How to get a Chinese Motorcycle License

Today I asked at the Hamilu DMV and nobody knew, if or when a translation of the second test is coming. But I spoke to the beautiful Jane Shao at Yiqi Motorcycle Co. next to the DMV and she confirmed that it is only 800 questions, multiple choice, one correct answer. If you know a bit Chinese, you can try to memorize the correct answers. At least, that is a 100% legal way and it's probably cheaper than the agent (if that matters).
Btw, Jane also said, that besides Junti there would be only Jinqiu offering (3-wheel-)motorcycle classes. But as I already called them, I can confirm that it is still only Junti. Jinqiu discontinued the classes.

What do you mean by "cheaper than an agent?"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ywaik

What do you mean by "cheaper than an agent?"

---

I am referring to that agent:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rolders

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

I have a agent help you do all that for 1500¥ in Shanghai or I was offered a one day service car and bike license no test all correct etc for 8800¥ in Guangzhou
Sure not easy!

---

Can you send me the contacts of the agent? I have a HK and UK bike license, but with the new regulations it is not possible to take an English bike test in Beijing. If there's an agent that can help out I would happily hand over the cash.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rolders

Can you send me the contacts of the agent? I have a HK and UK bike license, but with the new regulations it is not possible to take an English bike test in Beijing. If there's an agent that can help out I would happily hand over the cash.

---

If you already have a foreign driving license with a motorcycle endorsement (e.g,. UK), the process is simple, and you only need to write one exam, in English. That exam, however, requires preparation ... it is not an easy exam.

You have three choices:

1) read through this thread to learn how it is done;
2) find a DL agent on The Beijinger website; or,
3) Pay me that 8,800 and I will walk you through every step (just joking ... kinda).

Seriously, it is very easy to do in Beijing if you already have an endorsement. It is complicated only if you do not have an existing endorsement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou

Seriously, it is very easy to do in Beijing if you already have an endorsement. It is complicated only if you do not have an existing endorsement.

---

Exactly.
I have no motorcycle endorsement from my home country. Getting one is not an option due to the much higher fees (around 2,500-3,000 EUR) and limited time (30+ hours on the bike, extensive traffic rules training). I did the D license in Beijing in 2011 (3 months, 2,400 RMB, Laoshan) and passed. Unfortunately I had to cancel that license in 2012, when I wanted to transfer my home country car endorsement and was informed it's impossible. A Chinese DL can only be issued ONCE. Afterwards new endorsements can only be added by going to a driving school and doing the road test etc. As I didn't want to do my car endorsement in a Chinese driving school (8,000 RMB), I cancelled the D license, transferred my C1 license, waited another year (stupid rule), then left the country due to an unforseen (yet favourable) job change, came back to China another year later (2014) to a different city with a new passport, changed the passport number in Beijing and the address in Shanghai and now ladies and gentlemen I will redo the D license with the Chinese written exam.
Complicated enough? :naughty:

May be these links can help if you are a HK residence with a HK driving license.
http://www.chinadriverslicense.com/
http://www.china-driving-license.com...nesedriver.htm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou

If you already have a foreign driving license with a motorcycle endorsement (e.g,. UK), the process is simple, and you only need to write one exam, in English. That exam, however, requires preparation ... it is not an easy exam.

You have three choices:

1) read through this thread to learn how it is done;
2) find a DL agent on The Beijinger website; or,
3) Pay me that 8,800 and I will walk you through every step (just joking ... kinda).

Seriously, it is very easy to do in Beijing if you already have an endorsement. It is complicated only if you do not have an existing endorsement.

---

I don't have a motorcycle license from my country either, but this "agent" way doesn't sound remotely legal and I want to do it fully the legal way haha.

There's a way it's done in Haikou legalish but you pay 8800¥ car bike or 6500¥ car only

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

There's a way it's done in Haikou legalish but you pay 8800¥ car bike or 6500¥ car only

---

Having been licensed through the normal legal channels in both Beijing and Shanghai, I have a hard time understanding why anyone would think it necessary to sneak down to Haikou and pay an agent 8800 RMB. While this might be quasi legal, that probably means it's also quasi illegal. What's more, that price of 8800 sure looks like a "dupe the gullible foreigner" price.

