How to get a Chinese Motorcycle License

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

I've got an nz license but here they saying they can't do it for foreigners ???

---

My basic theory is they don't want anyone else riding or driving on the roads as they are already highly congested, foreigners are a soft target as their complaints are easy to ignore. My suspicion is that over time foreigners' ability to drive in China will become further eroded. Step one has been preventing foreigners doing their tests in China. Step 2 will probably be preventing people from transferring their license to a Chinese one, then lastly preventing renewal of licenses or buying any vehicle in their own name. Most likely similar to riding on expressways it will remain 'technically' legal, but in reality mostly impossible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZMC888

My basic theory is they don't want anyone else riding or driving on the roads as they are already highly congested, foreigners are a soft target as their complaints are easy to ignore. My suspicion is that over time foreigners' ability to drive in China will become further eroded. Step one has been preventing foreigners doing their tests in China. Step 2 will probably be preventing people from transferring their license to a Chinese one, then lastly preventing renewal of licenses or buying any vehicle in their own name. Most likely similar to riding on expressways it will remain 'technically' legal, but in reality mostly impossible.

---

I questioned if I could take a car test here, they said I can but also need to do the chinese test as the car english test was scrapped. That's if you're doing the whole chinese test. The law is what it is, it's a shame one cannot do what he enjoys to do because of id!ots who want to make up silly laws. This is a country that doesn't accept the international license but any Western country ive visited allows the chinese to drive there. I might suck it up and take the chinese test and not allow these weird laws win. But that just means memorising for a whole year.

The woman in the test centre did say I could wait to see if an english version comes out, I mean maybe just maybe they changed the chinese test and now they're retranslating the English test. We could only hope, although the reality is sad that the locals can buy a license but honest people who will try their best to take the normal test can cut out of the circle.

Please ignore my negative comments, I will be getting over this tomorrow and trying a different place or city or country tomorrow!:icon10:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joshmakesnoise

I questioned if I could take a car test here, they said I can but also need to do the chinese test as the car english test was scrapped. That's if you're doing the whole chinese test. The law is what it is, it's a shame one cannot do what he enjoys to do because of id!ots who want to make up silly laws. This is a country that doesn't accept the international license but any Western country ive visited allows the chinese to drive there. I might suck it up and take the chinese test and not allow these weird laws win. But that just means memorising for a whole year.

The woman in the test centre did say I could wait to see if an english version comes out, I mean maybe just maybe they changed the chinese test and now they're retranslating the English test. We could only hope, although the reality is sad that the locals can buy a license but honest people who will try their best to take the normal test can cut out of the circle.

Please ignore my negative comments, I will be getting over this tomorrow and trying a different place or city or country tomorrow!:icon10:

---

Or pay around 8-10000¥ and get it in one day - done in Haikou Hainun province

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

Or pay around 8-10000¥ and get it in one day - done in Haikou Hainun province

---

Anyone got this persons contact details? It would be a real last resort. I've contact my girlfriend's dad to see if he can help me out. Seeing as my girlfriend never even took her driving test but has a license..

Or maybe just go to Thailand pay a couple of bahat for their license I try transfer it to a Chinese one, haha.

If you have any question or need any assistance for this, feel free to call me any time. My Mobile: (+86) 135-6031-4810. Wendy.Thank you.(Guangdong Expat Service Center)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZMC888

My basic theory is they don't want anyone else riding or driving on the roads as they are already highly congested, foreigners are a soft target as their complaints are easy to ignore. My suspicion is that over time foreigners' ability to drive in China will become further eroded. Step one has been preventing foreigners doing their tests in China. Step 2 will probably be preventing people from transferring their license to a Chinese one, then lastly preventing renewal of licenses or buying any vehicle in their own name. Most likely similar to riding on expressways it will remain 'technically' legal, but in reality mostly impossible.

---

Interesting point and I think you could be right ? Justed be please we both have a full C1E .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

If you have any question or need any assistance for this, feel free to call me any time. My Mobile: (+86) 135-6031-4810. Wendy.Thank you.(Guangdong Expat Service Center)

---

Amazed, its 2015 and the scam artists still around and naive people fall for the fake license and pay hight amounts of money for a scanned and cheaply copied license. Hey, they might throw a tea ceremony into the deal.

