name if you have C1D why cant you do it with a C1E which is CAR/BIKE , would love to have more then one bike heheh
And i have a bike with a plate and at the time no DL in china and the wife who the bike is in her name ...has no DL for a bike ...
I simply repeat what I have learned the last 2 weeks. As always in China, rules/laws can change from city to city. Here, in Suzhou, you cannot register a bike without a DL, and you need a C1D to register a bike. My new love is the BMW G650GS and I needed my DL upgraded to C1D. The C1E was not enough. No chance with a simple C1
Lucky you! This is still the advantage to live in a remote placeQuote:
And i have a bike with a plate and at the time no DL in china and the wife who the bike is in her name ...has no DL for a bike ...
I'll reply myself...Quote:
Originally Posted by braillce
Yes, braillce, even tho u passed ur license in Xinzhuang, you can renew your lost driving license at 1330 Hami rd (hongqiao district) traffic center, it'll take about 2 hours, u need ur Temporary residence registration paper, and passport, and photocopies of all this plus of ur visa. Will cost about 12 RMB unless u find the process too crazy and ask for help to a local guy waiting here for u to do just that for 100RMB...
Nothing lucky here.Quote:
Originally Posted by prince666
Same in France, u get A1 license for 125cc maximum after 2 years of car driving license, if over 21 yo, and after passing a 7 hours training since 1st January 2011, if u got 2 years of drving license before this no need to do the training, also exempt of training are a few other people under weird conditions.
This is to what I owe to be able to ride in China...
Peace
Hi again,Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
well, my school (Junti Driving School in Hongkou) still does not have the test for motorbikes in English (remember: I'm getting a license from scratch, not converting a foreign one). But I figured out what I need to study for the last exam (科目四): it's called 安全文明驾驶常识考试 and an online version is available here.
In the meantime, I've finished my two driving exams. For the first exam, you just need to drive a slow slalom through five posts, turn around, and drive through the posts again. Done.
Attachment 13175
For the second exam, you need to drive over two elevated ...um.... things (sorry, no idea how to call them, but you can see them on the picture below). The instructor told us not to worry about dropping down from the elevated thing, because "you won't ever find this kind of situation when driving on the street" (which makes me wonder why they make us do this).
After that, you drive up a "hill" and stop. It's required to do a little "dance": put the left foot down first, then the right foot, then pretend to switch the gear with the left foot (we never switched gears during the driving lessons or exams), before you start driving again. Again, that's it.
Attachment 13176
So as you can see, the driving "lessons" and exams are a complete waste of time. I don't think I've learned anything about driving, though maybe gained a little bit of understanding for the craziness you see on China's streets. :icon10:
This Friday, I'm gonna take my last exam (well, hopefully it's gonna the last one!). Wish me luck! ;-)
Hello everybody,
I finally got my Motorcycle license done back in Germany and now wait to do the Chinese test. I have been there two weeks ago and the waiting time is 6! weeks. - middle of October.
I was thinking to do the test in Suzhou to reduce waiting time - I could temporarily register in Suzhou as my brother lives there and do the test at the same day...there is no waiting time in at the test center in Suzhou.
Can I use the Suzhou license in Shanghai and also buy a motorbike that will be registered in Shanghai on that license?
I read that you should transfer the license to the new place of living ...which i will be doing by using the Suzhou license in Shanghai. Anybody has experience with this. Is it an easy process or does it also involve a lot of paperwork and waiting time?
and one more thing - I am preparing for the test right now using the "driving in china" app on my phone. Anybody who has done the test lately has experience if the questions of the app are up to date and complete?
Does anyone know where I can find some 2013 study materials for free online? I'm not having any luck. First attempt coming up on Wednesday. 加油！
The best is "Driving in China" on download App... but sorry not free cost $1 but it will be the best $1 you have spent in your life a small price to pay to get a Chinese DL so make up your mind time keep looking for the 2013 question for "free" or be the wise man and PAYQuote:
Originally Posted by kiamo
Thats my 2 cents sorry mate
Quote:
Originally Posted by prince666
I'd happily drop a few bucks on an app (that's what I did to pass my UK car and bike theories), however, I can't find anything (current) for android. :(
I am on a former F-business Visa (now: M) valid 1 year 90 days multi-entry, can I apply for a driving license as well? Or only with a Work Visa?
There is no definitive answer, this depends on your local Gong An, and their interpretation of the law. Possibly not long enough, but ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by plorf
Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me with a problem im having getting my license. I've read through a lot of posts on this site trying to find an answer, and i think i found a few but i could use some help with the details.