A big part of the price of living in China -- and the inherent satisfaction -- is learning how to get things done. Paying bribes to open back channels does not count. As Lao Jia Huo has said, read through this thread and figure it out. Everyone's experience will differ, as the system is not highly standardized across China, and is being implemented by low-rung bureaucrat saps who have little incentive to see you through to success. But, with persistence and bit of good humor and ingenuity, it can be done.

euphonius

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by euphonius

Having been licensed through the normal legal channels in both Beijing and Shanghai, I have a hard time understanding why anyone would think it necessary to sneak down to Haikou and pay an agent 8800 RMB. While this might be quasi legal, that probably means it's also quasi illegal. What's more, that price of 8800 sure looks like a "dupe the gullible foreigner" price.

A big part of the price of living in China -- and the inherent satisfaction -- is learning how to get things done. Paying bribes to open back channels does not count. As Lao Jia Huo has said, read through this thread and figure it out. Everyone's experience will differ, as the system is not highly standardized across China, and is being implemented by low-rung bureaucrat saps who have little incentive to see you through to success. But, with persistence and bit of good humor and ingenuity, it can be done.

euphonius

---

Yes well said !! Took me 2 years to sort out my legal Chinese DL but in the
End I can ride with a big smile on my face and only cost about 500 Rmb with all the cost I had to pay out for stuff like translation ect I say this do it right or don't do it at all ! Or go to jail

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by euphonius

Having been licensed through the normal legal channels in both Beijing and Shanghai, I have a hard time understanding why anyone would think it necessary to sneak down to Haikou and pay an agent 8800 RMB. While this might be quasi legal, that probably means it's also quasi illegal. What's more, that price of 8800 sure looks like a "dupe the gullible foreigner" price.

A big part of the price of living in China -- and the inherent satisfaction -- is learning how to get things done. Paying bribes to open back channels does not count. As Lao Jia Huo has said, read through this thread and figure it out. Everyone's experience will differ, as the system is not highly standardized across China, and is being implemented by low-rung bureaucrat saps who have little incentive to see you through to success. But, with persistence and bit of good humor and ingenuity, it can be done.

euphonius

---

This info was given to me by a tour guide company
I'm sharing what I know etc
All comments welcome of course

And just when I thought everything was running like clockwork..

Went down to the Kunming Vehicle Administration Office yesterday to see about getting my motorbike licence. It's the only place in Kunming where you can do this, as a foreigner, and is located at 昆明市经济开发区经开路12号. It's a fair way out of town but didn't take too long on the ebike. Anyway spoke to the lady behind the desk in the main building, and turned out I was only short a couple of documents, which if I had I could immediately sit the test, and if passed would be given a C1E.

All up, I needed:
1) Copy of Passport
2)Copy of Current Visa
3)Copy of Residence Registration Permit
4)Copy of Australian Driving Licence
5)Translation of Australian Driving Licence
6)3 passport photos, on a white background
7)Medical Examination Certificate

I was short the translation and the residence permit, and hadn't done the med exam but that's done in an adjacent building to the office for 12 yuan, takes about 5 minutes and consists of filling out a form, reading a couple of letters off a distance chart, giving your height and ensuring you're not colourblind . The lady then gave me the address for the official translator who must be used (which I have tucked away if anyone needs), and I went straight there and got the translation done on the spot, took 10 minutes and cost 30yuan.

Went back today in the hopes of sitting the exam as was promised yesterday, with all the correct paperwork and having spent a few hours studying the 'Driving in China' app. Ducked out to do the medical, came back and shit started to hit the fan. The lady (who despite my attempts to be pleasant turned out to be a bit of a dragon) started questioning whether I was able to drive a motorbike on my Aus licence, as it was not explicitly stated. It took a hell of a long time, prolonged consultation with other members of the establishment, calls to the translation office, and my showing them random photos of my 'bike back home' along with my anecdotal evidence, to finally convince them that motorbikes are included under my licence category. They had me write this down on the official translation in pen and sign it. (As a matter of fact, motorbikes aren't included under my licence, but hey.)