Ride safe, PAL

ps: oldie but a goldie

Scam catches foreign drivers
Shanghai Daily Newspaper 2007-6-31

Some foreign motorists in the city may be driving illegally and be unaware of it thanks to a bogus application ruse.
Overseas drivers living in Shanghai should only apply for a Chinese driving license with local police.Shanghai traffic police made the clarification yesterday following reports that some agencies are charging expatriates thousands of yuan to have licenses issued out of town. These licenses are not legitimate.Shanghai Morning Post broke the story on Thursday after an undercover investigation of the agencies.
With photocopies of the driver's passport, driving license from his or her own country and head-shot photos, clients are told to expect a Chinese driving license, issued by out of town authorities, after a week to 40 days, the newspaper said.
The foreign clients don't need to show up in person but only pass on the material to agents and wait for the licenses to arrive.
Agents charge between about 2,000 yuan (US$263) and 5,000 yuan for the service.
Shanghai Daily interviewed officers from the vehicle administration office under the General Team of Traffic Police who said licenses required by the agents are illegal.Foreign drivers should swap them for a driving license issued by traffic authorities in their exact area of residence.Shanghai traffic police are investigating the matter.
"Expatriates with a Shanghai-issued residents' permit, should only apply for a driving license issued by Shanghai traffic police," said a police officer with vehicle administration.It costs 40 yuan to sit for a test on computer in Chinese road traffic rules. You can obtain a Chinese driving license the same day you pass the exam after paying 15 yuan for certification.
To apply for the test, the expatriate need to come to the police office on 1179 Qingchun Road, with head-shot photos and a hospital-issued physical exam report. Applicants also need to take the driving license issued in their own country.
Police said that international driving license holders are not allowed to drive in China before gaining a Chinese license. Questions about applying for a Chinese driving license should be directed to a hotline, 24023456.

Pal.,

You might be surprised to hear but this agent can provide Real Chinese licenses. I have met at least 8 people that have used their services. The licenses are 100% legitimate. The person needs to go to Haikou and take part in the test, the rest I'll leave to your imagination :-)

Anyway at Haikou can get a C1E license, I know of someone that got one just before the holidays.

ZMC888.

I agree with some of your thoughts, I recently bought a Yamaha here in HuiZhou, Guangdong but as a foreigner I couldn't register in my name. I couldn'¡t get registered in my wife¡s name either as she already has one bike in her name so I had to sweet talk my sister in law and promise that I won't be doing anything silly ! She's gulable. It seems that if you want to do something the right way here that you can't. TIC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Symon260z

I agree with some of your thoughts, I recently bought a Yamaha here in HuiZhou, Guangdong but as a foreigner I couldn't register in my name. I couldn'¡t get registered in my wife¡s name either as she already has one bike in her name so I had to sweet talk my sister in law and promise that I won't be doing anything silly ! She's gulable. It seems that if you want to do something the right way here that you can't. TIC

---

Yep, frustrating. Seems 98% of local motorcycle riders are in some or most ways illegal. You have thought that the unusual foreign guy trying to do things 100% legally would be welcomed or at least had things moderately easy to do the right thing. But, no so many times you are met with difficulties or complete blocking. Sometimes not taking no for answer be determined, polite, friendly and unshakable you can get want, but not always.

Update:
License renewal.

I renewed my license today. It was annoying, but it got done in about 2 hours, if you are Chinese maybe 20 minutes.

First obstacle was that they couldn't find my passport number on the computer that connects to your license. Your passport number/driving license on their computer system will have a prefix of a letter A-G. This is your status in China, F means resident, and G means diplomat, not sure about the rest, probably visitor, student etc. This prefix needs to be entered into the computer to access a foreigners records in front of your passport number.

That sorted I was able to have the new photo and confirm that I hadn't lost my eyesight or gone colorblind since last time.

Then I had a main sheet and my photos, things were looking good! Got to the license issuing desk, sorry you need police evidence that you have a 'lived in China for at least three months sheet', issued at another police station, but I said I have got 6 years worth of residency visas in my passport, wtf? Not good enough, we need to be surer than sure. Got to the other police station, at first he said no, then after some extended pleading including his addition to my Christmas card list we reluctantly issued a piece of paper with a stamp on it.

Back at police station 1, they intensely checked the details and gave me a new license. Cost was 80 yuan all in.

Glad it's still doable and not a blocked wall of impossibility. Sucks that doing anything is so irritatingly annoyingly difficult, x2 if you aren't Chinese. Seems the system has been set up to make things deliberately more awkward if you are a foreigner, and that includes all of Chinese state owned anything, from banks to police to selling houses, police, getting money out, everything.

Attachment 16869
This is what the dutch Conculate told me
Useless

I would like to share my experience with taking the test in shanghai.

I have now figured out foreigners CAN take the test in ENGLISH. I spend sometime at the licensing bureau today and questioned a few things. It turns out that all the test centres in shanghai do not have the motorcycle test in English however, the licensing bureau does! They said I would need to register at a school and then the school has to contact to licensing bureau and then they will accept for me to take the test there and not at any of the registered centres in shanghai.