So, Im living in Zhuji, Zhejiang. I went to the test center in Zhuji yesterday with a friend and found that they only have the test in Chinese. I got a confusing yesno answer to the question of can i bring a translator. Im pretty sure its not an option though. So i went to Hangzhou today to see if i could take the test there but i couldn't since my residence isn't in hangzhou.
So my options are 1) take the test in chinese, or 2) transfer my residence to hangzhou. I've seen people recommending that second option a few times. Has anyone actually done that? How could i do that and what would i need besides a friend in Hangzhou?
In a small place like that, you should be able to talk your way in with a translator. Be sure you are applying for a license with a motorcycle endorsement, otherwise they will give you the one for a car only. Triple check this, otherwise you'll be totally wasting your time. And check it again and again. Someone in the value chain will always say, oh, this is a foreigner; surely they don't want a motorcycle endorsement, and change to car only.
cheers
euphonius
^ this ^Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
They can be very reluctant to give the E (motorized 2 wheels) license with C1 (cars).
Meanwhile, in Shanghai 5 years ago, a friend of mine got C1D (cars & motorized 3 and 2 wheels) without asking nor having the moto stamp on his car license, go figure.
-
Regarding ur options, I'd say trying option 1 is easier, if u got confusing yes/no answer it means yes, u can, but gotta pay or/and make stupid papers at some stupid place, dig in the question, go back to the test center with a Chinese friend.
If it was me I'd try passing in Hangzhou (if u know for sure they have a test in English). U can probably find someone who know someone there, they probably can do the residence papers for u against some $.
Still, don't let them discourage u, get ur license.
- - -
(nice profile picture btw, love this bike)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...._Lawrence.jpg
Don't forget also that Hangzhou is a bike ban city, and may refuse to issue motorcycle licenses (C1E or C1D).
euphonius
Gjackson, I would go and ask again. I personally think most likely an English test version would be available in your city as I'm sure it comes bundled with the Chinese version. In China often workers dress up guesswork and opinion as fact, when it isn't.
Try another office, as if you go back to the same office you'll probably get the same response as to keep the 'face' of the person who misled you. Ask some Chinese co-workers to help you, they may have relatives that work in the police, and open doors or know someone who can advise you better.
I think im going to try to go back to Zhuji and just sign up for the test regardless of whether they say i can bring a translator or not. I figure the type of no i was getting actually does mean i dont know and maybe the people who give the test actually know the answer or wont care.
I thought that too about the english version... Wouldn't it just make sense to put all of the languages in one exam program? Its not a paper test...
The other bigger problem is my license is actually expired. Im going to try to ignore that for now. My boss does know someone in the government there so that may help.
I'll go back sometime this week and I'll let you know what happens.
Obviously it's worth a try. I think the odds are in your favor.
I would guess it will go one of these ways:
-They'll give you the test in English and wonder why someone told you it was only in Chinese
-They'll phone someone in Hangzhou and realize they in fact have the test in English when they weren't sure they did
-They tell you all the answers, because they are nice, and thousands of Chinese test takers cheat the test every year anyhow so who cares ;-)
-They don't have the test in English but allow you a translator
-They only have the test in Chinese and don't allow anyone to translate
Thats exactly what i thinking. I'll just have to put on the friendly and happy but not going anywhere or giving up attitude which has worked so well at the visa offices and banks so far. I just hope they have a chair for me to nicely yet obstinately sit in :D
Study in advance, using the English question bank (folks are raving about an iPhone app). Just be sure your "translator" knows all the answers too.Quote:
Originally Posted by gjackson4431
Good luck!
euphonius
I saw this on another forum. It is apparently a similar DL app, but for Android phones. Someone made the effort of creating flash cards for the new 2013 question bank. I haven't personally tried it.
==================
If you are interested, you can get this flashcard deck by installing Anki
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.ichi2.anki (it's free)
and then download the flash card app here
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/2057467738 (also free).
There are 898 flashcards and I also added some comments to some of those, which I had a hard time learning.
==================
If anyone downloads and tries it, please let us know how it works.
Update on my license progress in Zhuji.
It turns out we were exactly right and the women at the little registration office at the Traffic Police didn't know what they were talking about. After laughing with them about how foreign I am, getting tested in Chinese, and slightly annoying them with my persistence, they eventually sent me into the actual traffic police station with some very cute english speaking girl ( I often seem to meet a cute girl just before im going to finally get a "Yes, we can do that" answer in these situations) who was also getting her driving license.
Sure enough, I'm brought to a very official looking older guy who tells me that I can take the test in english and sign up as soon as i have everything officially translated, "No problem." I'll post any more developments but I think things should go more smoothly now.
Well done, good to hear u're finding ur way through.
Did u get the girl's number?
Of course I did :D We'll have tea at my house tomorrow. I suppose i should buy some tea...