Anyway I think this might have cheesed old dragon off mightily, and after she'd filled out my info on the computer she started nit-picking through all the different categories of Australian licence stored on their database. You wouldn't believe it, they have details and images of every kind of licence from every state. I saw where this was going as my licence is actually a provisional one, not a full, but back home that means you can drive alone, with a few restrictions on speed limits and other minor points-however apparently, according to them, provisional licences can't be changed over for a Chinese licence. So the rigmarole started again, the phone calls, the group therapy sessions, and on and on. I stuck my ground, told them their database was out of date, that they'd incorrectly translated 'provisional', that they had the wrong photos, that their was no difference between my licence and any other in Aus, that back home we all have 'provisional' licence. After kicking up enough stink, they finally took down my number, said they'll speak to their 'leader' and call me tomorrow or day after. The other option one guy suggested was that I just go for the Chinese motorbike licence from scratch. He said it costs 800-1,000, which compared with the 60kuai for directly changing my current licence is a bit of a bill to foot.

I was pissed by this stage but went off and checked at the separate counter that deals with this, and was helped out by a wonderful lady who said I was good to go, could sit tomorrow if desired as they have the test every Wednesday, and that it should only cost 400-500. I'm waiting on that phone call so told her I'd wait til next Weds- if I've been rejected by then, as is probably going to happen, I'll go for the test then.

So a couple of questions, does anyone know what the situ is re. changing a Provisional licence from your own country for a Chinese one? Also, is the theory test for motorbikes the same material as contained in the 'Driving in China' app? Any other info I should know?

From my experience, it seems like a cakewalk to get your C1E here in Kunming IF you already have a full, motorbike licence from your home country. That's the burning IF though..

What kind of bike you getting ?

Not sure yet Zhu, really need to sit down and do some thorough research, as well as visit the dealers, before I decide on that one. The YBR125G sounds like a steal for the quality it provides, and I've been a little inspired by tokyokid's story of crossing to Europe on it two-up, but it might be a bit small for the purposes.. the YBR250 is another option I'm mulling over.

To be honest I'd rather go for a new, Japanese bike made-in-China, but again, need to do some research. Any hot tips? An please don't suggest this again: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=1...1.17.12.oJal2X :lol8::lol8:

Your home license is in fact an Australian provisional? That means you are restricted under the LAMS scheme? In my view an Australian car license and provisional motorcycle license have given you far more training than any Chinese motorcycle license ever could.

I still find it remarkable the level of importance that the Chinese govt put on their driving license's worthiness. It's so corrupt that you can buy one for a few thousand and pass any portion for a few hundred. In fact if I was in the government of another country I'd make Indians, Chinese and people from a few other countries that have corrupt license systems and poor standards do a 'certificate of competence test' before they are even allowed to drive on the road at all.

Quote:

---

.......consists of filling out a form, reading a couple of letters off a distance chart, giving your height and ensuring you're not colourblind .

---

Colorblind? I never understood this....if it is OK to drive in Europe with colorblindness why is it suddenly not OK in China? What does China know from its 'indcredibly high standards' [sarc] of driving that the rest of the world hasn't figured out? Not that anyone colorblind would ever be prevented from getting a license as I'm sure it's a 10-100 RMB 'look the other way' payment. It just undermines the importance of having good distance vision.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZMC888

Your home license is in fact an Australian provisional? That means you are restricted under the LAMS scheme? In my view an Australian car license and provisional motorcycle license have given you far more training than any Chinese motorcycle license ever could.

I still find it remarkable the level of importance that the Chinese govt put on their driving license's worthiness. It's so corrupt that you can buy one for a few thousand and pass any portion for a few hundred. In fact if I was in the government of another country I'd make Indians, Chinese and people from a few other countries that have corrupt license systems and poor standards do a 'certificate of competence test' before they are even allowed to drive on the road at all.

Colorblind? I never understood this....if it is OK to drive in Europe with colorblindness why is it suddenly not OK in China? What does China know from its 'indcredibly high standards' [sarc] of driving that the rest of the world hasn't figured out? Not that anyone colorblind would ever be prevented from getting a license as I'm sure it's a 10-100 RMB 'look the other way' payment. It just undermines the importance of having good distance vision.