So, if you do ask in any test centres they will say no. As they don't know about this option. Although, now we do! I'm now sorting all my documents and hopefully I can sit the test next month. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and im moving towards it slowly!! :icon10:

Josh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joshmakesnoise

I would like to share my experience with taking the test in shanghai.

I have now figured out foreigners CAN take the test in ENGLISH. I spend sometime at the licensing bureau today and questioned a few things. It turns out that all the test centres in shanghai do not have the motorcycle test in English however, the licensing bureau does! They said I would need to register at a school and then the school has to contact to licensing bureau and then they will accept for me to take the test there and not at any of the registered centres in shanghai.

So, if you do ask in any test centres they will say no. As they don't know about this option. Although, now we do! I'm now sorting all my documents and hopefully I can sit the test next month. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and im moving towards it slowly!! :icon10:

Josh

---

Great news! :clap:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joshmakesnoise

I would like to share my experience with taking the test in shanghai.

I have now figured out foreigners CAN take the test in ENGLISH. I spend sometime at the licensing bureau today and questioned a few things. It turns out that all the test centres in shanghai do not have the motorcycle test in English however, the licensing bureau does! They said I would need to register at a school and then the school has to contact to licensing bureau and then they will accept for me to take the test there and not at any of the registered centres in shanghai.

So, if you do ask in any test centres they will say no. As they don't know about this option. Although, now we do! I'm now sorting all my documents and hopefully I can sit the test next month. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and im moving towards it slowly!! :icon10:

Josh

---

This is huge! What's the licencing bureau? Anyone know where the Beijing one is?

Looking forward to giving this a try soon. Thanks Josh!:clap:

Is this the same as the traffic management bureau? I know Beijing's got one of those

Quote:

---

I have now figured out foreigners CAN take the test in ENGLISH.

---

Hi Josh
Sorry to sound dum but could you confirm what you mean about the TEST

1 . Do you mean the full bike test because you don't have a moterbike license so you have to do the full Chinese motoerbike test including the 100 question computer test.

2. You do have a motorbike license and you only have to take the 100 question computer test which is only in Chinese !

Please could you clarify

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by prince666

Hi Josh
Sorry to sound dum but could you confirm what you mean about the TEST

1 . Do you mean the full bike test because you don't have a moterbike license so you have to do the full Chinese motoerbike test including the 100 question computer test.


Please could you clarify

---

I'm talking about number 1. As I don't have my full motorcycle license, so I'll take the theory test and the practical test.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joshmakesnoise

I'm talking about number 1. As I don't have my full motorcycle license, so I'll take the theory test and the practical test.

---

Ok I see now why you could have a issue . Good luck keep chipping away at all the Chinese bullshit and you will get your C1E in the end , the end results are well worth all the bullshit you have to put up with .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by prince666

Ok I see now why you could have a issue . Good luck keep chipping away at all the Chinese bullshit and you will get your C1E in the end , the end results are well worth all the bullshit you have to put up with .

---

Thanks:icon10:
I hope it will be a smooth ride from here, but after all this is Ch1na.
I'll keep my progress updated via this thread!

Hey,

I am new to this forum, and at the moment are trying to obtain my Chinese motorbike license.
I do have a Dutch(European) license to drive an automatic motorbike(motor-scooters).

Now my questions is, can I use my Dutch automatic license to apply for a Chinese (automatic)motorbike license?
Does China even have a license for automatic motorbikes?

Hope you guys can help me out, thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben Ben Zhu

Hey,

I am new to this forum, and at the moment are trying to obtain my Chinese motorbike license.
I do have a Dutch(European) license to drive an automatic motorbike(motor-scooters).

Now my questions is, can I use my Dutch automatic license to apply for a Chinese (automatic)motorbike license?
Does China even have a license for automatic motorbikes?

Hope you guys can help me out, thanks.

---

There are some categories F,M,N and P that are various kinds of light motorcycle/scooter I believe. Some are electric. I think yours is the F, and having that will entitle you to the lower categories. However if you can convince the Foreign Affairs office translator that yours is actually a motorcycle license you could get it too.

Might as well get the bigger license as all the same costs and BS apply
Only difference is a driving test if you don't use your Dutch license

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NZBrakelathes

Might as well get the bigger license as all the same costs and BS apply
Only difference is a driving test if you don't use your Dutch license

---

I will go to translate my license today and hope I can convince them it is a full motorcycle license as ZMC888 suggested, if not I can always go for option 2 and do the driving test.

Maybe I should bring a red envelope ;)

Thank you for the advise, I will let you know the outcome later.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben Ben Zhu

Maybe I should bring a red envelope ;)

Thank you for the advise, I will let you know the outcome later.