---

This is China

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZMC888

[...] In fact if I was in the government of another country I'd make Indians, Chinese and people from a few other countries that have corrupt license systems and poor standards do a 'certificate of competence test' before they are even allowed to drive on the road at all. [...]

---

Good idea but that'd be useless cause the worse among them still drive big ass SUVs in our countries without any kind of license, lol.

No, the solution is to line them up in a stadium and send a monster truck full speed against them to demonstrate how true is their belief about how the biggest car wins regardless of what, and how much it sucks when u're caught out of ur ford F-150.

Oh come on it has 4 speeds and "abs" with passenger footboards and gear position light!

I just spent two weeks in Kunming with a gas scooter, which i left there as I will return there in a few weeks.... Inside the first ring they dont like motos..but no one stopped me and all is cool...but the city has a sit load of cameras...but the friends i made there who race around on Kymco scooter..with license plates... say that the cameras technology doesnt pick up motocycle plates..whatever that means...if they can im going to have a pile of tickets under my plate from another county...

so i plan to move to Kunming and find the city new and organized with beautiful scenery and climate and the people in cars follow the rules....

but about you taking the test...don't under estimate the exam as it is poorly translated, for instance 'passing' is driving down the road...not overtaking another car as it would be in the USA. also you are only allowed 10 wrong answers...and can be asked a series of 'medical' questions with regard to fixing broken bones....

I had mine translated..usa license...and the translator is paid to do that exactly as it is stated on your lic..from your country..so good luck with the 'provisional' designation...
the problem i had..is in the usa the driver lic. with regard to cars in based on the weight of the vehicle..in China its the number of occupants in the car.... whereas, i have both moto and car here in china...

when i went through the process for my moto they wouldnt give me a lic until i bought a motorcycle..but the motorcyle dealers wouldnt sell me a motorcycle without a lic....for the purpose of your question...i talked to many traffic police until one would allow me to take the test without buying one..go figure!

then when i bought one with a chinese lic...i couldnt register it in my name because im a foreigner...a car yes..moto no! again go figure!

so check with where you live in kunming if you can register with your address or if you have to live a part of the city that will allow registering... i visited a traffic police in kumning about that and there answer made me feel i needed to sneak away with my moto before they saw it!

im new to Kunming so if you have any input ...thanks......take many practice tests before you sit for the computer exam...good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bigdamo

This is China

---

Very true damo, and the unfortunate follow-on is that the powers that be can do what they want in regards to issuing foreigners with licences, regardless of whether sensible or just.

ZMC888 is on the money, as an Australian you'd probably also know that they don't hand out Provisional licences like candy anymore- you're required to do 120 hrs over a period of around 2 years with a fully licensed driver next to you the whole time before you can even sit for the various tests required for a P-plate.

On the flip side, while it changes from state to state, according to australia.gov.au as a general rule foreigners can immediately begin driving in Australia as long as they have either an English translation or IDL as well as their country's licence. I'd agree that a tightening of the regulations might be in order..

Quote:

---

when i went through the process for my moto they wouldnt give me a lic until i bought a motorcycle..but the motorcyle dealers wouldnt sell me a motorcycle without a lic....for the purpose of your question...i talked to many traffic police until one would allow me to take the test without buying one..go figure!

then when i bought one with a chinese lic...i couldnt register it in my name because im a foreigner...a car yes..moto no! again go figure!

so check with where you live in kunming if you can register with your address or if you have to live a part of the city that will allow registering... i visited a traffic police in kumning about that and there answer made me feel i needed to sneak away with my moto before they saw it!

im new to Kunming so if you have any input ...thanks......take many practice tests before you sit for the computer exam...good luck

---

Sounds odd killerkat, so in the end you didn't manage to get your scooter registered? I'm aware of the fact that you're required to register at an address outside the 2nd ring road, which I'll have to sort out when the time comes, but the fact that you're a foreigner really shouldn't have anything to do with being able to register or not? Btw if you have any questions on any aspect of KMG drop me a PM and I'll tell you what I know..

So I got a call back from the Vehicle Management Office yesterday, they seem to have dropped the whole issue they had with my licence being 'provisional', but now we're back to the initial issue of the licence not explicitly stating that it is valid for motorcycle use.. So I've been offered the option of getting a cage licence, going through with the full Chinese motorbike test, or trying to have the C1E licence issued elsewhere. As I see it it's a slight improvement on the previous situ, but I couldn't take the call for too long so promised to call back, and of course the office is unreachable on any of their various numbers. Going to bite the bullet and make the trek back out there now, I think there's a chance I may be able to argue my way through, possibly by greasing a palm along the way, will report back after the incident.

Attachment 15313

It's amazing what a polite but persistent and forceful attitude can get you.. Took around 3 hrs of non-stop argument, asking to speak to a higher authority, being told to come back again another day, wait for a phone call, the whole works, but I stuck at it and eventually was left sitting waiting for a good 45 minutes while back-room consultations took place, then taken up to the private upstairs offices so I could chill while continuing to wait.. A few minutes later the door popped open again and I was told to go straight back down to the initial counter, where I was asked to write and sign a stat dec validating my Aus licence. After this it rolled like clockwork, going from one desk to another to pay for the test, get receipts, switch them for other receipts, sit the test (which I was well prepared for from using the 'Drive in China' app, although there are differences between the two which you need to watch out for), and before long I was walking out the door with my fresh warm licence.

Learnt a bit from the whole process- never say never for one, but also that the licence process, at least in Kunming, should be a cakewalk, an hour's work, as long as you have a full motorbike licence from your own country. As I have a provisional, non-motorbike licence, which expires in a few months, things were more complicated. Worked out just fine though:riding:

I had a pretty similar experience in Zhuji actually. I only had an expired car license from the US but I was able to convince the translator that it included motorcycles. The woman looked at that license picture thing but luckily I come from a backwater state and when i got my license they were still using the old laminated piece of paper so they couldn't find a picture of it. I "helpfully" directed her to some pictures and a passage that read something like, "holders of a class C license can operate all class C vehicles, with appropriate...." scroll up to the description of what a class C vehicle is and done.

Despite that, they eventually rejected me because it was expired and the test was only in Chinese. But after 5 months of polite persistence, coming in every other week and offering a new solution or when i ran out of new ideas starting from the beginning of my idea list, I met one young woman there with some english and she (apparently) convinced the bosses, who all knew me and sighed every time i came in wearing my motorcycle jacket and boots, to let me bring a translator. I would also have to take the practical driving test, which i did a couple days ago, and the translator had to be a "professional." I tried to hire one but none would come out to this remote town so the lady helped me out again. The translator ended up being her police officer husband and google translate and after the first 20 questions or so he got tired of typing and just finished it for me :D

I still have one more test to do before I get the license and there still is the problem of the time left on my visa but I think at this point they're just trying to get me out of their hair as quickly as they can. From what I can understand if you go the full driving school route there are four tests that you need to take.

1) Computer test of 50 questions that includes traffic signs, basic road skills and safty questions.
2) Road test: I drove a moped without a clutch or handle bar breaks on a simulated road. Remember to look both ways when crossing the cross walk and look in your mirror when using the turn signal and watch out for stray dogs.
3) Road skills test: This is where you drive up a ramp stop half way and go again (i didn't have a clutch so im not sure what the challenge was supposed to be), drive over a little metal platform, and go around some cones.
4) 2nd Computer test: I haven't done this yet but Im assuming its the more complicated questions like accident prevention, weather conditions, laws and regulations etc. Its another 50 questions.

I used www.chinese-driving-test.com/ to study. The questions were accurate as far as i could tell. There is a very specific order that you have to do all the parts of the road tests so just run around the test ground with someone and let them show you what to do first.

Next week i should take that final test so wish me luck! I might not need it though :D

Good luck with that, what day's your test?!

It's a shame they made you wait 5 months, from what I could figure you should be able to rock up and (at least) sign up for the full motorcycle test at once, that's if you're unable to exchange your home licence for a Chinese one. I had a look at www.chinese-driving-test.com/, seemed very similar to the phone app, just not as portable..

China really is a whole heap of little kingdoms somehow patch-worked together, everywhere you go has different rules, written and unspoken, so it seems like it can often be luck of the draw depending on where you happen to be.