---

Good luck buddy. I'm interested to see how you get on, if they won't allow you to *hopefully not* im always happy to take you along as my test buddy. So we can fook them off together.

I'll take my test next month :lol8::icon10:

Hi Guys,

Just got back from Foreign Affairs office in Shanghai, the 180 year old lady behind the counter had to read my license with glasses and a magnifying glass. So I had hoped I could fool her in giving me the translation for a motorcycle license. to bad for me as the dinosaur she was, she digged through her pile of ancient scrolls and got me a translation for the lighter categories. :sad:

Still not sure what that means as my faith will be decided once I apply for the test, there they will assign me to a category.

So when I have time to go register I will give another update.

Hello there,
First off I would like to say how much of a big fan of this board i have become over the past few months.

I got my Car driving license translated, took the 100 Q's test and as of last May, I have a C1 Car driving license. (I live in Shanghai)

However, I forgot to add up my motorcycle license from back home while issuing that C1 back then & I had to wait for my new visa with 6+ months validity on it to be issued to attempt and get a C1E.

My question is, after I prepare all the required documents, will I need to forfeit my current C1 license and take a new exam to get both at once? OR will they just add my motorcycle license to my Current C1 and convert it into a C1E? OR will I be examined another 100 Q's to add up my motorcycle license and obtain a C1E?

Has anyone been in the same situation?

I promise you I have read a lot of pages from this thread but I’m somehow still confused about the final issuing step.

Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Laowai

Hello there,
First off I would like to say how much of a big fan of this board i have become over the past few months.

I got my Car driving license translated, took the 100 Q's test and as of last May, I have a C1 Car driving license. (I live in Shanghai)

However, I forgot to add up my motorcycle license from back home while issuing that C1 back then & I had to wait for my new visa with 6+ months validity on it to be issued to attempt and get a C1E.

My question is, after I prepare all the required documents, will I need to forfeit my current C1 license and take a new exam to get both at once? OR will they just add my motorcycle license to my Current C1 and convert it into a C1E? OR will I be examined another 100 Q's to add up my motorcycle license and obtain a C1E?

Has anyone been in the same situation?

I promise you I have read a lot of pages from this thread but I’m somehow still confused about the final issuing step.

Thank you.

---

Nice to have some new people on these boards, welcome!

I believe that's happened before when a car obsessed officer left the motorcycle off someones license, however that was their fault and it was fixed, if I remember correctly, but some paperwork issues were awkward, there may be something even in this thread.

The response you'll get will be the officers interpretation of the law, which basically means their opinion. They'll probably ask you to re-translate your license and then do the car questions again then issue a new license in exchange for your current one. However if they are in a good mood and feeling happy with the world they may just reissue you with a new license using the translation that shows you have motorcycle entitlement too. Let me know how it goes!

Hey,

Well I went to the office to apply for my (light) motorbike license, but it seems they only accept foreign A1 license and nothing else:confused1:

So I asked the help of the HR girl at my office to check around how I could apply in China for a motorbike license, today she told me I could only do all the tests in Chinese(both practical and theoretical test).
I don't think the practical part will be a problem with my Chinese level at the moment, but the Theoretical part is gone be impossible.

So I need your quy's help once more, do you know an address/phone-number/place were I can do both test in English?

My colleagues suggested to go to Korea to get my license in 10days or so, but there must be an easier way right?

Hope you guys can help me out!!!

Thanks in advance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben Ben Zhu

Hey,

Well I went to the office to apply for my (light) motorbike license, but it seems they only accept foreign A1 license and nothing else:confused1:

So I asked the help of the HR girl at my office to check around how I could apply in China for a motorbike license, today she told me I could only do all the tests in Chinese(both practical and theoretical test).
I don't think the practical part will be a problem with my Chinese level at the moment, but the Theoretical part is gone be impossible.

So I need your quy's help once more, do you know an address/phone-number/place were I can do both test in English?

My colleagues suggested to go to Korea to get my license in 10days or so, but there must be an easier way right?

Hope you guys can help me out!!!

Thanks in advance.

---

If you read through the last page or two of this thread you will see that the 'Shanghai licensing bureau' offers the test in English. It might be worth your while giving Joshmakesnoise a PM.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ZMC888

If you read through the last page or two of this thread you will see that the 'Shanghai licensing bureau' offers the test in English. It might be worth your while giving Joshmakesnoise a PM.

---

Dear ZMC888,

I have read the thread, maybe I didn't ask the right question.
But I was hoping somebody already found a driving school familiar with the procedure.
So I don't have to convince them of the existence of the procedure

But maybe your right, I will send Joshmakesnoise a PM, and maybe he can help me out.

Thanks!