Thanks for all of the information. I have read through this thread backwards and forwards and it contains a wealth of information, unfortunately the thread is getting unwieldy. I want to maybe start fresh with the following scenarios specific to Beijing since "your results may vary" depending on where you live, what clerk happens to be at the desk of any particular government agency or driving school that day or whether or not someone kicked their dog or crapped in their corn-flakes that morning.

I currently have my C1E by transferring in from a US motorcycle DL endorsement with the single computer examination as many of you have. The fun I am having on my bike has created a real jealously amongst my co-worker Expats from the States and I want to help them with good info to help them and in turn, give me some more riding friends.

Please help with the following scenario and what sequence of events needs to happen:

U.S. Expat, possesses valid U.S. automobile drivers license only and has 1 year renewable visa as the President of a SINO-US joint venture. Wants to obtain a China DL to allow 2 wheel motorcycle riding, preferable at the Laoshan driving school.

Please help with the high points of the process, actual driving school info, how many exams, what type of exams, where the exams are administered, etc. I can provide the resources for the computer study questions with the iphone/Ipad app and how to prepare for that particular exam.

Thanks All

Hi everyone. First off, let me just say that I made the stupid mistake of naively believing some people who told me that it's okay to drive in China without a license (they do too) and that in the unlikely event that you get pulled over by a cop, you just pay him 200 kuai and then you're good to go.

Soon after hearing this, I saw a Chinese bike I liked and bought it on my girlfriend's name.

I did some thorough research and found out that it's VERY risky to ride without a DL. My license from back home has expired, so I'll have to go through the full procedure of getting a license in China. I went to the licensing office and found out about most of what I need - wasn't entirely clear, but I found out some more about it by reading through this thread. The thing that's worrying me now is my residence permit - It'll expire in 3 months and 10 days from now. Do you think that'll be enough time? (I'll get a new residence permit for another year after this one).

I've been looking at the website www.chinese-driving-test.com and also downloaded that iPhone app 'Drive in China', which seem pretty cool, though some questions' answers are weird: Attachment 15411

I've read that you have to have 90 days left on your visa but there might be a gray area.. I started the full license process with about 100 days left on my residency visa, my visa expires July 1st and I'll take the last test tomorrow. There is the possibility that they will notice this at the last minute and refuse to give me the license but I doubt it... I'd just try signing up for the test before you hit the 90 day mark. Don't mention the 90 day rule just in case.

Thanks gjackson, glad to hear it's possible. In that case I'll have to hurry up getting everything in order this week. Good luck with your final test tomorrow! Let us know how it went. Jia you!!

Good luck the both of ya's, keep us posted! :thumbsup:

Passed! But I'm not the only one who should be recognized. It was a group effort. I have to thank the police woman who helped me through the whole process and translated for me today. Couldn't have don't it without her. And thanks also to the test administrator for giving me most of the answers before I ran out of time.

Good luck CJB. Remember persistence is often rewarded. Keep us informed.

Congratulations Gjackson! This calls for celebration! :goodtime: Now you can ride without any worries! Have you been riding without a license (like I sometimes do) or have you been resisting the temptation until you have it?

There are different offices for different purposes here in Lianyungang, Jiangsu. There's the office I went to first, more centrally located, where you register for a test and pay - this is the one I got some info from. I understand this place is also a driving school. The lady behind the desk there seems reluctant to help and doesn't seem to know much either; it's like trying to squeeze water out of a rock. Then there's a huge, far off place I went to today, almost out of town, where everyone takes tests. Nice people too! I went there to see if it's remotely possible to convert a UK car license I have (still valid!) and perhaps somehow convince them to add motorcycle to it (cheating, as it were - I know someone who did this a few years ago). My employer said I should give it a try. Unfortunately I can't, and my girlfriend called the translator who is supposed to translate the license - and he told her there's no way he'll put motorbike on the translation (she told him the vehicle codes on the license and he looked it up).

Even though with predictable results, it was worth a shot.

I have to get the info page of my passport translated along with the visa(s). I'm not if sure the lady in the office was giving me the right info, but she said we can translate it ourselves. I read from another source that a registered translator has to do this. What did you guys do? Anyway, I also went to the police station today to get a temporary residence confirmation form and now I'm waiting for a letter from my employer. Will keep ya'll posted on how things unfold.